Full Form of ATPL

ATPL is the highest form of aviation flying license, and the full form of ATPL is an airline transport pilot license in India. In the United States of America, it is termed an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. This is the highest level of aviation certificate.

In the U.S., an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate permits holders to act as Captain on scheduled air carriers’ aircraft. In EASA states and the United Kingdom, anyone wishing to act as PIC on a multi-crew commercially operated aircraft must hold an ATPL.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Full Form of ATPL & CPL 

Airline Transport Pilot License Course

ATPL Exam

ATPL Requirements

Airline Transport Pilot License Duration of Theory Classes

Privilege's of ATPL

ATPL Pilot Salary

Full Form of ATPL & CPL

Aviators use the full form of ATPL, which stands for Airline Transport Pilot License, and CPL, which stands for Commercial Pilot License, to operate aircraft for compensation. But the basic difference between both is that while CPL allows you to fly aircraft for commercial purposes, such as in charter operations or as a co-pilot in a passenger plane, to be the PIC (Captain) of a large commercial airliner, you need an airline transport pilot license. The ATPL is the highest level of flying certification and requires more experience and additional exams compared to a CPL.

Airline Transport Pilot License Course

Commercial air carriers use pilots that focus on flying large passenger airplanes as airline transport pilots( i.e aviators certified with ATPL). They spend years and a huge amount of money learning how to deal with high cargo or passenger loads. This entails having an ATPL. In order to receive an ATPL, they have to do lots of special training, face tough exams. They also need to complete the flying hours that the DGCA makes them do. While smaller routine operations do not require ATPs, they are extremely important for the safety of large commercial aircraft and cargo.

To know about different pilot courses, click here

ATPL Exam

To understand the full form of ATPL is easy, but to clear the ATPL Exam is not so easy. In fact, it is a long-drawn process. To be qualified for the airline transport pilot license, the flyer must comply with all of the following qualifications for the ATPL Exam:

Experience and certification: In order to qualify for the ATP License with type rating, an aviator flying aircraft under DGCA regulation must have an extensive amount of experience as well as hold the highest level of aviation certificate.

Theory Exams: The DGCA in India, which is the regulatory body in the field of civil aviation, conducts the ATPL exam for theory subjects to get an ATP License.

Flying Hours: The DGCA requires at least 1500 hours of total flying time.

Instrument Rating:  Minimum 250 hours of flying with an instrument rating (for DGCA ATPL requirements).

Practical Exams: After qualifying for an ATPL, the candidate must clear a practical exam conducted by DGCA in India.

Flight Schools: Most flight schools provide comprehensive training programs to help students prepare for the ATPL exam.

To know about training on different flight schools, click here.

DGCA ATPL Requirements

The DGCA stipulates the following ATPL requirements for aspirants in India:

• The DGCA ATPL minimum age requirement is 21 years old on the date of application.
• The DGCA ATPL minuimum educational requirement is to clear 10+2 in physics and math.
• DGCA ATPL requires him to clear class 2 and class 1 medical tests.
• The aviator must have completed a minimum of 1500 hours of flight as per the norms prescribed by the DGCA.

Airline Transport Pilot License Course: Duration of Theory Classes

Aviators planning to prepare for ATPL, need to take note of the timelines required in theory classes. This helps them plan accordingly for the license.

Subjects	Duration
Air Navigation	45
Aviation Meteorology	30
Air Regulation	30
Technical General	45
Technical Specific	15
Radio Telephony Restricted RTR (A)	40

Privilege’s of ATPL

All aviators wishing to fly for salary must start with a commercial license (CPL). This allows the aviator to conduct commercial flying, such as crop-spraying or banner towing.

Airlines operate commercial transport, providing both scheduled and non-scheduled passenger transportation, as well as cargo air transportation. Aviators need an ATPL, otherwise known as an Airline Transport Pilot License, to fly aircraft with multiple flyers.

Just like PPL and CPL, ATP licenses do not have time limits. Nevertheless, a flyer must have at least an up-to-date medical certificate. He must also possess the class rating or type/instrument rating for their planned flight category.

ATPL Pilot Salary

Different aviation companies pay different salary to flyers certified with ATP license. For instance, a First Officer with the ATP License in Air India earns between INR 4.5 lac and INR 5 lac. The senior Captains with higher certifications earn INR 7.5 lac and upwards. Apart from this, airlines pay attractive allowances based on the acquired flying hours. In Indigo, average salary of Captains is in the range of INR 36 lac to INR 1 crore per annum.  Captains with 5 years of experience earn INR 60 lac to 80 lac annually.

Full form of ATPL: A comprehensive view

ATP license, the highest level of aviation license, certifies aviators to fly the biggest passenger and cargo airplanes. The full form of ATPL, Airline Transport Pilot License, itself denotes air transport, whether passenger or cargo, carried at the highest level. Hence, the certified flyer can transport aircraft weighing more than 5700 kg. The flyer must essentially hold a CPL license and have flown 1500 hours with it.”

To achieve the ATP license, the aspirant needs to study theoretical subjects in depth. He studies air laws, aviation meteorology, flight planning, and completes the mandated practical flight hours.

Aviators train to operate in tough flying conditions, hence absorbing in-depth skills and knowledge. To acquire the complex skills, the aspirant needs to attend classroom instruction, simulator training classes, and complete the mandated flight experience.

Upon securing airline transport pilot license, an aviator not only achieves the highest aviation flying license but also moves to a privileged class of aviators who earn the highest in the aviation industry. Flyers aiming to grow to the highest position in aviation must acquire the ATPL.

To Watch Video on How to get ATP license, click here