R-ATP

Bowling Green State University is authorized to certify graduates of the aviation program in meeting the academic eligibility requirements towards the FAA Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) certificate. This authority may allow for pilots with fewer than 1,500 hours of flight time to obtain a R-ATP certificate. A Restricted ATP certificate allows a pilot to serve as a co-pilot at 1,000 hours with 60 credits of approved coursework or 1,250 hours with 30 credits of approved coursework until he or she obtains the necessary 1,500 hours.

If you are a graduate of the BGSU Aviation program and would like to request an audit for Restricted ATP purposes, please contact:

Catherine Smith
Chief Flight Instructor 
cesmith@bgsu.edu


The following are the courses that are applicable towards the minimum number of credit hours.

***This courses are subject to change***

Course Number Course Title Semester Credits
AERT 2050 Aviation Maintenance Management 3
AERT 215 Aviation Ground Operations 3
AERT 2150 Aviation Ground Operations 3
AERT 220 Private Pilot Ground School 4
AERT 2200 Private Pilot Ground School 4
AERT 222 Private Pilot Flight I 2
AERT 2220 Private Pilot Flight I 2
AERT 223 Private Pilot Flight II 2
AERT 2230 Private Pilot Flight II 2
AERT 224 ATC and the National Airspace System 3
AERT 2240 ATC and the National Airspace System 3
AERT 240 Air Transportation 3
AERT 280 Instrument Ground School 3
AERT 2800 Instrument Ground School 3
AERT 281 Basic Instrument Flight Instruction 3
AERT 2810 Basic Instrument Flight Instruction 3
AERT 282 Advanced Instrument Flight Instruction 3
AERT 2820 Advanced Instrument Flight Instruction 3
AERT 3000 Air Transportation 3
AERT 306 Multi-Engine Ground School 1
AERT 3060 Multi-Engine Ground School 1
AERT 320 Commercial Ground School 3
AERT 3200 Commercial Ground School 3
AERT 3220 Basic Commercial Flight Instruction 1
AERT 323 Advanced Commercial Flight Instruction 2
AERT 3230 Advanced Commercial Flight Instruction 2
AERT 3240 Basic Commercial Flight Instruction 3
AERT 3250 Advanced Commercial Flight Instruction 2
AERT 330 Digital Cockpit Instrumentation 2
AERT 3300 Digital Cockpit Instrumentation 2
AERT 3480 Airport Operations 3
AERT 349 Aviation Law 3
AERT 3490 Aviation Law 3
AERT 352 Aviation Safety 3
AERT 3520 Aviation Safety (Discontinued April 2020) 3
AERT 3520 Crew Resource Management 3
AERT 354 Aviation Management 3
AERT 3540 Aviation Management 3
AERT 404 Advanced Aerodynamics and Aircraft Performance 3
AERT 4040 Advance Aerodynamics and Aircraft Performance 3
AERT 405 Advanced Aircraft Systems 3
AERT 4050 Advanced Aircraft Systems 3
AERT 407 Multi-Engine Flight Instruction 1
AERT 4070 Multi-Engine Flight Instruction 1
AERT 440 Aviation Instructor Ground School 2
AERT 4400 Aviation Instructor Ground School 2
AERT 443 Flight Instructor - Airplane 3
AERT 4420 Flight Instructor - Airplane Multi-Engine 3
AERT 4430 Flight Instructor - Airplane 3
AERT 4440 Flight Instructor - Airplane Single Engine 1
AERT 445 Flight Instructor - Instrument 1
AERT 4450 Flight Instructor - Instrument 1
AERT 4460 Flight Instructor - Instrument 1
AERT 447 Flight Instructor - Multi-Engine 1
AERT 4470 Flight Instructor - Multi-Engine 1
AERT 4600 Safety Management Systems 3
AERT 4680 Business Aviation 3
AERT 482 Flight Proficiency 1-3
AERT 4820 Flight Proficiency 1-3
AERT 490 Problems in Aviation Studies 1-3
AERT 4900 Problems in Aviation Studies 1-3
GEOG 125 Weather and Climate 3
GEOG 1250 Weather and Climate 3
GEOG 213 Meteorology 3
GEOG 2130 Meteorology 3
GEOG 303 Severe Weather 3
GEOG 3030 Severe Weather 3

Frequently Asked Questions

You may view the ruling FAR 61.159 and 61.160 on the FAA website.

B.S. in Technology, with a Specialization in 1) Flight Technology and Operations, or 2) Aviation Management and Operations, or 3) Aviation Engineering Technology.

B.S. in Aviation, with a Specialization in 1) Flight Technology and Operations, or 2) Aviation Management and Operations, or 3) Aviation Engineering Technology.

To be eligible for the R-ATP:

  • Graduate from one of the approved degree majors (see "What BGSU degrees are approved by the FAA?")
  • Complete Instrument flight and ground training under Part 141 at BGSU
  • Complete Commercial flight and ground training under Part 141 at BGSU
  • Take ATP Knowledge Exam at an authorized FAA Testing Center
  • If you have satisfactorly completed the prescribed 60 credit hours of approved coursework, build your time to 1,000 hours with 200 Cross Country hours (as well as the other requirements of FAR 61.159)
  • If you have satisfactorly completed between 30 and 60 of the prescribed credit hours of approved coursework, build your time to 1,250 hours with 200 Cross Country hours
  • Take the Practical Exam for the R-ATP certificate

Prior to graduation from BGSU - You may request a preliminary audit for the purpose of determining what level will be eligible for reduction to for the purpose of R-ATP certification once you graduate. If you have taken coursework or aviation training at an institution other than BGSU, this is highly encouraged.

After graduation from BGSU – you may request your transcript be evaluated for the eligibility determination towards R-ATP. If the FAA and BGSU criteria are met, you will be issued an official Certifying Statement.

Email Chief Flight Instructor, Catherine Smith, to apply. cesmith@bgsu.edu. You will need to provide an official transcript with this request.

If you graduate from an FAA-approved degree program at BGSU, you may be eligible to receive your R-ATP at 1,000 or 1,250 hours versus an unrestricted ATP at 1,500 hours. You also will be eligible for hiring by a Part 121 carrier between 250 and 500 hours sooner.

If you graduate from an approved major and you complete 60 credits of approved courses (see approved R-ATP courses above) then you are eligible for the ATP-R at 1,000 hours. If you have completed between 30-59 approved credits  (see approved R-ATP courses above), then you will need 1,250 hours.

The initial legislation required a 1,500-hour ATP. This FAA rule lowers that requirement by up to 500 hours, resulting in BGSU students being eligible for hiring by an airline sooner.

With the R-ATP, you will not be authorized to act as PIC at a U.S. Part 121 air carrier. However, the knowledge and skill requirements are the same for both.

Once you meet the requirements under FAR 61.159 (1500 hours), the ATP will no longer be restricted and will be valid indefinitely as long are you are current.

No, both Instrument and Commercial ground schools and flight must be completed at BGSU.

The Aviation Flight Technology program and courses do not qualify for GI Bill© or VA education benefits. However, many students are eligible for other military education benefits; please contact Nontraditional and Military Student Services at 419 372-8136 or ntmss@bgsu.edu for further information.

It depends.

If you conducted the training in association with an Institution of Higher Education that holds an FAA Letter of Authorization for the R-ATP, you may be able to receive credit towards the eligibility requirements. You will need to provide the official transcripts from that Institution to the BGSU Certifying Official who will determine if those courses are listed and approved on the LOA for that Institution.

If you did not enroll and conduct your Private Pilot Certification at an Institution of Higher Education that holds an FAA Letter of Authorization for the R-ATP, these credit hours will not be utilized to reduce aeronautical experience for R-ATP purposes.

Updated: 02/15/2024 04:49PM