Certificate basics
- Knowledge test at age 21; certificate at age 23
- Approved course: at least 200 hours of instruction
- Practical test on one type of large aircraft used in air carrier operations
Dispatch rules
- Domestic fuel: destination, most distant alternate, then 45 minutes
- No destination alternate needed with 2,000 ft and 3 SM from 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA (domestic)
- Domestic redispatch after more than 1 hour on the ground at an intermediate stop
Weather
- SIGMETs cover severe hazards; AIRMETs cover moderate ones
- A ceiling is the lowest broken or overcast layer, or vertical visibility
- Microbursts last about 15 minutes and span under 2.5 miles
Weight and balance
- Moment = weight × arm
- CG = total moment ÷ total weight
- Maximum zero fuel weight excludes usable fuel
Test yourself on ADX
Reading a summary is the easy part. Take the free 10-question diagnostic to see which of these domains you actually have, then drill the rest.