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The Pilots Desk
US-FAA14 CFR 61.160

Aeronautical experience—airplane category restricted privileges

Read the official rule

This regulation allows certain pilots to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with reduced total flight time from the standard 1,500 hours. The reduced minimums are:

  • 750 hours: Military pilots with qualifying service and training
  • 1,000 hours: Graduates with a Bachelor's degree in aviation from FAA-authorized institutions
  • 1,250 hours: Graduates with an Associate's degree in aviation, or Bachelor's graduates with 30-59 aviation credit hours

All reduced-hour pathways require specific documentation and must still meet other requirements of §61.159, except cross-country time is reduced to 200 hours (versus the standard 500).

Important limitation: ATP certificates obtained this way are "restricted" and subject to pilot-in-command limitations under §61.167(b) until you accumulate the full 1,500 hours required by §61.159. The certificate will also note it doesn't meet ICAO standards for international operations. These restrictions are removed once you meet standard ATP requirements.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*

This is an original plain-English explanation for training and reference, not legal advice and not for navigation. Always rely on the current official rule linked above. Last reviewed June 20, 2026.