Airline Transport Pilot Licence

The Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), or in the United States of America, an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP) is the highest level of aircraft pilot certificate -- or license. Those certified as Airline Transport Pilots are authorized to act as pilot-in-command of a scheduled air carrier's aircraft having a maximum gross weight over 12,500 pounds or in scheduled passenger operations in lighter aircraft (in the U.S.A.). ATP may be used as a name suffix for example Brian A. Jones III, ATP. ATP holders, in most countries, including the United States, may use "Captain" before their names, sometime abbreviated as "Capt." or "Cpt." although in the U.S.A. this is customary only for those pilots actually serving as captains in services that require the ATP (Some countries social etiquette allows use of "Capt." before their name after obtaining Commercial Pilot License, but this is not customary in the United States or the countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations.

Any pilot operating an aircraft for pay must start by obtaining a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). Many larger aircraft also require pilots to have a type rating (specific to the make and model of aircraft) certification as well as an ATP rating.

Theoretical subjects included for ATPL applicants are:

• Air law
• Aircraft general knowledge
• Flight planning and monitoring
• Human performance and limitations
• Meteorology
• Operational procedures
• Principles of flight
• Communications (IFR & VFR)
• Performance
• General navigation
• Radio navigation
• Instrumentation
• Weight and balance

To be eligible to take the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) ATPL Practical Test, commonly called the "checkride", the candidate must have at least 1500 hours of experience in aircraft and be at least 23 years old.

The term "frozen ATPL" has become popular outside the United States in the industry as slang for someone with a (1) Commercial Pilot's License with a Multi-Engine aircraft class rating, (2) a Multi-Engine Instrument rating, and (3) a certificate of Multi Crew Coordination (MCC). After 1500 flight hours have been completed, an ATPL candidate can take the FAA's ATPL written skills test.

For more information, see the appropriate sections in:

• Private Pilot License
• Pilot certification in the United States#Airline transport pilot
• Airline Transport Pilot License in Canada
• Pilot licensing in the United Kingdom