Flight Training

Frozen ATPL

By ozwegian ⋅ June 11, 2010 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

The Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) is the highest aviation certificate one can hold, and gives the privilege og being able to command commercial flights. In other words, a “captain’s licence”. There are, however, rather extensive experience requirements to obtain that licence. While I am working towards the European edition of the second highest level of certification, the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), it is customary to complete the full 14 papers of the ATPL theoretical examinations so as to not have to think about it once one is ready for the ATPL skill test. A few hours ago I received the results from my final exams. Finally I am done with the ATPL theory! It’s a big relief, as the studying has been both hard and exhausting. This leaves me with something on my licence called, in pilot-jargon, the “frozen ATPL.” What is meant by that is that although I fulfill the theoretical requirements for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence, I am still lacking in operational experience. Once the experience requirements are met (generally a set number of flight hours) and a skill test is completed successfully, the licence is “unfrozen” and I receive my full ATPL certification. Next up; flying!