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NZ ATPL — aeroplane: the hours, and when you'll have them

1,500 hours of flight time in aeroplanes, including 250 pic in aeroplanes, 100 cross-country as pic, 100 night, as pic or co-pilot, 75 instrument time and 50 in aeroplanes. From Rule 61.253 and AC61-7 Appendix I, read from the rule text on 19 September 2026.

The minimums

RequirementHours
Flight time in aeroplanesCo-pilot time counts at 50%, and PIC under supervision logged for Part 135 consolidation doesn't count.1,500
PIC in aeroplanesIncluding 100 cross-country, 25 of it at night — or 70 as PIC plus 50% of qualifying command practice.250
Cross-country as PIC25 of it at night. 200 as co-pilot in an aeroplane that needs one can stand in.100
Night, as PIC or co-pilotAC61-7 says 100 as PIC or 100 as co-pilot. This adds the two together — check with CAA NZ whether a mix counts for you.100
Instrument timeApproved simulators count toward it.75
…of which in aeroplanes50

Also required: You also need a CPL and a current instrument rating.

Plan it

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

RequirementNeedYou haveA monthWhen
Flight time in aeroplanes1,500—
PIC in aeroplanes250—
Cross-country as PIC100—
Night, as PIC or co-pilot100—
Instrument time75—
…of which in aeroplanes50—

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, NZ CAA layout

Common questions

How many hours do you need for the NZ ATPL — aeroplane?+

1,500 hours of flight time in aeroplanes, including 250 pic in aeroplanes, 100 cross-country as pic, 100 night, as pic or co-pilot, 75 instrument time and 50 in aeroplanes. That is the headline from Rule 61.253 and AC61-7 Appendix I; the rule adds conditions — flight time in aeroplanes: Co-pilot time counts at 50%, and PIC under supervision logged for Part 135 consolidation doesn't count. pic in aeroplanes: Including 100 cross-country, 25 of it at night — or 70 as PIC plus 50% of qualifying command practice. cross-country as pic: 25 of it at night. 200 as co-pilot in an aeroplane that needs one can stand in. night, as pic or co-pilot: AC61-7 says 100 as PIC or 100 as co-pilot. This adds the two together — check with CAA NZ whether a mix counts for you. instrument time: Approved simulators count toward it.

What else does the NZ ATPL — aeroplane need besides hours?+

You also need a CPL and a current instrument rating.

Where do these numbers come from?+

They were read from Rule 61.253 and AC61-7 Appendix I 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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