ATPL Flight Tests
 

There has been talk circulating about having to do a Flight test for the issue of an ATPL. Does anyome know if or when this may happen?:

Last I looked Part 61 was to be implemented in 2007, this includes a flight test for the issue of an ATPL.

yup ...your gettting newzealanderised again!

.....and what type of a/c would this flight test be in? Anybody cross hire triple 7's?

Without looking at the new requirements I would guess that any multi crew aircraft above 5700kg will suffice. I personally don’t think you will see a great problem with these new rules when they come in. It will just be like the old days when airlines required a pass in all ATPL or SCPL subjects and they did the flight test in a sim check or aircraft endorsement when it was required. The only problem I can see occurring is that the subjects may have a relatively short life expectancy, in which case Frozen ATPL’s for extended periods of time may be a thing of the past. You will have to do the subjects closer to the time you meet the requirements and your employer needs you to have an ATPL.

I don't think anyone is sugesting you arrange or pay for the ATPL flight test yourself. As 404 Titan says, most airlines will require you to have a 'frozen ATPL' or ATPL theory, the flight test can then be done in conjunction with a continued competency check (IFR renewal), or command check. This to me makes far more sense than the current Aussie system, in which a pilot can hold an ATPL without ever having been behind the controls of a transport category aircraft.:confused:

This is all in line with ICAO practice, welcome to the present.

Umm well, apart from driving a heavier (or not? as the case may be!) a/c around, what is it exactly that could be sooooo different procedure-wise, with conducting an ATPL flight test as opposed to fart arsing around doing your Multi-IFR renewal?

I fail to see what could be so different in an ATPL flight test versus an IFR renewal or initial for that matter. what could one be looking for?

Probably just ANOTHER money-making excercise!

Bo!

I think you're missing the point. Money making for whom? The flight test is normally done internally by a check and training captain (airline flight examiner), the only money paid to CAA is $50 for the lisence issue fee, and that should also be covered by your airline.

There is a big difference between an ATPL check and a single pilot MEIR renewal in a PA31. The additional assesment concentrates on decision making, CRM and command ability with respect to a multi crew operation using specific SOPs, in a high performance aircraft. That's in addition to the normal legal, proceedural and performance knowledge required for an IR renewal, and of course flying ability.

Cloud cutter - still isn't anything there that is not covered in Airline Command training. Recent thread detailed how in NZ for a while it was possible to do the test in a PA31/C421 - they certainly are not multi-crew AC. The UK does not have a flight test either - just the requirement to complete an approved MCC course.