Often, I hear, that ATPL guys have to learn 1000 times as much as a PPL guy. However, me, being a.............

Question

...private pilot, I had of course to learn the different chapters, like weather, navigation etc. So, I decided one time to buy a book called ATPL-weather, where it is written, that, with this book, you can answer every question demanded to pass the ATPL-weather-test. I read all the book, and now, I have to find that, there is not THAT great of a difference if I compare the ATPL weather book with the PPL book. Of course, there are some more sheets to read, but in general, everything what was written in the ATPL book was also written in the PPL book. Of course, chapters like "jetstreams" were not described really that much in the PPL, but besides these "typical ATPL weather phenomenon", it was pretty the same.......

Sooooo, if someone sais "ATPL is SO much more than PPL", he is not always true. It's true, in general, ATPL is much more to learn, BUT, not each chapter is bigger (-->>as weather)... Right?!

Answer 1

Thanks John for saying what I was thinking!

Answer 2

I think maybe countries outside the US issue ATPLs.  I notice that  guys from Europe use the "PPL" & "CPL" & "ATPL" acronyms.

Answer 3

so what's the question

Answer 4

The ATP is just a more advanced instrument rating, now issued at the certificate level.  Drop the "L."  The ATP requires a much higher level of precision in the business of actually flying the airplane.

Pilot certifications are actually called "Airman Certificates," even if you are a woman.  For example, "Private Airman Certificate" is the correct term for what people call the Private Pilot's License.

Where the ATP is much more demanding than the Private, for example, is in the precision of flying basic maneuvers, holding patterns, instrument approaches, and other difficult parts of the flying regimen.  You can pass the Private check ride after fewer than 100 landings, but by the time you strap in for your ATP check ride, you will have made thousands of landings, and equal numbers of all of these other maneuvers.

It's not the written exam, it's the actual hands-on flying that is 1,000 times harder.

Good luck!