ATP & Advanced Training
You've earned your certificates. Now it's time to build the hours and proficiency that open the door to the airlines and beyond. Tradewind is here to help you get there.
1,500
ATP Minimum Flight Hours
250
Hours Required for R-ATP
50
Hours Multi-Engine Required
75
Hours Instrument Required
Advanced Training Overview
The Path to the Airlines Runs Through the Logbook.
The Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate is the highest level of pilot certification issued by the FAA — and it is required to serve as pilot-in-command of a commercial airline. Getting there is a matter of building the right hours, in the right aircraft, with the right experience.
Unlike structured certificate programs, advanced training is personal. Every pilot arrives with a different logbook, different goals, and a different timeline. At Tradewind, we work with you to identify what you need — whether that's building total time, adding instrument hours, logging multi-engine PIC time, or sharpening specific skills before an airline interview.
Our fleet is available for rental to certificated pilots, giving you access to well-maintained aircraft and professional instructors whenever you need them. Whether you're flying solo to build time or working with a CFII on advanced procedures, Tradewind is your base of operations.
ATP Certificate Requirements
Standard ATP minimums per FAR 61.159. R-ATP pathways available for military and degree-program graduates.
- 1,500 total flight hours (or R-ATP pathway minimum)
- 500 hours cross-country flight time
- 100 hours night flight time
- 75 hours actual or simulated instrument time
- 50 hours in class of aircraft for the rating sought
- Pass the FAA ATP written knowledge test
- Pass the FAA ATP practical test (checkride)
What We Can Help With
Advanced Training Options
Time Building
Rent our aircraft solo or with an instructor to accumulate the cross-country, night, and total hours required for ATP minimums.
Instrument Proficiency
Work with our CFIIs to sharpen your IFR skills, practice approaches, and build the instrument hours airlines look for.
Multi-Engine PIC Time
Log multi-engine pilot-in-command hours in our twin-engine aircraft — a key differentiator when applying to regional carriers.
ATP Written Prep
Our instructors can guide you through the ATP knowledge test material, covering systems, regulations, and meteorology at the airline level.
Checkride Preparation
Focused ground and flight sessions to prepare you for the ATP practical test, covering all ACS tasks to examiner standards.
Recurrency & Proficiency
Flight reviews, instrument proficiency checks, and recurrent training to keep your skills sharp and your certificates current.
Aircraft Rental
Build Time in Our Fleet
Tradewind makes our training fleet available to certificated pilots for rental. Whether you need to log solo cross-country hours, build night time, or practice instrument approaches, our aircraft are maintained to the highest FAA standards and ready when you are.
Rental pilots must complete a checkout with one of our instructors before flying solo. We offer flexible scheduling and competitive hourly rates. Contact us to discuss availability and checkout requirements for the aircraft you want to fly.
Ask About Rental
Cessna 172 Skyhawk
The world's most popular training aircraft. Ideal for building cross-country, night, and instrument hours toward ATP minimums.
Piper Seminole
Log multi-engine PIC time in our PA-44. Essential for pilots targeting airline or charter positions that require multi-engine experience.
Ready to Build Toward the Airlines?
Talk to our team about your current certificates, logbook hours, and career goals. We will put together a plan to get you where you want to go.