Pilot Certification and Qualification Requirements for Air Carrier 

Operations Final Rule

The NTSB investigated these accidents and the changes enacted in this rule address, at least in 

part, the following NTSB recommendations—

NTSB Recommendation(s) Source Document 

Train flightcrews to respond to sudden, unusual, 

or unexpected aircraft upsets.

Recommendations: 

 A-96-120

 A-04-62

 A-07-3

 A-09-113

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Aerodynamics

 -Stall Prevention and Recovery

Learning Objective. Students will 

understand the factors leading to a stall,

indications of an impending stall, full stall 

identification, and proper stall recovery 

techniques. The student will know how and 

when to use these principles in flight 

operations of large transport aircraft for 

the prevention and recovery of stall events.

 -Upset Prevention and Recovery

Learning Objective. Students should 

understand the factors that may lead to

airplane upset, learn proper airplane upset 

prevention and recovery techniques, and 

apply these principles while operating 

transport aircraft.

Flight Training: High Altitude Operations, Stall and Upset 

Prevention and Recovery

Learning Objective. Students should 

reinforce their understanding of low 

energy states, stalls, upset and high 

altitude aerodynamics through 

demonstration and experience based

training.
Develop and conduct stall recovery training and 

provide stick pusher familiarization training for 

pilots of stick-pusher equipped aircraft.

Recommendations: 

 A-10-22

 A-10-23

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Aerodynamics

 -Stall Prevention and Recovery

Learning Objective. Students will 

understand the factors leading to a stall,

indications of an impending stall, full stall 

identification, and proper stall recovery 

techniques. The student will know how and 

when to use these principles in flight 

operations of large transport aircraft for 

the prevention and recovery of stall events.

Flight Training: High Altitude Operations, Stall and Upset 

Prevention and Recovery

Learning Objective. Students should 

reinforce their understanding of low 

energy states, stalls, upset and high 

altitude aerodynamics through 

demonstration and experience based

training.

Enhance training syllabi for operations in high 

altitude.

Recommendations:

 A-07-1

 A-07-2

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Aerodynamics

 -High Altitude Operations.

Learning Objective. Students will have an 

understanding of aerodynamics,

especially at altitudes near the maximum 

operating altitudes and at high operational 

weights. Students will also understand the 

narrow operating margins in these 

conditions and how to safely conduct flight 

operations in large transport category 

airplanes with varying operating conditions.

Flight Training: High Altitude Operations, Stall and Upset 

Prevention and Recovery

Learning Objective. Students should 

reinforce their understanding of low 

energy states, stalls, upset and high 

altitude aerodynamics through 

demonstration and experience based

training.
Review training for unusual and emergency 

situations in transport-category aircraft to make 

sure pilots are not trained to use the rudder in 

ways that could result in dangerous situations.

Recommendation:

 A-02-2

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Aerodynamics

 -Stall Prevention and Recovery

Learning Objective. Students will 

understand the factors leading to a stall,

indications of an impending stall, full stall 

identification, and proper stall recovery 

techniques. The student will know how and 

when to use these principles in flight 

operations of large transport aircraft for 

the prevention and recovery of stall events.

 -Upset Prevention and Recovery

Learning Objective. Students should 

understand the factors that may lead to

airplane upset, learn proper airplane upset 

prevention and recovery techniques, and 

apply these principles while operating 

transport aircraft.

-Transport Airplane Performance.

Learning Objective. The student should 

have an understanding of the many

considerations and requirements for 

transport airplane performance and how 

these elements are applied to air carrier 

flight operations.

3. Proper use of rudder in a transport 

category airplane and discuss the

 limitations associated with its use to 

include airplane certification 

standards.

Flight Training: High Altitude Operations, Stall and Upset 

Prevention and Recovery

Learning Objective. Students should 

reinforce their understanding of low 

energy states, stalls, upset and high 

altitude aerodynamics through 

demonstration and experience based

training.
Require procedures and guidance for airport 

situational awareness.

Recommendation: 

 A-07-44

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Ground Operations

Learning Objective. Students should gain an 

understanding of elements associated with 

operating at complex and high density 

airports with emphasis on runway incursion 

prevention techniques.

Flight Training: Runway safety and adverse weather

Learning Objective. Students should 

reinforce and apply their understanding 

of air carrier operations during the taxi, 

takeoff, and landing phases of flight 

including the effects of adverse weather 

on these operations.

Ensure that all carriers include criteria for 

stabilized approach in their flight manuals and 

training programs.

Recommendations: 

 A-01-69

 A-08-18

ATP Certification Training Program

Flight Training: Runway safety and adverse weather

Learning Objective. Students should 

reinforce and apply their understanding 

of air carrier operations during the taxi, 

takeoff, and landing phases of flight 

including the effects of adverse weather 

on these operations.

• Achieve a stabilized approach 

using energy management 

concepts
Require operators to provide clear guidance to 

pilots about landing performance calculations.

Recommendations: 

 A-07-59

 A-08-41

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Transport Airplane Performance

Learning Objective. The student should 

have an understanding of the many

considerations and requirements for 

transport airplane performance and how 

these elements are applied to air carrier 

flight operations.

• Performance calculations required 

for landing.

Flight Training: Runway safety and adverse weather

Learning Objective. Students should 

reinforce and apply their understanding 

of air carrier operations during the taxi, 

takeoff, and landing phases of flight 

including the effects of adverse weather 

on these operations.

 Landing technique and stopping 

distances on contaminated 

runways

Require Crew Resource Management training.

Recommendation:

 A-03-52

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Crew Resource Management (CRM)

Learning Objective. Students should 

demonstrate knowledge of the basic 

principles of CRM and describe how to 

apply these principles to air carrier 

operations in a multicrew environment. 

Emphasis should be placed on effective 

intervention strategies for the pilot 

monitoring (PM).

Flight Training: CRM

Techniques for working as a crew to 

return the aircraft to normal flight and 

communicating airplane state between 

pilots, including CRM callouts to improve

situational awareness should be 

integrated into FSTD training.
Require operators to verify that their pilot 

monitoring duties are consistent with AC 120-

71A .

Recommendation:

 A-10-10

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Ground Operations

Learning Objective. Students should gain an 

understanding of elements associated with 

operating at complex and high density 

airports with emphasis on runway incursion 

prevention techniques.

• Professionalism during taxi 

operations, including sterile flight 

deck and standard operating 

procedures (SOP)

Require flight crewmember academic training 

in leadership, professionalism, and first officer 

assertiveness.

Recommendations:

 A-10-15

 A-11-39

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Leadership/Professional Development

Learning Objective. Students should 

demonstrate an understanding of the 

professional responsibilities associated 

with being an airline transport pilot and 

describe how to apply leadership skills in 

the position of PIC.

Require training in icing conditions.

Recommendations: 

 A-07-14

 A-11-47

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Meteorology 

Learning Objective. Students should gain an 

understanding of adverse weather

conditions, weather conditions 

encountered at high altitude, available 

weather resources, and understand how to 

apply these principles in their

decisionmaking in air carrier operations.

Flight Training: Runway safety and adverse weather

Learning Objective. Students should 

reinforce and apply their understanding 

of air carrier operations during the taxi, 

takeoff, and landing phases of flight 

including the effects of adverse weather 

on these operations.

• Icing conditions in flight and its 

effects on performance
Require hypoxia awareness training.

Recommendation:

 A-00-110

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Physiology/Fitness for Duty 

Learning Objective. Students should have 

an understanding of the effects of

altitude on human physiology and 

crewmember responsibilities to remain fit 

for duty.

1. Hypoxia: signs, symptoms, and 

effects; times of useful 

consciousness.

Require training in crosswinds with gusts.

Recommendations:

 A-10-110

 A-10-111

ATP Certification Training Program

Academics: Meteorology 

Learning Objective. Students should gain an 

understanding of adverse weather

conditions, weather conditions 

encountered at high altitude, available 

weather resources, and understand how to 

apply these principles in their 

decisionmaking in air carrier operations.

8. Crosswind operating techniques and 

cautions and limitations.

Flight Training: Runway safety and adverse weather

Learning Objective. Students should 

reinforce and apply their understanding 

of air carrier operations during the taxi, 

takeoff, and landing phases of flight 

including the effects of adverse weather 

on these operations.

• Landing in crosswinds with and 

without gusts with emphasis on 

airplane performance limitations in 

crosswinds