Airline Transport Pilot — Rotorcraft Helicopter

The Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) License is the most advanced rating you can acquire as a pilot. It gives you broad flight privileges, but it also requires more rigorous currency than lesser ratings. Although an ATP Airplane rating is required for many jobs in the airline and cargo world, the ATP Rotorcraft is in less demand. Most positions in the helicopter world require a Commercial license with an Instrument rating only.

Earning an ATP License requires many years of solid experience and dedicated study. You must have at least 1200 flight hours before you are even eligible to sit for the written exam.

Requirements to be eligible for an ATP license

General requirements.

  • You must be at least 23 years old.
  • You must be able to read, write, understand, and speak English.
  • You must be of good moral character.
  • You must hold at least a commercial helicopter license with an instrument rating, or you must meet the military requirements to qualify for a commercial helicopter license with an instrument rating, or you must hold a ICAO commercial or ATP license with an instrument rating.
  • You must pass the helicopter ATP written exam, unless you already hold an ATP for another category of aircraft.
  • You must pass an oral and practical exam (checkride).

Aeronautical experience. You must complete training with an authorized instructor in order to demonstrate procifiency to ATP standards in the areas of aeronautical competence in Part 61.157. Not every Certified Flight Instructor is eligible to give flight instruction for the ATP. When you chose a flight training facility for an ATP license, make sure that the instruction staff has at least one instructor qualified to give advanced training.

You must have at least 1200 hours of total time, including:

  • 500 hours of cross-country time
  • 100 hours of night flight (at least 15 hours in helicopters)
  • 200 hours flight time in helicopters which includes at least 75 hours PIC
  • 75 hours instrument time with at least 25 hours in helicopters as PIC. Not more than 25 hours may be carried out in a flight simulator or FTD.