EASA ATPL(A) skill test in Cessna C525 Citation ✅

 ⚠️ What is ATPL(A) skill test ⚠️

The ATPL(A) skill test is a checkride with and EASA TRE - type rating examiner on a specific aircraft type. This is a practical test required by regulations to obtain an ATPL(A) license - the so-called airline transport pilot license. An ATPL(A) is required to perform the function of pilot-in-command on multi-pilot aeroplanes.

ATPL(A) license ➡️ privileges

In accordance with FCL.505 the privileges of the holder of an airline transport pilot license - ATPL(A) are to:

• exercise all the privileges of the holder of an LAPL(A), a PPL(A) and a CPL(A);
• act as pilot-in-command - Commander of aircraft engaged in commercial air transport.

Applicants for the issue of an ATPL shall have fulfilled the requirements for the type rating of the aircraft used in the skill test.

So holder of an ATPL(A) can be a pilot-in-command on multipilot aeroplanes - so-called MPA. So it is not necessary to be a holder of an ATPL(A) for flying as Commander on Cessna 525 Citation.

The reason behind is the regulatory certification standard which specifies the Cessna 525 as a high-performance single pilot complex aeroplane operated either in single pilot  or in a multi-crew concept.

Requirements for ✅ ATPL(A) issue

In accordance with FCL.500 applicants for an ATPL(A) shall be at least 21 years of age. The requirements, pre-requisites and crediting for ATPL(A) are laid down further in FCL.510.A.

Applicant for an ATPL(A) shall hold:

• an multi-pilot license MPL; or
• a commercial pilot license CPL(A) and a multi-engine instrument rating for aeroplanes. Applicant shall also have received instruction in multi-crew cooperation MCC.

Applicants for an airline transport pilot license - ATPL(A) in accordance with FCL.510.A(b) shall have completed a minimum of 1 500 hours of flight time in aeroplanes, including at least:

• 500 hours in multi-pilot operations on aeroplanes;
• 500 hours as PIC under supervision; or
  • 250 hours as PIC; or
  • 250 hours, including at least 70 hours as PIC, and the remaining as PIC under supervision;
• 200 hours of cross-country flight time of which at least 100 hours shall be as PIC or as PIC under supervision;
• 75 hours of instrument time of which not more than 30 hours may be instrument ground time; and
• 100 hours of night flight as PIC or co-pilot.

Of the 1500 hours of flight time, up to 100 hours of flight time may have been completed in an FFS and FNPT. Of these 100 hours, only a maximum of 25 hours may be completed in an FNPT.

When it comes to ATPL(A) skill test, multiple crediting options are available in accordance with FCL.510.A(c) as follows:

Holders of a pilot licence for other categories of aircraf (e.g. helicopters) shall be credited with flight time up to a maximum of:

• for TMG or sailplanes, 30 hours flown as PIC;
• for helicopters, 50 % of all the flight time requirements of paragraph FCL.510.a(b).

Holders of a flight engineer licence issued in accordance with applicable national rules shall be credited with 50 % of the flight engineer time up to a maximum credit of 250 hours. These 250 hours may be credited against the 1 500 hours requirement of paragraph FCL.510.A(b), and the 500 hours requirement of paragraph FCL.510.A(b)(1), provided that the total credit given against any of these paragraphs does not exceed 250 hours.

The experience required in FCL.510.A(b) shall be completed before the ATPL skill test is taken.

Skill test for ✅ ATPL(A) issue

To obtain Airline Transport Pilot License - ATPL(A) it is required to pass the checkride with examiner - so-called ATPL skill test with type rating examiner TRE in accordance with FCL.520.A. The applicant for airline transport pilot license shall pass a ATPL skill test in accordance with Appendix 9 to Part FCL to demonstrate the ability to perform, as PIC of a multi-pilot aeroplane under IFR, the relevant procedures and manoeuvres with the competency appropriate to the privileges granted.

The ATPL(A) skill test shall be performed on airplane or on in a full flight simulator - FFS representing the same type of multi-pilot aeroplane. According to AMC1 FCL.520.A, the ATPL skill test may serve at the same time as a skill test for the issue of the ATPL licence and a proficiency check for the revalidation of the type rating for the aircraft used in the skill test and may be combined with the skill test for the issue of a multi-pilot type rating.

➡️ How to do ATPL(A) skill test on Cessna C525 ⬅️

It is not possible to attend the ATPL(A) skill test in aeroplane or simulator represents the  Cessna C525 Citation type. There are two main contradictions to EASA requirements of FCL.520.A

1. Cessna C525 Citation aircraft type is certifies by EASA TCDS in accordance with CS-23 certification standard as a single pilot aeroplane in either single pilot and multi pilot environment. It is the same certification standard as used for certification of Cessna C-152
2. Cessna C525 Citation is considered by  EASA Type Ratings and Licence endorsement lists as a single pilot high performance complex aeroplane.

Are my hours on Cessna 525 worth?

An experience and flight hours flown on a Cessna C525 Citation in multi-pilot operation in accordance with the approved SOPs for multi-pilot operations may be counted towards the multi-pilot flight time requirement for the issue of ATPL(A). However, it is not possible to pass the ATPL(A) skill test using the Cessna C525 Citation typerating.  ATPL skill test must be performed under the typerating of a multi-pilot aeroplane - certified in accordance with CS-25 certification standard.