CASA ATPL requirements: 1,500 hours, exams and age (61.705)
Checked against the sources below on 29 October 2026. How these guides are written
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A CASA ATPL (aeroplane) needs at least 1,500 hours of aeronautical experience under CASR 61.705: 1,400 hours as a pilot, 750 in aeroplanes, 500 PICUS or 250 PIC or PICUS with 70 PIC, 200 cross-country, 100 night (not dual), 75 instrument time and 45 instrument flight time. You must be 21, hold a CPL or MPL, pass 7 theory exams, complete an approved MCC course and pass an IFR flight test (61.700).
- Total aeronautical experience
- 1,500 h; up to 100 h may be approved FSTD time, no more than 25 h of it in a device that is not a flight simulator
- Before the flight test
- 61.705(1), (2), (3)
- Flight time
- 1,400 h as a pilot (any category), including 750 h as pilot of an aeroplane
- Career total
- 61.705(1)(a), (b), (4)
- Command time in an aeroplane
- 500 h PICUS, or 250 h PIC or PICUS including at least 70 h PIC
- Either limb
- 61.705(1)(c)
- Cross-country and night
- 200 h cross-country in an aeroplane (100 h as PIC or PICUS); 100 h night as pilot of an aeroplane, other than dual
- Career total
- 61.705(1)(d), (e), (f)
- Instrument
- 75 h instrument time, including 45 h instrument flight time in an aeroplane
- Up to 30 h can be instrument ground time
- 61.705(1)(g), (h)
- Age, licence and exams
- Age 21; hold a CPL or MPL with the aeroplane rating; pass the 7 ATPL exams
- Exams within a 2-year window
- 61.700(1), (2), (3)(a)
- MCC and flight test
- Approved multi-crew cooperation course; IFR flight test in a multi-engine turbine aeroplane with a co-pilot, or an approved flight simulator
- Before grant
- 61.700(3)(e), (5)
How the 1,500 hours break down
CASR 61.705(1) says an applicant for an ATPL with the aeroplane category rating "must have at least 1 500 hours of aeronautical experience" that includes at least 1,400 hours of flight time as a pilot and at least 750 hours of flight time as pilot of an aeroplane. Aeronautical experience is your flight time as a pilot plus your simulated flight time (61.075), so the 1,500 and the 1,400 are two different tests.
The gap between them is the room for simulator time. 61.705(2) says any of the required experience "that is not completed as flight time as a pilot must be completed as simulated flight time in an approved flight simulation training device for the purpose", and 61.705(3) caps the part done "in a flight simulation training device that is not a flight simulator" at 25 hours. The 1,400 hours can include helicopter or other category time; the 750 must be in a registered or recognised aeroplane (61.705(4)).
The command requirement has two limbs. You need either "at least 500 hours of flight time in an aeroplane as pilot in command under supervision", or "at least 250 hours of flight time in an aeroplane as pilot in command or pilot in command under supervision, of which at least 70 hours must be as pilot in command" (61.705(1)(c)). CASA's application form 61-1AA asks you to choose limb A or limb B.
The rest: 200 hours of cross-country flight time in an aeroplane, 100 of them as PIC or PICUS; "at least 100 hours of flight time at night as pilot of an aeroplane, other than dual flight"; 75 hours of instrument time; and 45 hours of instrument flight time in an aeroplane (61.705(1)(d) to (h)).
What counts as PICUS, co-pilot and instrument time
PICUS under 61.095 needs you to hold a pilot licence and perform all the duties of the PIC, either on a flight run by an operator with training and checking responsibilities where the PIC is authorised to supervise you, or under the supervision of a flight instructor or examiner while you are not receiving training.
Co-pilot time counts in full as flight time as a pilot (61.080(d)), but only in an aircraft that "must be flown with a flight crew of at least 2 pilots" (61.085). CASA's logbook guidance says a second pilot in a single-pilot certified aircraft logs nothing unless they are PIC, PICUS or receiving training.
Instrument time is instrument flight time plus instrument ground time. Before you hold an instrument rating, ATPL or MPL, only dual instrument flight time counts as instrument flight time (61.105(1)(b)), so hood time with a safety pilot does not count toward the 45 hours.
The 7 ATPL theory exams
CASA sets 7 ATPL exams for the aeroplane rating. Four are common to all categories: air law (AALW, 80% pass mark), human factors (AHUF), navigation (ANAV) and meteorology (AMET). Three are aeroplane specific: aerodynamics and aircraft systems (AASA), performance and loading (APLA) and flight planning (AFPA, 3 hours). All except air law need 70%.
You must pass all 7 in one window, which CASA describes as 2 years unless you hold an exemption. To sit them you need an Australian CPL for the category or a full CPL exam credit. An MPL holder is taken to meet the ATPL(A) exam requirement (61.700(4)).
Age, licence, MCC, flight test and medical
61.700 requires you to be at least 21, to hold a CPL or MPL with the same category rating, to complete ATPL flight training, and to complete "an approved course of training in multi-crew cooperation". The aeroplane flight test is flown under the IFR in "a multi-engine turbine-powered aeroplane that is configured for flight, and operated, with a co-pilot" or in an approved flight simulator (61.700(5)).
To use the licence you need a current Class 1 medical (61.415(1)). An ATPL(A) holder flies IFR in a category only with a valid IPC for that category (61.695), and single-pilot IFR needs an instrument rating flight test or an IPC in a single-pilot aircraft (61.675). Your operator's procedures and CASA's assessment of your application take precedence over any summary, including this one.
Mistakes pilots make
- Reading the 1,500 as 1,500 aeroplane hours. Only 750 hours must be as pilot of an aeroplane; the 1,400 hours of flight time as a pilot can include other categories.
- Reading the command rule as 250 hours PIC. It is 500 hours PICUS, or 250 hours PIC or PICUS with at least 70 hours as PIC.
- Counting dual night toward the 100 hours. 61.705(1)(f) excludes dual flight.
- Counting solo hood time before an instrument rating as instrument flight time. Without an IR, ATPL or MPL only dual instrument flight time counts (61.105(1)(b)).
- Adding simulator time into the flight time column. Sim time counts toward the 1,500 only, up to 100 hours, with no more than 25 hours in a device that is not a flight simulator.
What Off Chocks tracks
- Licence progression (Currency page, Licence progression tab) tracks the CASA ATPL(A) hour bars from your logbook: 1,500 total, 1,400 as pilot, 750 aeroplane, PIC or PICUS, 200 cross-country with 100 as PIC or PICUS, 100 night, 75 instrument and the 45 hours of instrument flight time in an aeroplane.
- The 1,500 counts up to 100 hours of FFS and FTD sessions, no more than 25 of them in an FTD, and the 75 instrument hours count up to 30 hours of FFS or FTD instrument time, again with no more than 25 in an FTD. A BIT or Other session adds nothing. The night bar counts night in an aeroplane and leaves out dual night.
- The command bar tests both limbs of 61.705(1)(c), 500 hours PICUS or 250 hours PIC or PICUS with at least 70 PIC, in aeroplane time, and names the limb you are closest to.
- Age, CPL or MPL, theory exams, flight test, MCC, English proficiency and Class 1 medical appear as a checklist when you add the ATPL goal in Goals. CASA decides your eligibility.
Common questions
- How many hours do you need for an ATPL in Australia?
- At least 1,500 hours of aeronautical experience for the aeroplane rating, including 1,400 hours of flight time as a pilot and 750 hours as pilot of an aeroplane (CASR 61.705(1)). The helicopter ATPL needs 1,000 hours (61.710).
- Does simulator time count toward the CASA ATPL?
- Yes, up to 100 hours, because only 1,400 of the 1,500 must be flight time. No more than 25 hours may be in a flight simulation training device that is not a flight simulator (61.705(2), (3)).
- Do I need an instrument rating to get a CASA ATPL?
- 61.700 does not list one. The flight test is flown under the IFR, and to use the licence under the IFR you need a valid IPC for the category (61.695).
- What is the minimum age for a CASA ATPL?
- 21 (61.700(1)).
- Does co-pilot time count in full toward the 1,400 hours?
- Yes. Co-pilot time is flight time as a pilot (61.080(d)), in an aircraft that must be flown with at least 2 pilots (61.085).
- How long do I have to pass the ATPL exams?
- CASA requires all 7 subjects in one window of 2 years unless you hold an exemption. You need a CPL or a full CPL exam credit to sit them.
Sources
- Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, Compilation No. 103 (in force from 29 Sep 2026), Parts 61 and 67
- CASA: ATPL exams AALW, AHUF, ANAV and AMET (updated 28 Oct 2026)
- CASA: ATPL aeroplane exams AASA, APLA and AFPA (updated 28 Oct 2026)
- CASA Form 61-1AA, ATPL (Aeroplane) application, Australian civil trained, V3.4 10/2026
- CASA: Keeping records: flight crew logbooks (updated 20 Oct 2026)
This is a plain-words summary to help you keep your own records, not legal advice. The regulation and your operator's procedures always take precedence.