EASA PPL(A) Licence turnaround time

[starrzo]

Hey there,

I passed my skills test and sent off my PPL application on Monday 15th October, which was signed as delivered to the CAA on Tuesday 16th.

I've been checking my credit card to see if they've taken payment, but still no word.

Is anyone else in the same boat or has anyone been granted an EASA PPL(A) from an initial application since the 17th September? I'd be curious to hear how long it took and how long it took them to take payment.

I see they are running a reduced telephone service and I didn't want to bother them by sending an e-mail just yet :E

Waiting for this little brown book has been just as frustrating as I was told it would be :8

:ok:

[muffin]

I have been waiting for a month for a simple licence exchange. Their current backlog is 25 working days but their web site says they have reduced the telephone service to help them to catch up with it. I would expect that a new licence issue will be at least 5 or 6 weeks.

[Piper.Classique]

In France it's counter serice by appointment at the local office. Licence done in front of you, or by return of post.

[wb9999]

I recall reading that somebody sent in their paperwork on September 17 and they are still waiting for the licence. So it's at least a 6 week waiting time.

Also, it's a little blue book now. No more brown.

[starrzo]

Blue, nice :)

Flip, 6 weeks is a long wait; hopefully some of the backlog has started to clear and it'll be less than that, but I'll not make any plans just in case. :cool:

Thanks.

[Contact Approach]

I waited three months as I had missed a signature.

[IrishJason]

Into out 8th week here now i think. Well my brothers one. I'm in my 4th. The waiting is killing me

[DLT1939]

I have been waiting for a month for a simple licence exchange.

So are you grounded meanwhile?

[muffin]

So are you grounded meanwhile?

Yes unfortunately. I am exchanging my PPL for an LAPL. My Class 2 medical has expired but I have an LAPL medical so can fly again as soon as my LAPL is issued.

[biffo28]

Mine took 6 weeks - the excuse then was that they were dealing with a lot of military exchanges , now they will no doubt blame the transition, from what I have seen on historical posts on this or other boards - there is always an excuse for their poor service.

[spitfire_sl]

I have submitted my ppl A application in person at the CAA and was told by the lovely girl behind the counter that it would take 10 working days to process. This was on September 21. It's been more than 5 weeks now, and still no news. They should be ashamed for using the EASA transition as an excuse; they knew it was coming years ago! I called them today 26th oct at 2pm only to be told that their licensing office is now closed so that they can reduce the turnaround time. Are you f&&&££& kidding me? Because of the long wait, I will need to do 3 more takeoffs and landings solo before I can other passengers with me. Maybe I should send the CAA the invoice for 2 go around fees and 1 full stop landing at shoreham.
Sorry for the rant. I just had to get it off my chest.




Happy landings everyone.

[gijoe]

In my opinion, it is very rapidly approaching the point that someone, i.e. the CAA CEO, needs to be stepping up in front of a Westminster Committee to explain what is going on.

Why?

Confusion about Annex II, Language, What is/isn't Aerial Work, IR(R) etc

The CAA, in only the way that the CAA can, has jumped into EASA transition with both feet and sunk.

Other, perhaps more refined and less arrogant authorities, have chosen to wait a bit to fully prepare for the transition.

But as long as there is that 2 min message at the beginning of every phone call to the CAA about 'bullying and threatening behaviour will not be tolerated and calls will be terminated' everything will be fine.

If the CAA was more customer focused instead of inward-facing and self-centred, then the customers wouldn't get annoyed with it.

It is currently bollox!

:ok:

[stevelup]

Because of the long wait, I will need to do 3 more takeoffs and landings solo before I can other passengers with me. Maybe I should send the CAA the invoice for 2 go around fees and 1 full stop landing at shoreham.

If you're out of currency now, then even without the five week delay it would still have been 55 days since you did three take offs and landings.

I'd think the least you could do for your potential passengers is have a bit of a practice first anyway...

[Steve6443]

I can only be thankful for living in Germany. At the club I fly from, a student passed his skills test last Tuesday, had his licence in the post yesterday......Admittedly, this was because the examiner worked at the Regierungspraesident but even if the examiner was a freelancer, licences are usually received max 8 days after passing the skills test......

[BillieBob]

It looks as though the CAA has at least learned from its experience and are taking the maximum derogation permitted for introduction of the Air Ops Regulation. Of course, that will not help those currently suffering the consequences of the rank incompetence that pervades the Licensing & Training Standards Department.

[Slopey]

Because of the long wait, I will need to do 3 more takeoffs and landings solo before I can other passengers with me. Maybe I should send the CAA the invoice for 2 go around fees and 1 full stop landing at shoreham.

Most instructors will sign you off solo under their auth to let you fly without your ticket - why not do that a few times until the licence comes through?

And get used to currency requirements - there'll be many times when the weather/job/life will interfere with the magic 3 TOs - you going to invoice someone for that too?

[muffin]

From a friend of mine's conversation with FCL this morning it would seem that they are currently operating with a backlog time of 32 working days. ie they are processing applications received on September 13th.

[starrzo]

From a friend of mine's conversation with FCL this morning it would seem that they are currently operating with a backlog time of 32 working days. ie they are processing applications received on September 13th.

Thanks for the info - but that's very disappointing news indeed :sad:

:bored:

[IrishJason]

my brothers came in today. just on the 8th week actually

[starrzo]

my brothers came in today. just on the 8th week actually

Nice :-) :ok: Only 4 more weeks for you then, and 6 more for me :cool:

[Matty Cooper]

I applied for mine on the 19th of September, they only took the money 1 week ago and I received my licence from FedEx yesterday! So a bit longer than the 25 day wait they are advertising!

[Nibbler]

Spoke to them recently and they said they used to take the money at the start of the application process, now they do it when application is approved. After that it's about a week before it arrives. Good indicator.

[carldebs]

Hope so, been waiting 5 weeks now. Bank statement showed that payment had been received by CAA last Tuesday. Fingers crossed!!

[London Flyer]

Renewal from JAR to EASA took only 1 week! That said, they have missed off my IR(R)...

[85mel]

I am waiting to take my skills - as said in another thread even that is taking a long time to arrange because of the new rules. My club have signed me off to do it but the appointment has to come from the CAA. So are you telling me that when I actually have taken my skills test, it will take 8 weeks give or take til i get my licence, and I can't take passengers in that time?

[carldebs]

Got it, licence arrived this afternoon. 21 working days turnaround, and 1 week for licence to arrive by courier after payment to CAA. :):)

[ChrisA87]

Nice to see the latest turnaround times you guys are getting. Only another ~16 working days!

85mel - frustrating as it sounds, you're correct.

Also to carry passengers you'll need to have performed 3 take offs & full stop landings within the preceeding 90 days.

[muffin]

I am up to 28 working days now and they haven't even taken the money yet. That is for a straight licence exchange.

[starrzo]

I'm at work at the minute but just been informed that my licence has arrived at the house by FedEx :8

That's 3 weeks from my papers being delivered to the CAA, to it arriving at my door. Very pleased with that :ok:

[flybymike]

In 1984 I recall sending off my initial licence application to the CAA on a Monday. I received the licence on Thursday of the same week.

That's progress...

[ChrisA87]

Received my NPPL(SLMG/SSEA) in the post today! Sent it to the LAA on Thurs 25th October, CAA received it on Monday 29th, that's 12 working days.

Much much quicker than I expected!