FAR 61.155 — ATP Aeronautical Knowledge
FAR 61.155 lists the aeronautical knowledge areas tested for the Airline Transport Pilot certificate, from weather and ATC to CRM and aerodynamics.
In Plain English
FAR 61.155 defines what you have to know to pass the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) knowledge test. The test is tailored to the aircraft category and class rating you're seeking. If you already hold an ATP certificate with the appropriate category and class, you don't need to retake the knowledge test just to add an aircraft type rating.
The regulation requires knowledge of:
- Federal Aviation Regulations related to ATP privileges, limitations, and flight operations
- Meteorology — fronts, clouds, icing, and upper-air data
- Weather and NOTAM collection, dissemination, and interpretation
- Weather charts, maps, forecasts, sequence reports, and symbols
- National Weather Service functions in the NAS
- Windshear and microburst awareness, identification, and avoidance
- Air navigation under IMC in the NAS
- ATC procedures for en route, terminal, radar, and instrument departures/approaches
- Aircraft loading, weight and balance, and performance computations
- Aerodynamics in normal and abnormal flight regimes
- Human factors, ADM, and crew resource management (CRM)
- For multiengine airplane ATPs, the ATP-CTP content from § 61.156
This matters operationally because ATP-level flying — typically airline and Part 121 operations — demands deep, system-level understanding far beyond commercial pilot standards.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.155§ 61.155 Aeronautical knowledge.
(a)The knowledge test for an airline transport pilot certificate is based on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in paragraph (c) of this section that are appropriate to the aircraft category and class rating sought.
(b)A person who is applying for an additional aircraft type rating to be added to an airline transport pilot certificate is not required to pass a knowledge test if that person's airline transport pilot certificate lists the aircraft category and class rating that is appropriate to the type rating sought.
(c)(1) Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that relate to airline transport pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations;
(2) Meteorology, including knowledge of and effects of fronts, frontal characteristics, cloud formations, icing, and upper-air data;
(3) General system of weather and NOTAM collection, dissemination, interpretation, and use;
(4) Interpretation and use of weather charts, maps, forecasts, sequence reports, abbreviations, and symbols;
(5) National Weather Service functions as they pertain to operations in the National Airspace System;
(6) Windshear and microburst awareness, identification, and avoidance;
(7) Principles of air navigation under instrument meteorological conditions in the National Airspace System;
(8) Air traffic control procedures and pilot responsibilities as they relate to en route operations, terminal area and radar operations, and instrument departure and approach procedures;
(9) Aircraft loading, weight and balance, use of charts, graphs, tables, formulas, and computations, and their effect on aircraft performance;
(10) Aerodynamics relating to an aircraft's flight characteristics and performance in normal and abnormal flight regimes;
(11) Human factors;
(12) Aeronautical decision making and judgment;
(13) Crew resource management to include crew communication and coordination; and
(14) For an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating or an airline transport pilot certificate obtained concurrently with a multiengine airplane type rating, the content of the airline transport pilot certification training program in § 61.156.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, as amended by Amdt. 61-130, 78 FR 42374, July 15, 2013; Amdt. 61-130C, 81 FR 2, Jan. 4, 2016; Amdt. 61-149, 86 FR 62087, Nov. 9, 2021]
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What aeronautical knowledge areas are tested on the ATP knowledge exam?
Per FAR 61.155, the test covers regulations, meteorology, weather and NOTAM systems, ATC procedures, IMC navigation, weight and balance, aerodynamics, human factors, ADM, CRM, windshear/microburst awareness, and — for multiengine airplane applicants — the ATP-CTP content from § 61.156.
Q2If you already hold an ATP certificate and want to add a type rating, do you have to take another knowledge test?
No. Under FAR 61.155(b), if your ATP certificate already lists the aircraft category and class rating appropriate to the type rating sought, you are not required to pass another knowledge test.
Q3Why does FAR 61.155 specifically call out windshear and microburst awareness?
FAR 61.155(c)(6) requires ATP applicants to demonstrate knowledge of windshear and microburst identification, awareness, and avoidance because these phenomena are leading causes of transport-category accidents during takeoff and approach.
Studying for a checkride?
§61.113 Privileges & Limits
Private pilot compensation, pro-rata sharing, and BasicMed limits
§61.57 Recent Flight Experience
90-day passenger, night, and instrument currency rules
§61.89 Student Pilot Limitations
Solo student limits: no passengers, no compensation, minimum visibility
§61.51 Pilot Logbooks
Logging training, aeronautical experience, and recency for certificates
§61.23 Medical Certificate Duration
First-, second-, and third-class medical requirement and validity periods
Instrument Rating Requirements
IFR eligibility and aeronautical experience
Related Sections in Part 61