FAR 61.165 — Additional ATP Ratings
FAR 61.165 explains how an existing ATP holder adds another aircraft category or class rating, including knowledge, experience, and practical test requirements.
In Plain English
FAR 61.165 sets the requirements for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) who already holds an ATP certificate and wants to add another aircraft category or class rating (rotorcraft/helicopter, airplane single- or multi-engine, or powered-lift).
For each added rating, the applicant generally must:
- Meet the eligibility requirements of § 61.153
- Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas of § 61.155(c)
- Comply with § 61.157(b) training/experience requirements, if applicable
- Meet the aeronautical experience requirements of the appropriate section (§ 61.159 for airplanes, § 61.161 for rotorcraft, § 61.163 for powered-lift)
- Pass the practical test on the areas of operation in § 61.157(e) for that category/class
Adding a multiengine airplane rating also requires completing the ATP Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP) under § 61.156. When adding only a class within the same category already held, no new knowledge test is required (per paragraph (e)). This rule matters because it lets working ATPs expand into new aircraft without repeating the entire ATP process.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.165§ 61.165 Additional aircraft category and class ratings.
(a)A person applying for an airline transport certificate with a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating who holds an airline transport pilot certificate with another aircraft category rating must:
(1) Meet the eligibility requirements of § 61.153 of this part;
(2) Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas of § 61.155(c) of this part;
(3) Comply with the requirements in § 61.157(b) of this part, if appropriate;
(4) Meet the applicable aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.161 of this part; and
(5) Pass the practical test on the areas of operation of § 61.157(e)(4) of this part.
(b)A person applying for an airline transport certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating who holds an airline transport pilot certificate with another aircraft category rating must:
(1) Meet the eligibility requirements of § 61.153 of this part;
(2) Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas of § 61.155(c) of this part;
(3) Comply with the requirements in § 61.157(b) of this part, if appropriate;
(4) Meet the applicable aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159 of this part; and
(5) Pass the practical test on the areas of operation of § 61.157(e)(1) of this part.
(c)A person applying for an airline transport certificate with an airplane category and multiengine class rating who holds an airline transport certificate with another aircraft category rating must:
(1) Meet the eligibility requirements of § 61.153 of this part;
(2) Successfully complete the airline transport pilot certification training program specified in § 61.156;
(3) Pass a knowledge test for an airplane category multiengine class rating or type rating on the aeronautical knowledge areas of § 61.155(c);
(4) Comply with the requirements in § 61.157(b) of this part, if appropriate;
(5) Meet the aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159 or § 61.160; and
(6) Pass the practical test on the areas of operation of § 61.157(e)(2) of this part.
(d)A person applying for an airline transport pilot certificate with a powered-lift category rating who holds an airline transport certificate with another aircraft category rating must:
(1) Meet the eligibility requirements of § 61.153 of this part;
(2) Pass a required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas of § 61.155(c) of this part;
(3) Comply with the requirements in § 61.157(b) of this part, if appropriate;
(4) Meet the applicable aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.163 of this part; and
(5) Pass the required practical test on the areas of operation of § 61.157(e)(3) of this part.
(e)Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, a person applying for an airline transport pilot certificate with an additional class rating who holds an airline transport certificate in the same aircraft category must—
(1) Meet the eligibility requirements of § 61.153, except paragraph (g) of that section;
(2) Comply with the requirements in § 61.157(b) of this part, if applicable;
(3) Meet the applicable aeronautical experience requirements of subpart G of this part; and
(4) Pass a practical test on the areas of operation of § 61.157(e) appropriate to the aircraft rating sought.
(f)A person applying to add a multiengine class rating, or a multiengine class rating concurrently with a multiengine airplane type rating, to an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category single engine class rating must—
(1) Meet the eligibility requirements of § 61.153;
(2) Pass a required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas of § 61.155(c), as applicable to multiengine airplanes;
(3) Comply with the requirements in § 61.157(b), if applicable;
(4) Meet the applicable aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159; and
(5) Pass a practical test on the areas of operation of § 61.157(e)(2).
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40906, July 30, 1997, as amended by Amdt. 61-110, 69 FR 44869, July 27, 2004; Amdt. 61-130, 78 FR 42376, July 15, 2013; Amdt. 61-130B, 78 FR 77574, Dec. 24, 2013; Amdt. 61-130C, 81 FR 2, Jan. 4, 2016; FAA-2023-1275, Amdt. 61-157, 89 FR 92485, Nov. 21, 2024]
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1You already hold an ATP in airplanes. What must you do to add a helicopter class rating to your ATP?
Per FAR 61.165(a), you must meet § 61.153 eligibility, pass the § 61.155(c) knowledge test, comply with § 61.157(b) if applicable, meet the rotorcraft experience requirements of § 61.161, and pass the practical test on the areas of operation in § 61.157(e)(4).
Q2If you hold an ATP single-engine airplane and want to add a multiengine class rating, is the ATP-CTP required?
Yes. FAR 61.165(c) requires successful completion of the ATP Certification Training Program in § 61.156, plus a knowledge test, the experience of § 61.159 or § 61.160, and the practical test on § 61.157(e)(2) areas of operation.
Q3When adding a class rating within the same aircraft category as your existing ATP, do you have to take another knowledge test?
No. Under FAR 61.165(e), an applicant adding a class rating within the same category they already hold at the ATP level is not required to take an additional knowledge test, but must still meet § 61.153 eligibility (except (g)), § 61.157(b) if applicable, the experience requirements of subpart G, and the appropriate § 61.157(e) practical test.
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