English VFR radio certificate

[PleasureFlights]

Hello everybody.

First of all; I´m new here. :hmm:

I hold a JAA PPL with a radiocertificate in Danish (since I live in Denmark). But would like to have an English radio certificate also.

However here these courses are very long (i.e. once a week classes, and exams after 4-5 months), which I actually dont have the time for.

So I would like to hear if you know any schools in UK that offers a quick course for the radio, followed by an exam (say in 3-5 days).

I am already familiar with the radio theory, and my phraseology is very good both in Danish and English (both of them are my native languages).

I have been searching of course, but however the radio courses seems to be "linked" to the PPL education, and finding a radio course alone does not seem easy.

All the best...

[al-vin-thechipmunk]

You'd probably just need to visit a local flying school and ask for their CAA examiner.
Buy a radiotelephony book (try Air Pilot Manuals) and perhaps the RadioTelephony Audio CD.

It would simply be a case of taking an exam with the authorised examiner for radio communications, which involves a short mock flight.

If you already hold a licence, it should not take you long.

[Prop swinger]

Hi PleasureFlights,

Your best bet is to contact an RT examiner (http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=175&pagetype=90&pageid=2863).

Looking through CAP 804, section 6 (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=33&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode=detail&id=5000), it seems you would have to pass the PPL communications exam again & pass the RT practical test. There's no minimum training requirement so if you're up for it, you could do the whole thing in half a day. The syllabus is based on CAP 413 (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=33&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode=detail&id=5622), there are other training aids (http://www.transair.co.uk/pp+Radio-Telephony+485).

This would get you a stand-alone CAA radio licence, valid as long as your language proficency remains valid, so if level 6, valid for life. I have no idea how acceptable that is to the Danish or any other authorities when used with a Danish PPL.

[riverrock83]

Is what you are wanting an ICAO English language proficiency? I'm not sure the point of getting a UK Radio Licence when you have a Danish JAR-PPL. Language Proficiency is different from Radio Licence. You need to get the Danish authorities to add the language proficiency to your licence, so the proficiency needs to be checked by someone authorised by them.

Don't know anything about this company, but it was the first one that came up via Google:
ICAO Language Proficiency Test Online - by Aviation eLearning (http://www.ilpt.net/)
Might be for renewals only though.

In the UK, for a UK licence, any examiner or radio examiner can give you a language proficiency test without a course first. You would need to ask the Danish authorities whether they recognise them though.

[PleasureFlights]

You guys are great. Thanks.

Thats just what I need. In non-english countires it is possible to take the "Restricted flight radiotelephone operator certificate" in either the native language (in this case Danish) or/and in English. The first is an advantage since many small local Danish airports/strips only knows Danish. However then you are restricted to only Danish airspace.

It seems that the tests/exams are quite the same: 1 theoretical part (25 MC questions minimum 75% correct) and 1 virtual VFR flight. HOWEVER in DK (I dont know how it is in other countries), there is also a reception test of 10 messages (usually from an ATIS) that you listen to once, and you have to write the WHOLE message by hand. The latter is to ensure you shorthand skills, this is as I know NOT a part of the UK RT exam.

We also have the Language Proficiency in both languages, and most people (over 50%) a 6 (no expiry). I guess its the same in UK.

Thanks again to all of you!