U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular Subject: Institution of Higher Education’s Application for Authority to Certify its Graduates for an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with Reduced Aeronautical Experience Date: 7/12/13 Initiated by: AFS-800 AC No: 61-139 Change:
1. PURPOSE. This advisory circular (AC) provides instructions for institutions of higher education on how to obtain authority to certify students who graduate from the institution’s degree program with an aviation major and otherwise meet the requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61, § 61.160(b), (c), or (d). Graduates of an institution of higher education that has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization to certify graduates may be eligible to apply for a restricted privileges airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. The total flight time requirements for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate based on a degree with an aviation major are:
• 1,000 hours for a graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree with an aviation major and meets the remaining requirements of § 61.160(b);
• 1,250 hours for a graduate who holds an associate’s degree with an aviation major and meets the remaining requirements of § 61.160(c); and
• 1,250 hours for a graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree with an aviation major and meets the remaining requirements of § 61.160(d).
2. RELATED 14 CFR SECTIONS. Sections 61.1, 61.39, 61.55, 61.153, 61.155, 61.156,
61.157, 61.159, 61.160, 61.165, 61.167, 61.169 and part 141, §§ 141.26 and 141.27.
3. DEFINITIONS.
a. Accredited. As defined by the Department of Education in Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations (34 CFR) part 600, § 600.2, the status of public recognition that a nationally recognized accrediting agency grants to an institution or educational program that meets the agency’s established requirements.
b. Academic Areas. The aviation courses that should be satisfactorily completed at an institution of higher education for a student to meet the requirements of § 61.160.
c. Aviation Coursework Mapping. This is the requirement on the application for an institution of higher education to list all of its aviation and aviation-related courses offered that will improve and enhance the knowledge and skills of a person seeking a career as a professional pilot. In addition, a description of each course, the number of semester credits, and identifying
Par 3 Page 2 which academic area, identified in paragraph 9 of this AC, the course addresses must also be included.
d. Institution of Higher Education. As defined in 34 CFR part 600, § 600.4. An institution of higher education must be listed in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. The list is administered by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education and can be found at http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
e. Restricted Privileges ATP Certificate. An ATP Certificate that is subject to the limitations set forth in § 61.167(b). To be eligible a pilot must meet the requirements in §§ 61.153 and 61.160.
f. Substantial Change. Any information on the letter of authorization (LOA) issued by the FAA to the institution of higher education that changes and therefore requires a revised LOA to be issued. This includes the removal, addition, or modification of a degree program with an aviation major, and changes to aviation and aviation-related coursework, that affects the LOA or the certifying statement that an institution of higher education places on a graduate’s transcript or other authorized document. A revised application must be submitted for a substantial change as described in paragraph 18 of this AC.
g. Training Agreement. A statement signed by both an institution of higher education and a part 141 pilot school that describes the terms for which academic training and flight training will be provided to a student.
h. Training Course Outline (TCO). An overview document that details the form, methodology, and content of a course of training. The document meets the requirements of part 141 subpart C and is submitted to the FAA for the issuance of a pilot school certificate or provisional pilot school certificate and ratings.
4. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. Section 61.160 prescribes the minimum requirements that a student must complete as part of a degree program with an aviation major to be eligible for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate. The program must include flight and ground training for a commercial pilot certificate in the airplane category and an airplane instrument rating. To receive the authority from the FAA to certify eligible students, the institution of higher education must demonstrate its degree program(s) can satisfy the following:
a. Bachelor’s Degree with an Aviation Major (§ 61.160(b)).
(1) The institution of higher education must be accredited; and
(2) Include at least 60 semester credit hours of aviation and aviation-related coursework that has been recognized by the Administrator as coursework designed to improve and enhance the knowledge and skills of a person seeking a career as a professional pilot and outlined in paragraph 9 of this AC; and
(3) Hold either of the following:
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(a) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for flight and ground training; or
(b) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for ground training only and have a formal training agreement with a part 141 pilot school with a TCO approved for flight training.
b. Associate’s Degree with an Aviation Major (§ 61.160(c)).
(1) The institution of higher education must be accredited; and
(2) Include at least 30 semester credit hours of aviation and aviation-related coursework that has been recognized by the Administrator as coursework designed to improve and enhance the knowledge and skills of a person seeking a career as a professional pilot and outlined in paragraph 9 of this AC; and
(3) Hold either of the following:
(a) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for flight and ground training; or
(b) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for ground training only and have a formal training agreement with a part 141 pilot school with a TCO approved for flight training.
c. Bachelor’s Degree with an Aviation Major (§ 61.160(d)).
(1) The institutions of higher education must be accredited; and
(2) Include at least 30 semester credit hours of aviation and aviation-related coursework that has been recognized by the Administrator as coursework designed to improve and enhance the knowledge and skills of a person seeking a career as a professional pilot and outlined in paragraph 9 of this AC; and
(3) Hold either of the following:
(a) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for flight and ground training; or
(b) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for ground training only and have a formal training agreement with a part 141 pilot school with a TCO approved for flight training.
5. RELATED READING MATERIALS (current editions).
a. AC 61-138, Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program. This AC provides the aeronautical knowledge that must be obtained by the applicant in order to meet the prerequisites for an ATP knowledge test that is taken after July 31, 2014.
Par 5 Page 4 NOTE: If the ATP knowledge test is satisfactorily completed prior to August 1, 2014, the ATP Certification Training Program (CTP) need not be completed, provided the practical test is successfully completed within 24 calendar-months of completing the ATP knowledge test.
b. AC 61-65, Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors. Stakeholders can find additional information regarding original pilot certification and addition of category, class, and type ratings in AC 61-65.
c. AC 61-89, Pilot Certificates: Aircraft Type Ratings. Guidance on advanced training criteria is available in AC 61-89. The FAA, commercial sources, and industry associations provide other media on pilot certification and eligibility.
d. AC 141-1, Pilot School Certification. Institutions may need to apply for a part 141 pilot school certificate. Guidance on the certification process for a pilot school is contained in AC 141-1.
e. Airman Knowledge Test Guides. Institutions may choose to incorporate elements of the airman knowledge test guides into a degree program with an aviation major. The information contained in the guides is critical for an applicant to have a thorough understanding of the concepts and tasks that are associated with the minimum aeronautical knowledge for a certificate or rating.
f. Practical Test Standards (PTS). Institutions may choose to incorporate elements of the PTS into the coursework of a degree program with an aviation major. The applicant should have a thorough understanding of the concepts and tasks outlined in the PTS that are associated with the minimum knowledge and skill level for a certificate or rating.
6. BACKGROUND.
a. Public Law (PL). The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 (PL 111-216) mandated that all pilots in 14 CFR part 121 operations hold an ATP Certificate by August 2, 2013. PL 111-216 also required the FAA revise the ATP Certificate requirements and included a provision that permitted the Administrator to allow specific academic training courses to be credited towards the minimum aeronautical experience requirements for an ATP Certificate.
b. FAA Regulations. As a result of the PL, the FAA created § 61.160, Aeronautical Experience – Airplane Category Restricted Privileges, which enables a pilot, in certain situations, to obtain an ATP Certificate with reduced total time as a pilot based on academic experience. Specific paragraphs in § 61.160 enable a graduate of a degree program with an aviation major to be eligible for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate, provided they receive a certifying statement from the institution of higher education. Section 61.169 provides the requirements for the institution of higher education to obtain the authority from the FAA to issue a certifying statement to its graduates. Without a certifying statement from the institution of higher education, a student may not apply for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate under the total time as a pilot requirements of § 61.160(b), (c), or (d).
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7. GENERAL PROCESS FOR AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION SEEKING AUTHORIZATION.
a. Requirements. In accordance with § 61.160, an institution of higher education must hold:
(1) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for ground and flight training; or
(2) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for ground only and have a formal training agreement in accordance with § 141.26(b) with a part 141 pilot school that provides the flight training for the institution of higher education.
b. Submit Application. Any institution of higher education that chooses to obtain authority to certify its students for an ATP Certificate under the requirements in § 61.160 must submit an application to the FAA demonstrating that its degree program(s) has met all of the program requirements listed in § 61.160 and paragraph 4 above, as applicable. The aviation coursework mapping section of the application must be fully documented and retained by the institution of higher education and the FAA.
c. LOA Issued. The FAA will issue an LOA based on a determination that the information supplied in the application meets the regulatory requirements of § 61.160. The institution of higher education must receive an LOA from the FAA which grants authority to give its graduates a certifying statement. The institution of higher education must determine that the graduate has met the applicable requirements of § 61.160 before the certifying statement can be placed on the transcript or other document authorized by the FAA.
d. Continued Compliance. In an effort to ensure that an institution of higher education maintains the level of competency for which they were initially authorized, the FAA will revalidate the LOA on a regular basis, and may conduct ad hoc evaluations as needed, as described in paragraph 18 below. In addition, in accordance with § 61.169(c), the FAA may rescind or amend an LOA if the institution of higher education is not complying with or is unable to comply with the provisions of the LOA. This includes any substantial changes made by the institution of higher education to the academic program or changes that affect the LOA that requires notification to the FAA.
e. Electronic Format. To the extent possible, institutions of higher education should use an electronic format for submissions and correspondence.
8. INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS. In accordance with § 61.169, an institution of higher education must be accredited, as defined in § 61.1, by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Accreditation ensures that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accrediting agencies, which are private educational associations of regional or national scope, develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those criteria are met. According to the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), accredited status is a signal to students and the public that an institution meets at least threshold standards for its faculty, curriculum, student services, and libraries.
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9. ACADEMIC AREAS. A graduate from a degree program with an aviation major who meets the requirements of § 61.160(b), (c), or (d) is eligible to apply for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate. Section 61.160(b), (c), or (d) requires that a graduate complete a specific number of credit hours in aviation coursework that has been recognized by the FAA as coursework designed to improve and enhance the knowledge and skills of a person seeking a career as a professional pilot.
a. Aviation and Aviation-Related Courses and Subject Areas. To assist institutions of higher education in determining whether a course meets the requirements, the FAA has identified several aviation and aviation-related courses and subject areas that are essential to prepare a student for a career as a professional pilot. The institution of higher education should offer, at a minimum, coursework in the academic areas listed in this section. The institution of higher education will then be responsible for certifying that a graduate has successfully completed the coursework and he or she meets the requirements of the appropriate paragraph of § 61.160. The following list includes key academic subject areas in aviation that a graduate should have completed as part of their degree program with an aviation major:
(1) Ground and Flight Training for Certificates and Ratings.
(a) Courses listed within this academic area should be designed to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and proficiently exercise the privileges and responsibilities of an FAA certificate and/or rating.
(b) General areas that should be discussed in ground and flight training include the aeronautical knowledge areas identified for the specific certificate or rating sought. Those areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Instructor-led discussions concerning aeronautical decision-making (ADM), crew resource management (CRM), aerodynamics, airworthiness, aeromedical factors, night and high altitude operations, weather hazards and reports, airport operations, flight planning, weight and balance (W&B), aircraft performance and limitations, aircraft systems and abnormal/emergency procedures. Additionally, the courses should include scenario based training to simulate more closely the actual flight conditions known to cause most fatal General Aviation (GA) accidents.
• An introduction and overview to the 14 CFR sections governing the applicable parts and subparts to the certificate or rating being instructed.
(c) General topics that can be considered under this academic area should result in the student being administered an FAA knowledge test or practical test for a certificate or rating.
NOTE: To be eligible for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate under § 61.160(b), (c), or (d), a student is required to complete the ground and flight training for a commercial pilot certificate (airplane category) and airplane instrument rating as part of an aviation degree program in accordance with § 61.160(b)(3) or (c)(3).
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(2) Aerodynamics and Aircraft Performance.
(a) Courses listed within this academic area should be designed for a pilot to understand the principles of airplane aerodynamics and aircraft performance.
(b) General courses such as physics may satisfy this academic area requirement provided the course description clearly indicates that aerodynamics and/or aircraft performance are the primary focus of the course.
(c) General areas that should be discussed for aerodynamics and aircraft performance include but are not limited to the following:
• Aerodynamics and terminology with emphasis on lift, weight, thrust, and drag forces acting upon an airplane in flight; calculation of stall speed; W&B;
stability and control; operating data; low speed aerodynamics, fundamentals associated with transonic and supersonic flight.
• Aircraft performance requirements; performance of aircraft powered by reciprocating, turboprop, or jet turbine engines; special flight conditions often experienced by commercial pilots of fixed-wing aircraft; configuration changes.
(3) Aircraft Systems.
(a) Courses listed within this academic area should be designed for a pilot to understand and explain basic and advanced aircraft systems.
(b) Courses may include aircraft systems associated with aircraft that are powered by reciprocating, turbine, or jet engines.
(c) General areas that should be discussed for aircraft systems may include but are not limited to the following:
• Engines.
• Systems such as propeller, electrical, environmental, hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel, ignition, lubrication, and pressurization systems, hydraulic systems, air conditioning and heating systems, oxygen systems, landing gear systems, brake systems, ice and rain detection/protection systems, fire detection/extinguishing systems, fuel systems, and flight controls.
(4) Aviation Human Factors.
(a) Courses listed within this academic area should be designed for a pilot to understand and identify human performances that affect aviation.
(b) General areas that should be discussed throughout an aviation human factors course may include but are not limited to the following:
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• Decision-making, situational awareness, crew coordination, communication, human error, fatigue, fitness, attitudes, training devices, controls, workload management.
• CRM.
• Man/machine interference that may include pilot/aircraft interference or flight deck/cockpit design.
(5) Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Airspace.
(a) Courses listed within this academic area should be designed for a pilot to understand and apply critical elements of ATC within the National Airspace System (NAS).
(b) General areas that should be discussed throughout a course of the NAS may include but are not limited to the following:
• A fundamental knowledge of the ATC system in the United States.
• Navigational aids; airspace; communications; the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations; ATC procedures; control tower operations; nonradar operations;
radar operations; and differing types of environmental concerns within a geographic area.
(6) Aviation Law and Regulations.
(a) Courses listed within this academic area should be designed for a pilot to understand and apply 14 CFR.
(b) General areas that should be discussed throughout a course in aviation law and regulations may include but are not limited to: constitutional law, administrative law, enforcement actions, and international law affecting aviation. Additionally, courses may include the consideration and analysis of aviation regulatory environments and processes, such as regulatory certifications, rulemaking, and legislation.
(7) Aviation Weather.
(a) Courses listed within this academic area should be designed for a pilot to understand and apply weather as it relates to operation of an aircraft.
(b) General areas that should be discussed throughout a course of aviation weather may include but are not limited to a study of weather, concepts of weather, weather hazards, meteorological flight planning, aviation weather equipment, and consideration of weather conditions as they relate to aircraft and flight performance.
(8) Aviation Safety.
(a) Courses listed within this academic area should be designed for a pilot to understand and identify safety issues affecting the operation of flight.
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(b) General areas that should be discussed throughout a course in aviation safety may include but are not limited to a review of incidents, accidents, safety studies, and accident investigations with a focus on causal and contributing factors to those investigated events and any resulting changes to mitigate future risk. It may also include lectures on CRM, aviation safety programs, and risk management.
(c) The focus of the course could be aviation safety within an airline, flight school, airport, aircraft, and ATC system.
b. Validating a Graduate’s Academic Coursework. The institution of higher education must validate that a student has completed the requisite amount of aviation semester credit hours prescribed in § 61.160 in courses that were recognized by the FAA, as part of the aviation coursework mapping process, as coursework designed to enhance and improve the knowledge and skills of a person seeking a career as a professional pilot. If the institution of higher education determines that all of the requirements have been met, it should provide the certifying statement through an official transcript or other authorized means to the graduate of the degree program with an aviation major or the FAA.
10. INTEGRATED FLIGHT TRAINING. Section 61.160 requires a student to complete commercial and instrument ground training from an approved part 141 curriculum at the institution of higher education. It also requires the student to complete commercial and instrument flight training as part of an approved part 141 curriculum at the institution of higher education or at a part 141 pilot school that has a training agreement under § 141.26 with the institution of higher education. The purpose of this requirement is to have comprehensive flight training curricula integrated with a student’s ground training as part of an FAA-approved part 141 program. It also ensures the ground and flight training are integrated into the student’s broader academic education as part of a degree program with an aviation major.
a. Information Provided by an Institution of Higher Education. As part of the application, an institution of higher education should provide the following information in accordance with § 61.160:
(1) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for ground and flight training; or
(2) A part 141 pilot school certificate with a TCO(s) approved for ground only and have a formal training agreement in accordance with § 141.26(b) with a part 141 pilot school that provides the flight training for the commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating on behalf of the institution of higher education.
NOTE: If the institution of higher education uses a separate part 141 pilot school to provide the flight training for students enrolled in their degree program, the formal training agreement must be in place and submitted to the FAA at the time of application.
b. Integrated Ground and Flight Training. The ground and flight training will be considered integrated with the broader academic curriculum if:
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(1) The institution of higher education provides ground training on the appropriate aeronautical knowledge areas, according to their approved TCO at the part 141 pilot school.
(2) The institution of higher education provides training on the aeronautical knowledge areas utilizing instructors employed by the institution of higher education.
(3) The flight instructors providing the flight training required by § 61.160 will be employed by the institution of higher education or the part 141 pilot school associated with the institution of higher education that is conducting the flight training.
(4) The flight training should be conducted concurrently with the aeronautical knowledge training. The flight training for the commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating should be taken concurrently with the associated ground training—academic credit should be obtained within the same semester. For example, an institution of higher education should ensure that a student enrolled in flight training for a commercial pilot certificate is also enrolled in the institution of higher education’s commercial pilot ground school during the same semester.
(a) The institution of higher education should ensure the course description in the application specifically states it is the commercial pilot ground school or instrument rating ground school and how the associated flight training is linked. The FAA understands that not all programs organize their ground and flight training courses the same way. The FAA recognizes some schools require students to register for a ground school course and a separate flight lab for credit while others incorporate it all into one course. In some cases the ground and flight training for a commercial pilot certificate are spread out over several courses. Be sure the application provides enough detail for the FAA to understand how the ground and flight training meet the requirements of § 61.160.
(b) The FAA recognizes that unforeseen circumstances may prevent a student from completing the flight training in the same semester as the ground school. For example, weather, maintenance, or another situation that is out of the control of the student and the institution of higher education, may cause the flight training to extend into the next semester, which may overlap the academic portion of another certificate or rating. While it is expected that an institution of higher education will make every effort to adhere to the proposed program, a student should not be considered ineligible for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate as a result of the circumstances described in this paragraph.
11. GRADUATES OF A DEGREE PROGRAM WITH AN AVIATION MAJOR.
a. Graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree with an Aviation Major.
(1) A graduate with a bachelor’s degree in an aviation major is eligible to make application for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate with a minimum of 1,000 hours total time as a pilot if the graduate has satisfied the requirements of § 61.160(b). The graduate must have obtained a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and instrument rating from a part 141 pilot school associated with an institution of higher education and completed at least 60 semester credit hours including the academic areas outlined in paragraph 9 of this AC. An official transcript or other document acceptable to the Administrator from the institution of higher education certifying the graduate has met the requirements in § 61.160(b) is also required.
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(2) A graduate with a bachelor’s degree in an aviation major is eligible to make application for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate with a minimum of 1,250 hours total time as a pilot if the graduate has satisfied the requirements of § 61.160(d). The graduate must have obtained a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and instrument rating from a part 141 pilot school associated with an institution of higher education and completed at least 30 semester credit hours including the academic areas outlined in paragraph 9 of this AC. An official transcript or other document acceptable to the Administrator from the institution of higher education certifying the graduate has met the requirements in § 61.160(d) is also required.
(3) Once a student has completed the aviation coursework and the associated flight training and graduated with a degree in an aviation major from an institution of higher education with the authority to certify its students under § 61.169, the graduate will have gained the knowledge on the subject areas the FAA has determined justifies a reduction in aeronautical experience for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate. The minimum aeronautical experience for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate for a graduate of a bachelor’s degree program at an institution of higher education is described in § 61.160(e).
b. Graduates with an Associate’s Degree with an Aviation Major.
(1) A graduate with an associate’s degree in an aviation major is eligible to make application for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate with a minimum of 1,250 hours total time as a pilot if the graduate has satisfied the requirements of § 61.160(c). The graduate will need to obtain a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and instrument rating from a part 141 pilot school associated with an institution of higher education and completed at least 30 semester credit hours including the academic areas outlined in paragraph 9 of this AC. An official transcript or other document acceptable to the Administrator from the institution of higher education certifying the graduate has met the requirements in § 61.160(c) is also required.
(2) Once a student has completed the aviation coursework and the associated flight training and graduated with a degree in an aviation major from an institution of higher education with the authority to certify its students under § 61.169, the graduate will have gained the knowledge on the subject areas the FAA has determined justifies a reduction in aeronautical experience for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate.
(3) The minimum aeronautical experience for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate for a graduate of an associate’s degree program at an institution of higher education is described in § 61.160(e).
12. TRANSFERING STUDENTS.
a. Alternative Paths. The FAA acknowledges students follow a number of different paths for completing post-secondary education at a college or university. Some students start at community colleges and transfer to 4-year degree programs while other students transfer between different 4-year institutions of higher education. The FAA does not want to deter individuals from seeking alternative paths to achieving a degree with an aviation major and therefore has determined that students who transfer into a 2-year or 4-year degree program with an aviation major could be eligible for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate. These graduates
Par 12 Page 12 would be eligible for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate provided they complete the applicable requirements of § 61.160, including the semester credit hours and specified ground and flight training.
b. Transferring Between Authorized Institutions of Higher Education.
(1) In some cases, a student may transfer from one institution of higher education that has authorization to certify its graduates per § 61.169 to another institution of higher education that is also authorized to certify its graduates per § 61.169. If the receiving institution of higher education grants the student credit for coursework completed at the prior institution of higher education and can determine that the coursework has been recognized by the FAA as meeting the requirements in § 61.160, the institution may certify the student for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate so long as the student has completed the remaining requirements.
(2) If applicable, the student must verify that the institution of higher education initially attended has documented all of the academic coursework that may be transferred. That institution of higher education will provide official documentation (e.g., official transcript or other authorized means), indicating it has the authority to certify students from the FAA and that the coursework was successfully completed by the student. The institution of higher education that ultimately provides the degree to the student must certify that the coursework accepted through the transfer as well as the additional aviation coursework completed as part of its degree program meets the appropriate requirements of § 61.160. The certifying statement must be on an official transcript or other approved document and presented at the time of application for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate by the graduate.
13. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS. In its application, an institution of higher education must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that its students can graduate having satisfied the requirements of § 61.160. The FAA will assess the institution of higher education to ensure it offers as part of its degree program(s), aviation and aviation-related coursework designed to improve and enhance the knowledge and skills of a person seeking a career as a professional pilot. The application addresses the following areas regarding the institution of higher education.
a. Application Type.
(1) Initial. Utilized if an application for the authority to certify graduates for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate has never been submitted to the FAA by the institution of higher education.
(2) Revision. Utilized if an institution of higher education has the authority to certify its graduates and is making a substantial change as described in subparagraph 3f and further described in subparagraph 18c.
(a) If the institution of higher education chooses to remove, revise, or add a degree program or aviation major, to include changes in aviation and aviation-related coursework, a new aviation coursework mapping section must be completed within the application.
(b) If the data contained within the LOA that was issued by the FAA has changed and there are no changes to the aviation and aviation-related coursework, you may indicate