General Qualifications and Training

  U.S.

FAA First Officer Minimum Qualification and Flight Experience Requirements (“FOQ Rule”)

Despite great advances in aircraft technology that have immeasurably improved safety, the flight crew is still responsible for making hundreds of decisions on each and every flight to operate in the safest manner possible.

The development of a highly skilled pilot begins on the ground, in an aviation-centric training environment such as a university aviation program, the military, or some other type of training environment. More on pathways.

Flight training is a progression of in-flight and ground school training that ends with a commercial-certificated pilot who has documented sufficient knowledge, skill, and flight proficiency to obtain the certificates (private pilot first, then commercial pilot) and ratings (instrument, multiengine) necessary to enter commercial flight operations.

The requirements below ensure that pilots are well-trained and possess the necessary experience prior to entering into Part 121 airline service to safely and skillfully perform at the highest possible levels.

FAA Minimum Qualification and Flight Experience Requirements

To serve as a first officer in Part 121 (airline) operations:
  1. Be at least 21 years old 
  2. Hold an Air Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate or an ATP certificate with restricted privileges (R-ATP) (both include instrument rating qualification) 
  3. An appropriate aircraft type rating 
  4. At least a second-class medical certificate 
To receive an ATP certificate with an airplane category and multiengine class rating:
  1. Meet all previous (i.e., “before FOQ rule”) requirements 
  2. Prior to taking the ATP knowledge test, successfully complete an ATP certification training program 
  3. Have a minimum of 50 hours in class of airplane (e.g., multiengine) 
  4. Meet all the requirements of FAR 61.159
To receive an ATP certificate with restricted privileges:
  1. Be at least 21 years old 
  2. Hold a commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating 
  3. Prior to taking the ATP knowledge test, successfully complete an ATP CTP 
  4. Pass the ATP knowledge test and practical test 
  5. Meet the aeronautical experience requirements of § 61.159. A pilot may be eligible if he or she was a military-trained pilot and has 750 hours total time, a graduate of a four-year bachelor degree program with an aviation major and has a total of 1,000 hours total time, a graduate of a two-year associate degree program with an aviation major and has 1,250 hours total time, or has 1,500 hours total time as a pilot.
  6. Meet the requirements of FAR 61.160
Serve as pilot in command in Part 121 operations:
  1. Meet all of the previous (i.e., “before FOQ rule”) requirements 
  2. Have a minimum of 1,000 flight hours in air carrier operations as second in command in Part 121 operations, a pilot in command in operations under either § 135.243(a)(1) or § 91.1053(a)(2)(i), or any combination of these 

  Canada

General Qualifications and Training in Canada

The Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) outline the requirements for each type of operation. Canada separates the various passenger and cargo-carrying operations into three categories, often colloquially referred to by their governing regulation numerical part and subpart: Air Taxi (referred to as 703 Operations), Commuter (referred to as 704 Operations), and Airline (referred to as 705 Operations). There is an additional category called Aerial Work (referred to as 702 Operations), which is strictly non-passenger and non-cargo operations, like crop-dusting and surveillance.

In a pilot’s career, the most common path is to progress from the smaller operations like Air Taxi and Commuter, then gradually move up with experience to the Airline operations.

703 – Air Taxi Operations

Canada’s Air Taxi operations represent the smallest size passenger and cargo-carrying operations. Medevac operations in Canada also fall under this category. In these air carriers, small aircraft carry four to nine passengers, or their cargo equivalent, occasionally using only a single pilot. The Cessna 208, Beechcraft King Air, Piper Navajo, and Swearingen Metroliner II are examples of aircraft that fly air taxi operations. The typical first officer candidate at these airlines has completed the requirements below but has yet to hold a pilot position previously.

First Officer Requirements for 703 – Air Taxi Operations:

  • Be a minimum of 18 years of age
  • Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
  • Have at least a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL)
  • Have a Multi-Engine Rating if operating multi-engine aircraft
  • Have an Instrument Rating if operating such flights
  • Have completed the IATRA exam, or SAMRA and SARON exams, where a type rating is required
  • An appropriate aircraft type rating, where required

704 – Commuter Operations

Canada’s Commuter Operations includes passenger and cargo operations for aircraft that seat 10 to 19 passengers, almost exclusively with two pilots. The deHavlland Twin Otter, Beechcraft 1900, and Swearginen Metroliner 23 make up the backbone of Canada’s commuter operations. A first officer candidate for these airlines typically has about a year of commercial flying experience (approx. 500 total hours) as either a flight instructor or 702 – Air Taxi pilot, unless they’ve worked for the airline previously, where they may be hired with the basic licence requirements below, which are identical to the 703 – Air Taxi requirements, except that the Instrument Rating and type rating requirements have, practically speaking, become mandatory:

First Officer Requirements for 704 – Commuter Operations:

  • Be a minimum of 18 years of age
  • Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
  • Have at least a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL)
  • Have a Multi-Engine Rating if operating Multi Engine aircraft
  • Have an Instrument Rating
  • Have completed the IATRA exam, or SAMRA and SARON exams
  • An appropriate aircraft type rating, where required

     

    705 – Airline Operations

    Canada’s airline operations span a wide variety of companies and aircraft, ranging from the smaller Dash 8-100 series, accommodating 35 passengers, all the way to the Boeing 777-300ER carrying 450 passengers or more. Typically, a pilot candidate will reach an airline carrier as a second or third pilot job, though opportunities exist through pathway programs to achieve a first job at these airlines.

    First Officer Requirements for 705 – Airline Operations:

  • Be a minimum of 18 years of age
  • Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
  • Have at least a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) or Frozen ATPL
  • Have an Instrument Rating,
  • Have completed the IATRA exam, or SAMRA and SARON exams

    • Regulatory requirements for captains in Canada are very straightforward. In 703 – Air Taxi and 704 – Commuter operations, there are no differences to the licencing requirements between first officer and captain. In the 705 – Airline world, however, the Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence is required:

    Requirements for the Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL), as outlined in CAR 421.34:

    • Be a minimum of 21 years of age
    • Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
    • Obtain a passing grade of 70% or greater in the SAMRA, SARON, and INRAT exams
    • Hold valid Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings
    • Meet the experience requirements outlined in CAR 421.34 (4)
      • 1500 Hours of total flying experience, including:
        • 250 Hours Pilot In Command (PIC) time
          • 100 of these hours shall be obtained at night, and
          • 25 of the night hours shall be as PIC, during cross-country flights
        • 75 Hours of instrument time
        • At least 900 hours in aeroplanes

    Captain requirements for 705 – Airline Operations:

    • Be a minimum of 21 years of age
    • Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
    • Have an Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence