Get Your ATP Certificate

(Photo by Ralf Roletschek via Wikipedia)

On August 1, the requirements for getting the Airline Transport Pilot certificate are changing quite dramatically, making it more difficult and much more costly to achieve the rating. While the ATP certificate is only required for flying passengers for airlines or charter operators, it is still a mark of excellence that many pilots desire regardless of whether they will ever use the rating.

If you have the desire to get your ATP, the time is now. After August 1 you will have to complete an ATP certification training program (CTP) course prior to being able to qualify for the written knowledge test. The CTP requires a minimum of 30 hours of ground school and 10 hours of flight time in a flight simulation training device, training that will take a great ding out of your pocketbook. You will also be required to meet higher requirements for multiengine, cross-country and total flight time to qualify to take the checkride.

If you haven't completed your written test yet, King Schools is offering a 50 percent discount on its Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Interactive Video Ground School and Exam prep course to encourage pilots to get their ATP certificates before the new rules go into effect. The reduced cost for the course, which is available online and on CD, is $149.

And if you are looking to get the rating done quickly, you can get your ATP certificate in as little as three days, as long as you are instrument proficient and meet the current eligibility requirements, through ATP Flight School, which offers training locations in many locations around the country. The cost for the program, including the written test, is $2,895.

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Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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