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FAA ATP — airplane: the hours, and when you'll have them

1,500 hours of total time as a pilot, including 500 cross-country, 100 night, 75 instrument, actual or simulated and 250 pic in airplanes. From 14 CFR 61.159(a), read from the rule text on 19 September 2026.

The minimums

RequirementHours
Total time as a pilot1,500
Cross-country500
Night100
Instrument, actual or simulatedNo more than 25 of it in a simulator or FTD (50 through a Part 142 centre).75
PIC in airplanesSIC performing PIC duties under supervision also counts. Must include 100 cross-country and 25 night.250

Also required: Also 50 hours in the class of airplane. Some graduates and military pilots qualify with fewer total hours under 61.160, and night landings can stand in for up to 25 night hours (61.159(b)).

Plan it

Your totals and your monthly rate for each. Nothing leaves this page.

RequirementNeedYou haveA monthWhen
Total time as a pilot1,500—
Cross-country500—
Night100—
Instrument, actual or simulated75—
PIC in airplanes250—

Fill in what you have to see what's left.

Let your logbook fill this in

AvLog Plus has this goal built in, and twelve more across six authorities. Its Goals tab reads every flight you log, works out your pace from your last twelve months, and moves the date as you fly — with the pace a target date needs and the requirement holding you back. A$29 once, every edition.

See AvLog PlusStart with AvLog Lite — free, FAA layout

Common questions

How many hours do you need for the FAA ATP — airplane?+

1,500 hours of total time as a pilot, including 500 cross-country, 100 night, 75 instrument, actual or simulated and 250 pic in airplanes. That is the headline from 14 CFR 61.159(a); the rule adds conditions — instrument, actual or simulated: No more than 25 of it in a simulator or FTD (50 through a Part 142 centre). pic in airplanes: SIC performing PIC duties under supervision also counts. Must include 100 cross-country and 25 night.

What else does the FAA ATP — airplane need besides hours?+

Also 50 hours in the class of airplane. Some graduates and military pilots qualify with fewer total hours under 61.160, and night landings can stand in for up to 25 night hours (61.159(b)).

Where do these numbers come from?+

They were read from 14 CFR 61.159(a) itself on 19 September 2026. Rules change, and your authority decides what it accepts — check the rule before you rely on a number here.

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