FAR 61.167 — ATP Privileges and Limitations
FAR 61.167 explains airline transport pilot privileges, instructor authority, daily and weekly instruction limits, and restricted ATP limitations.
In Plain English
FAR 61.167 spells out what an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) can and cannot do with the certificate.
- An ATP holds the same privileges as a commercial pilot with an instrument rating.
- If the ATP also meets the experience requirements of §§ 61.159, 61.161, or 61.163 and the age requirement of § 61.153(a)(1), they may instruct other pilots in air transportation service in the category, class, and type for which they're rated, and endorse logbooks. The same authority extends to flight simulators and FTDs representing those aircraft.
- Instruction in an aircraft requires functioning dual controls.
- Instructor privileges under this section are limited to ATP instruction; broader CFI privileges require a separate flight instructor certificate.
- Instruction time limits (excluding briefings/debriefings): no more than 8 hours in 24 consecutive hours and no more than 36 hours in any 7 consecutive days.
- An ATP may not instruct in Cat II or Cat III operations without specific training and testing for those operations.
A restricted-privileges ATP (under age 23 or without the full § 61.159 experience) cannot act as PIC in Part 121, § 91.1053(a)(2)(i), or § 135.243(a)(1) operations, and cannot serve as SIC in flag or supplemental Part 121 operations requiring three or more pilots. This matters operationally because airlines rely on these limits when assigning crewmembers and instructors.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.167§ 61.167 Airline transport pilot privileges and limitations.
(a)(1) A person who holds an airline transport pilot certificate is entitled to the same privileges as a person who holds a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating.
(2) A person who holds an airline transport pilot certificate and has met the aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159, 61.161, or 61.163, and the age requirements of § 61.153(a)(1) may instruct—
(i) Other pilots in air transportation service in aircraft of the category, class, and type, as applicable, for which the airline transport pilot is rated and endorse the logbook or other training record of the person to whom training has been given;
(ii) In flight simulators, and flight training devices representing the aircraft referenced in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section, when instructing under the provisions of this section and endorse the logbook or other training record of the person to whom training has been given;
(iii) Only as provided in this section, except that an airline transport pilot who also holds a flight instructor certificate can exercise the instructor privileges under subpart H of this part for which he or she is rated; and
(iv) In an aircraft, only if the aircraft has functioning dual controls, when instructing under the provisions of this section.
(3) Excluding briefings and debriefings, an airline transport pilot may not instruct in aircraft, flight simulators, and flight training devices under this section—
(i) For more than 8 hours in any 24-consecutive-hour period; or
(ii) For more than 36 hours in any 7-consecutive-day period.
(4) An airline transport pilot may not instruct in Category II or Category III operations unless he or she has been trained and successfully tested under Category II or Category III operations, as applicable.
(b)A person who holds an airline transport pilot certificate and has not satisfied the age requirement of § 61.153(a)(1) and the aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159 may not:
(1) Act as pilot in command in operations conducted under part 121, § 91.1053(a)(2)(i), or § 135.243(a)(1) of this chapter, or
(2) Serve as second in command in flag or supplemental operations in part 121 of this chapter requiring three or more pilots.
[Docket FAA-2010-0100, 78 FR 42376, July 15, 2013, as amended by 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]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What basic privileges does an unrestricted ATP certificate convey?
Per FAR 61.167(a)(1), an ATP has the same privileges as a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, plus the ATP-specific instructional and airline operating privileges described in the rest of FAR 61.167.
Q2What are the duty-time limits for an ATP instructing other pilots under this section?
Under FAR 61.167(a)(3), an ATP may not instruct in aircraft, simulators, or FTDs for more than 8 hours in any 24 consecutive hours, or more than 36 hours in any 7 consecutive days, excluding briefings and debriefings.
Q3What can a restricted-privileges ATP not do?
FAR 61.167(b) prohibits a pilot who hasn't met the age requirement of § 61.153(a)(1) and the experience requirements of § 61.159 from acting as PIC in Part 121, § 91.1053(a)(2)(i), or § 135.243(a)(1) operations, or serving as SIC in Part 121 flag or supplemental operations requiring three or more pilots.
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Related Sections in Part 61