Here is a question that maybe somebody can weigh in on, I have been searching for an answer and calling the FAA for weeks with no satisfaction.
I took the written a few days before the deadline back in 2014 expecting to take the checkride well before now. I recently got hired at Skywest and they bumped my training date to the point that my written will have expired prior to completion of training. They are willing to send me to a CTP program, but the last think I want to do is take that damned written again!
Somebody had once told me that if you were a current and qualified military pilot, that your ATP written didn't expire so I went digging and found some pretty clear verbiage that essentially allows any current/qualified guy to extend their expiration date (references to 8900.1 and 61.39 are below).
The problem is, when I went to the FSDO, they really had no idea about these paragraphs, so they just said "no" with really no explanation. I then called the FAA Airmen Certification Branch and, once again, they had no familiarity, so they said they'd call me back, but probably "no". Again without explanation of the reg or why it didn't apply to me or thousands of guys like me that got in under the wire on the written. I mean, it even tells them what to write on the written certificate. It couldn't be any clearer to me.
They did keep mentioning the SFAR 100-2, which, to me, doesn't seem to apply to these regs in any way...just amplifies it.
Does anybody have any experience or success with this? Thanks for your help guys...I really hope that I can get some light on this to help everyone out.
(I removed paragraphs that didn't apply)
From 8900.1
5-807 EXTENDING VALIDITY PERIODS OF ATP KNOWLEDGE TEST RESULTS—REFER TO § 61.39. Except under the following conditions for extending the validity of an ATP knowledge test, the FAA does not accept expired knowledge test reports.
C. U.S. Armed Forces Pilots. For any ATP Certificate, U.S. Armed Forces pilots currently assigned as a flightcrew member in U.S. military air transport operations at the time of the practical test, who have completed the PIC aircraft qualification training program that is appropriate to the pilot certificate and rating sought, may have the validity of their ATP knowledge test report extended per § 61.39.
D. Extending Validity Period of the ATP Knowledge Test. If a pilot applicant qualifies for extension of their ATP knowledge test validity period, in accordance with § 61.39, the following will be stamped or typed on the airman’s knowledge test report: “The validity period of this ATP knowledge test form is extended in accordance with the applicable provisions of § 61.39.” Following this statement, the authorizing inspector or examiner will sign, date, and show their current Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) or certificate management office (CMO) assignment.
And then from 61.39
(pay close attention to paragraph C)
(b) An applicant for an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating or an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane type rating may take the practical test with an expired knowledge test only if the applicant passed the knowledge test after July 31, 2014, and is employed:
(1) As a flightcrew member by a part 119 certificate holder conducting operations under parts 125 or 135 of this chapter at the time of the practical test and has satisfactorily accomplished that operator's approved pilot-in-command training or checking program; or
(2) As a flightcrew member by a part 119 certificate holder conducting operations under part 121 of this chapter at the time of the practical test and has satisfactorily accomplished that operator's approved initial training program; or
(3) By the U.S. Armed Forces as a flight crewmember in U.S. military air transport operations at the time of the practical test and has completed the pilot in command aircraft qualification training program that is appropriate to the pilot certificate and rating sought.
(c) An applicant for an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating other than those ratings set forth in paragraph (b) of this section may take the practical test for that certificate or rating with an expired knowledge test report, provided that the applicant is employed:
(1) As a flightcrew member by a part 119 certificate holder conducting operations under parts 125 or 135 of this chapter at the time of the practical test and has satisfactorily accomplished that operator's approved pilot-in-command training or checking program; or (2) By the U.S. Armed Forces as a flight crewmember in U.S. military air transport operations at the time of the practical test and has completed the pilot in command aircraft qualification training program that is appropriate to the pilot certificate and rating sought.