Common type ratings

[jdese001]

i was looking through the FAA -PILOT CERTIFICATE AIRCRAFT TYPE DESIGNATIONS and have a question i cannot find the answer too.

i see that multiple aircraft models can have one type rating but im confused on how to make sense of when there are multiple aircraft models that have two type ratings for example:

the models ATR-42 and ATR-72 have a common type rating ATR-42 and ATR-72.
i read with common types that you can get a ATR-72 rating by completing the difference in training if you have a ATR-42 rating

so does this mean that if you first get rated for the ATR-72 then you can fly the ATR-42 and the ATR-72 or do you need both ratings if you want to fl both those aircrafts?

[Rick777]

If you get either rating you can do difference training to get the other. If you work for a company that has both types you would normally get both at once. When Boeing came out with the 787 they were trying to make it a common type with the 777. It would have saved a lot of training time for pilots already typed on the 777.I don't know whether they succeeded or not as the systems are very different. I got my 757 and 767 ratings at the same time.

[Denti]

Yes, 777 and 787 are a common type rating. It was mainly a boeing thing, however, with the A350 airbus went the same way and everyone who is A330 rated is now also A350 rated. Airbus used cross crew qualification and mixed fleet flying before, which many airlines still use but which requires to keep two different type ratings current.