FAR 61.160 — Restricted ATP Experience
FAR 61.160 explains reduced-hour pathways (750/1,000/1,250 hrs) to a restricted ATP certificate for military pilots and aviation degree graduates.
In Plain English
FAR 61.160 establishes the reduced flight-hour pathways to an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with restricted privileges (R-ATP) in the airplane multiengine category. Instead of the standard 1,500 hours, qualifying applicants can obtain an ATP with fewer total hours:
- 750 hours — U.S. military or former military pilots who graduated from an Armed Forces undergraduate pilot training school, were honorably discharged (or are still serving), and were not removed from flying status for proficiency or disciplinary reasons.
- 1,000 hours — Graduates with a Bachelor's degree with an aviation major from an FAA-authorized institution (per §61.169), 60 semester credit hours of approved aviation coursework, and a commercial certificate with instrument rating earned through an approved Part 141 curriculum.
- 1,250 hours — Graduates with an Associate's degree (30+ credit hours of approved coursework) meeting similar Part 141 training requirements, or Bachelor's-track students who completed 30–59 credit hours.
All reduced-hour applicants still need 200 hours cross-country and must otherwise meet §61.159. The certificate carries the restriction "Restricted in accordance with 14 CFR 61.167," limiting PIC privileges until full §61.159 experience and the §61.153 age requirement are met. This rule matters because it defines the most common career pathways into Part 121 airline operations.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.160§ 61.160 Aeronautical experience—airplane category restricted privileges.
(a) Except for a person who has been removed from flying status for lack of proficiency or because of a disciplinary action involving aircraft operations, a U.S. military pilot or former U.S. military pilot may apply for an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating or an airline transport pilot certificate concurrently with a multiengine airplane type rating with a minimum of 750 hours of total time as a pilot if the pilot presents:
(1) An official Form DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) indicating that the person was honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces or an official U.S. Armed Forces record that shows the pilot is currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces; and
(2) An official U.S. Armed Forces record that shows the person graduated from a U.S. Armed Forces undergraduate pilot training school and received a rating qualification as a military pilot.
(b) A person may apply for an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating or an airline transport pilot certificate concurrently with a multiengine airplane type rating with a minimum of 1,000 hours of total time as a pilot if the person:
(1) Holds a Bachelor's degree with an aviation major from an institution of higher education, as defined in § 61.1, that has been issued a letter of authorization by the Administrator under § 61.169;
(2) Completes 60 semester credit hours of aviation and aviation-related coursework that has been recognized by the Administrator as coursework designed to improve and enhance the knowledge and skills of a person seeking a career as a professional pilot;
(3) Holds a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and instrument rating if:
(i) The required ground training was completed as part of an approved part 141 curriculum at the institution of higher education; and
(ii) The required flight training was completed as part of an approved part 141 curriculum at the institution of higher education or at a part 141 pilot school that has a training agreement under § 141.26 of this chapter with the institution of higher education; and
(4) Presents official transcripts or other documentation acceptable to the Administrator from the institution of higher education certifying that the graduate has satisfied the requirements in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section.
(c) A person may apply for an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating or an airline transport pilot certificate concurrently with a multiengine airplane type rating with a minimum of 1,250 hours of total time as a pilot if the person:
(1) Holds an Associate's degree with an aviation major from an institution of higher education, as defined in § 61.1, that has been issued a letter of authorization by the Administrator under § 61.169;
(2) Completes at least 30 semester credit hours of aviation and aviation-related coursework that has been recognized by the Administrator as coursework designed to improve and enhance the knowledge and skills of a person seeking a career as a professional pilot;
(3) Holds a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and instrument rating if:
(i) The required ground training was completed as part of an approved part 141 curriculum at the institution of higher education; and
(ii) The required flight training was completed as part of an approved part 141 curriculum at the institution of higher education or at a part 141 pilot school that has a written training agreement under § 141.26 of this chapter with the institution of higher education; and
(4) Presents official transcripts or other documentation acceptable to the Administrator from the institution of higher education certifying that the graduate has satisfied the requirements in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this section.
(d) A graduate of an institution of higher education who completes fewer than 60 semester credit hours but at least 30 credit hours and otherwise satisfies the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section may apply for an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating or an airline transport pilot certificate concurrently with a multiengine airplane type rating with a minimum of 1,250 hours of total time as a pilot.
(e) A person who applies for an airline transport pilot certificate under the total flight times listed in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section must otherwise meet the aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159, except that the person may apply for an airline transport pilot certificate with 200 hours of cross-country time.
(f) A person may apply for an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating or an airline transport pilot certificate concurrently with a multiengine airplane type rating if the person has 1,500 hours total time as a pilot, 200 hours of cross-country time, and otherwise meets the aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159.
(g) An airline transport pilot certificate obtained under this section is subject to the pilot in command limitations set forth in § 61.167(b) and must contain the following limitation, “Restricted in accordance with 14 CFR 61.167.” The pilot is entitled to an airline transport pilot certificate without the limitation specified in this paragraph when the applicant presents satisfactory evidence of having met the aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159 and the age requirement of § 61.153(a)(1).
(h) An applicant who meets the aeronautical experience requirements of paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section is issued an airline transport pilot certificate with the limitation, “Holder does not meet the pilot in command aeronautical experience requirements of ICAO,” as prescribed under Article 39 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation if the applicant does not meet the ICAO requirements contained in Annex 1 “Personnel Licensing” to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. An applicant is entitled to an airline transport pilot certificate without the ICAO limitation specified under this paragraph when the applicant presents satisfactory evidence of having met the ICAO requirements and otherwise meets the aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159.
[Docket FAA-2010-0100, 78 FR 42375, July 15, 2013, as amended by Amdt. 61-149, 86 FR 62087, Nov. 9, 2021; FAA-2023-1275, Amdt. 61-157, 89 FR 92483, Nov. 21, 2024]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are the reduced flight-time minimums available under the restricted ATP rule, and who qualifies for each?
Per FAR 61.160, qualifying military pilots may apply at 750 hours, aviation Bachelor's degree graduates at 1,000 hours, and aviation Associate's degree graduates (or partial Bachelor's with 30–59 credits) at 1,250 hours.
Q2If you don't qualify for any reduced-hour pathway, what are the baseline requirements for an ATP multiengine certificate?
Under FAR 61.160(f), an applicant needs 1,500 total hours, 200 hours of cross-country time, and must otherwise meet the aeronautical experience requirements of §61.159.
Q3What limitation appears on a restricted ATP certificate, and how is it removed?
FAR 61.160(g) requires the limitation "Restricted in accordance with 14 CFR 61.167." It is removed when the pilot shows they meet the full §61.159 aeronautical experience and the §61.153(a)(1) age requirement.
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