FAA-Approved Type Ratings, ATP-CTP & Full-Flight Simulator Training
BoeingB737-ClassicType Rating Training
Earn your Boeing B737-Classic Type Rating through comprehensive ground school, full-motion simulator training, and airline-standard operational instruction. Our program is designed to prepare pilots for commercial jet operations with real-world proficiency on the 300/400/500 series.
Table Of Contents
Everything about the B737 Classic (300/400/500) type rating program in one place. Click any section below to jump straight to what you need.
Program Overview
What the initial B737 Classic (300/400/500) type rating covers and how the legacy-fleet course is built.
Who Needs This Rating
Freight and charter candidates, multi-type pilots, and international license holders.
What This Prepares You For
Line operations, global SOP and CRM integration, and Classic-series automation logic.
Key Training Features
Level D Boeing 737 simulation, SOP integration, and captain-led briefings.
Built Around The Checkride
Ground school, simulator hours, and the checkride coordinated as one program.
Program Structure
The four phases from ground knowledge review through check ride preparation.
Related Programs
Modern fleets, Classic simulator time, ATP-CTP, and FAA license conversion.
From The Blog
Why freight and charter operators still hire Classic-rated pilots.
Entry Requirements
Licenses, experience, medical, language, and MCC/UPRT prerequisites.
FAQs
Duration, cargo/charter demand, relevance of a legacy rating, and dual 737 ratings.
The B737-Classic Type Rating
The B737-Classic Type Rating program is designed for pilots seeking an initial type qualification on the Boeing 737 Classic series (B737-300/400/500) through elite, airline-standard training. Combining in-depth ground instruction with full-motion simulator sessions, we ensure pilots develop technical mastery, procedural discipline, and operational confidence for modern airline flight decks. Our curriculum follows globally recognized airline practices, preparing pilots for commercial opportunities across the US, European, and international markets.
What This Program Includes
- Comprehensive B737 Classic (300/400/500) ground school and systems instruction
- Level D full-motion simulator sessions flown as a two-pilot crew
- Airline-standard SOP, CRM, and MCC integration
- Classic-series automation, FMS logic, and legacy flight deck training
- Check ride preparation and final standards evaluation
Training Outcome
- Initial B737 Classic series type qualification
- Command of Classic-series systems, automation, and FMS logic
- Confident normal, abnormal, and emergency procedure management
- Multi-crew line performance to published airline standards
- Readiness to present for the type rating check ride
Who Needs This Rating
Mainline passenger carriers retired their Classics — freight and charter operators didn't. The Classic rating serves the carriers still flying these airframes hard every night.
Freight & Cargo Operator Candidates
Converted freighter fleets
Pilots targeting freight carriers that continue to operate B737 Classic aircraft for cargo conversions well after mainline passenger retirement.
Cargo Track
Charter Operator Candidates
Older & converted airframes
Pilots pursuing roles with charter operators that value experienced Classic-series type-rated pilots for older or converted airframes.
Charter Track
Pilots Building Multi-Type Employability
Legacy + modern ratings
Candidates adding a legacy type rating alongside a modern NG/MAX rating to broaden which operators they're eligible to fly for.
Career Flexibility
International License Holders
DGCA, EASA, FAA & ICAO
DGCA, EASA, FAA, or other ICAO-licensed pilots pursuing a B737 Classic qualification recognized by cargo and charter operators globally.
ConversionWhat This Program
Prepares You For
Every block below is taught in ground school and then flown in the Level D simulator until it is second nature on the Classic flight deck.
High-Fidelity Line Operations
Fly realistic Classic-series line profiles — departures, climb, cruise, descent, and approach — in a Level D full-motion simulator until flows and callouts are second nature.
Global SOP & CRM Integration
Operate to airline-standard SOPs with the pilot flying / pilot monitoring coordination and crew resource management that cargo and charter operators demand.
Advanced Automation & FMS Logic
Master Classic-series automation and flight management logic — a generation older than the NG/MAX, with its own mode behavior and flight deck philosophy.
Complex Operational Decision-Making
Manage weather, malfunctions, and operational pressure with structured airline decision-making — the judgment freight and charter operators test for.
Key Training Features
Elite training features and technology — the equipment, instruction, and standards that produce airline-ready B737 Classic crews.
Level D Full-Motion Boeing 737 Simulation
Training in a Level D full-motion simulator that replicates Classic-series handling, flight deck layout, and systems behavior with true airline fidelity.
Aeronautical SOP & Workflow Integration
Every session is flown to published airline SOPs and standard callouts so procedural discipline becomes habit, not memorization.
Systems Integration Training
Engines, hydraulics, electrics, pneumatics, and flight controls taught as one integrated aircraft — the way the checkride and the line both examine it.
Briefing & Debriefing with Airline Captains
Structured pre-flight briefs and detailed debriefs led by captains with real line experience on Boeing fleets.
Built Around The Checkride
Every hour of the course is aimed at one outcome: presenting for the B737 Classic type rating check ride flying to airline standards, with systems knowledge, SOPs, and crew performance already proven in the simulator.
Ground School, Simulator & Check Ride
Academic instruction, simulator sessions, and check ride preparation are coordinated as one program so nothing stalls between phases.
B737-Classic Type Rating Program Structure
Four phases, 92–106 training hours, 28–35 days. Every candidate follows the same sequence from ground knowledge review through check ride preparation.
Phase 01
Ground Knowledge Review
Duration: 60–70 Hours · Format: Classroom Instruction + Guided Study
The program opens with an in-depth academic phase covering the B737 Classic airframe, systems, and legacy flight deck philosophy. The objective is complete technical understanding of the 300/400/500 series before you ever sit in the simulator.
This Phase Includes
- Aircraft Systems: Engines, hydraulics, electrics, pneumatics, fuel, and flight controls in full operational detail.
- Classic-Series Powerplant: CFM56-3 engine operation, thrust management, and the Classic's performance characteristics.
- Automation & FMS Logic: Classic-generation autoflight, flight management programming, and mode awareness through all phases of flight.
- Limitations & Memory Items: B737 Classic operating limitations and the immediate-action items every rated pilot must command.
- Normal & Abnormal Procedures: Checklist discipline, flows, and airline-standard non-normal handling.
Outcome: You enter the simulator phase with complete Classic-series systems knowledge and a working command of procedures and limitations.
Phase 02
Full-Motion Simulator Evaluation
Training Device: Level D Full-Motion Simulator · Duration: 32–36 Hours
The simulator phase converts academic knowledge into flight deck performance. Sessions are flown as a two-pilot crew to airline SOPs, progressing from basic handling through complex failure management on realistic cargo and charter profiles.
This Phase Includes
- Normal Operations: Departures, climb, cruise, descent, approach, and landing flown to SOP on realistic Classic-series sectors.
- Abnormal & Emergency Handling: Engine failures, system degradations, rapid depressurization, and single-engine operations.
- Multi-Crew Cooperation: Task sharing, callouts, and cross-verification as pilot flying and pilot monitoring.
- Raw-Data & Manual Flight: Hand-flown departures, approaches, and landings on the Classic's less-automated flight deck.
- Freight & Charter Scenarios: Night freight schedules, converted-airframe operations, and non-scheduled charter decision-making.
Outcome: You demonstrate consistent, airline-standard Classic-series handling and crew performance across normal and non-normal operations.
Phase 03
Check Ride Preparation
Focus: Final Certification Readiness
The final phase targets the checkride itself. Instructors run standards-focused sessions until your performance is repeatable to the published test criteria.
This Phase Includes
- Standards Review: Every maneuver measured against the practical test tolerances.
- Mock Check Rides: Full-profile evaluations flown under test conditions.
- Oral Exam Preparation: Systems and procedure questioning in the format the examiner uses.
- Targeted Remediation: Extra work on any area that is not yet consistent.
Outcome: You present for the checkride prepared, current, and evaluated to the same standard the examiner applies.
Phase 04
Expected Duration & Training Hours
The schedule is intensive but realistic — enough time to build genuine command of a legacy flight deck without unnecessary downtime between phases.
Related Programs
Considering a legacy fleet for cargo or charter opportunities? Here's how it fits alongside modern type ratings.
From The Blog
Reading that matters before you commit to a legacy-fleet rating — why freight and charter operators still hire Classic-rated pilots, and when the rating is legally required.
Entry Requirements
Have these ready when you contact Simulator Center Training and your B737 Classic start date can be confirmed quickly.
Valid Pilot License
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
- FAA, EASA, DGCA, or other ICAO-compliant authority
- License valid and unrestricted at the time of enrollment
Flight Experience
- Documented total time and recent flying experience
- Prior jet or multi-crew experience is an advantage, not a requirement
- Logbook reviewed during the eligibility assessment
Multi-Engine & Instrument Ratings
- Current multi-engine (ME) rating
- Current instrument (IR) rating
- Instrument currency reviewed before the simulator phase
Medical Certification
- Class 1 medical certificate recommended for airline-bound candidates
- Class 2 accepted for training purposes where permitted
- Physically fit for extended full-motion simulator sessions
English Language Proficiency
- ICAO Level 4 English or higher
- Required for briefings, radio communication, and crew coordination
- All ground school and simulator instruction is delivered in English
MCC & UPRT
- MCC is mandatory for EASA pilots before starting the type rating
- Recommended for DGCA and FAA candidates — multi-crew work is built into the simulator phase
- Upset prevention and recovery training integrated into the course
B737 Classic Type Rating FAQs
The questions pilots ask most about the Classic rating — duration, cargo and charter demand, the relevance of a legacy type, and holding both 737 generations.