From ATPL(H) (Interim Procedure) to CPL(A)

[heliporto]

Hi There

Could anyone give an opinion on what would i have to do to go from CPL(H) to CPL(A) (wich exams should be done)

- I´ve done a JAA - ATPL(H) theoretical course, and i´m now finishing last exams of ATPL(H) to be followed by a CPL(H) conversion flight course/examination.
- My ATPL(H) course was done under the "Interim Procedure", (all the course was based on fixed wing theory, except for the Principles of Flight exam, that was helicopters).

- Since i already hold a JAA PPL(A), i was thinking on also doing a modular course to do also the CPL(A).

- What theory exams should i do to upgrade from PPL(A) to CPL(A) , just PoF (fixed wing) ?
- How many hours should i fly before i could do a CPL(A) flight check ?

Any information would be apreciated,
Thanks a lot

[Alex Whittingham]

No-one has answered you heliporto, so I'll chip in. The UK CAA removed the interim procedure for new starts at the end of November 08, a move which I think was ill advised and badly handled. They have given us no guidance on whether or not you may still apply your exam credits gained under the interim procedure to the fixed wing exams, and I asked them specifically about this in December. I understand they are shortly to issue an AIC or some similar guidance on this topic, the best advice I can give you is to hang on for a week or so and see what happens.

[heliporto]

Hi there Alex. Once again, thanks for your help. I will keep in touch then, to see if there´s any news about this subject.

It would also be important to find out if the candidate would have to do the PoF and Perf. (fixed wing exams), inside the 18 months window granted for the ATPL(H), or if after having the helicopter license , the exams passed will be frozen and allow to do the remaining one anytime later.

I´ll keep in touch.

Thanks a lot
Paulo

[wobble2plank]

Heliporto,

I did the ATPL(H) to ATPL(A) conversion under the rather dodgy interim procedures including the 'bridging exam' of 100 questions that the CAA raked together for me!

PofF Fixed wing, Operational procedures and performance were all done along with the said bridging exam.

As far as I am aware, and Alex would be far better placed to confirm this, if you have passed all of the ATPL(H) exams and are in possession of a CPL(H) then you can convert whenever you wish. Unfortunately it all looks as if it's up in the air again as the CAA blindly struggle with the implementation of yet another complex layer of licensing issues *sheesh*.

Good job the tests and licence issuing are cheap, hang on? Oh no they're not are they.

Good luck in the conversion!

[heliporto]

Thanks a lot wobble2plank

[Peter_CDG]

According to LASORS 2008 section J 1.9 you have 36 month from the date of gaining a pass in the JAR ATPL(H) theory examination.

[Alex Whittingham]

That's true. Unfortunately it's all a bit of a shambles.

The bridging described in LASORS Section J1.9 is available from ATPL(H)/IR to ATPL(A), from ATPL(H) or CPL(H) to CPL(A) or for UK Qualified Service Poilots with CPL(H) and ATPL theory wishing to bridge across to ATPL(A). Notice there is no declared route to bridge from CPL(H) with ATPL(H) theory across to ATPL(A) theory unless you are a military pilot.

In theory, if you hold an ATPL(H)/IR you need to do a course and the following fixed wing exams:

Performance
Principles of Flight
Operational Procedures
(H) to (A) Bridging (100 questions as described above)

In reality, if you have completed the interim ATPL(H) course, you will have passes in all the ATPL(A) exams except Performance and P of F which are valid for 36 months after your last exam so, in that period, you are exempt Op Procedures and the Bridging paper and need only to sit the two you haven't done.

So what if you don't have an IR and you're not a military pilot but you have just finished the interim procedure as heliporto has, above? In the past common sense has been applied and the CAA have allowed you just to sit the two extra papers.

Right now we're in limbo. The CAA announced that, at the end of Nov 08, the interim procedure would start to be phased out. They said nothing about the application of these credits and have yet to answer direct questions about this sent by e-mail on the 11th of December. They did start to refuse applications to sit the extra two exams. We have complained and asked for clarification. I am led to believe that all decisions relating to the interim procedure are under review and I was told the CAA's position would be clarified in an AIC to be issued in early January 09.

Frankly, it's a mess.

[heliporto]

Thanks to you all,
This was very helpfull, will wait for the AIC to come out, and hope they will keep it possible to do it w/ just two exams.

[Alex Whittingham]

For what it matters, they're not going to issue an AIC now. I'm told to expect a policy letter in the next few days. I'll post the content on here when it is issued.

[heliporto]

Following my thread from 13 January 2009 aboout going from H to A (after Interim Procedure), I´ve just finished my ATPL-H exams (Interim Procedure course), and I expect to have my CPL-H license (from the CAA) during next October, after doing the training. The 18 month window (from ATPL-H) will last until the exams of next October/09, what means I would have about a month to do both of the fixed wing exams still missing, (if still inside the 18 months period from the H course).

I have 2 questions:

- To get also the ATPL-A credit, in order to get also the fixed wing theory done, must the 2 exams missing (Performance and FW Principles of Flight) be done still during the 18 months of the ATPL-H ? Or is it considered a new course (exempt of the exams already passed), and the number of attempts and the 18 months window starts to count again after first attempt of this 2 FW exams ?

- After having the CPL-H license, and in case I might not do be able to do the 2 exams in next October/09, what would be the normal requirements to go from CPL-H to CPL-A (what exams must I do?), and would I get the ATPL-A credit after passing those exams , or does it only applies to holders of ATPL-H ?

Thanks a lot


PS: I´ve already asked this to the CAA, but since I only have one month to take the decision on doing this exams, and the answer probably shouldn´t arrive before that...