Australian ATPL to FAA CPL requirements

[dukeit]

I've got an Australian ATPL and want to get a FAA PPL, or preferably a CPL. Anyone know the most efficient way to go about this? Does it require a trip to the USA? Exams? Flight tests?
Thanks in advance.

[02041402]

Try FAA pilot licence converting on FB. I know one guy who used them and got his done fairly smoothly

[lee_apromise]

Get CASA to send license verification info to FAA FSDO at your choice. Go to that FSDO (for a fee free license) or get a DPE (for a fee) to get your PPL based on your foreign license.

As for CPL and ATP, you need to do a written and a checkride for a respective license you are after. Note that you must complete some additional sim training before you can attempt ATP written test.

[no_one]

If you only want to get a PPL you can get one issued on the basis of your current Australian License. It will only be valid while you Australian license is valid. YOu can not hold a CPL on this basis. The limitations and requirements are here:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.75

Details about the process of applying are here:
https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/foreign_license_verification/

Note that you need to fill out a form for CASA so that they will release the information to the FAA, details at the link above. You will need to do a flight review before using your new license. Most places that will rent you a plane in the USA are pretty pragmatic and can bundle this into the checkout to rent one. If you are proficient it wont take very long and dosent require a Nav but brush up on your ground reference maneuvers(they are not part of the AUS syllabus).

If you want a "full" FAA PPL you can use clause 61.41 so that all your training to date counts for meeting the aviation experience requirements.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.41

The requirements for the issue of a PPL are listed here:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.103

These are fairly straight forward but note that the experience requirements include:

3 hours of flight training with an authorized instructor in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test, which must have been performed within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test; and

So you will need to do some training locally in the USA even if you meet all of the other experience requirements if you go down this path.

[STOL Artist]

I did it in 2013 - wanted PPL with Instrument Rating privileges, but found it easier to do full ATPL conversion (from AUS ATPL) to get IR privileges. The PPL conversion won't transfer across an Instrument Rating - to do that you need to do the IR written and then take the flight test.

In the end I was doing a type rating in the US in a sim anyway so did the written ATPL (not easy!!) and then did the ATP check ride in the sim.

PPL easy to get from an AUS licence with VFR privileges based on conversion across; CPL/ATPL or anything including an IR - much harder. Yes, you need to visit the FSDO in person (plenty in California or Hawaii) and it takes a little bit to set it up and organise an appointment and get them the paperwork.

The other problem was the lead times involved - CASA took forever to issue my licence copy to the FAA (you can't hurry this bit up) and then the FAA took even longer to issue my paperwork. So give it a lot of lead time if you have a set date that you need to use the FAA PPL.

The other complicating factor now is the security check required (since 9/11) for sitting a flight test (CPL/ATP or IR). It is completely over the top and made more confusing by being a foreigner - even people in the same government office in the USA could not agree on whether I needed to do it or not! In the end, the flight school you want to do the test with will need to advise you. Once again, this can be a very long and drawn out process (e.g. need fingerprints, but only two people in AUS do them for the FAA etc etc etc).

Good luck!

[c100driver]

I can confirm it is a painful exercise! Though it is quite straight forward.

The hardest part is arranging the interview with Flight Standards inspector to complete the paperwork. Interviews are only completed on certain days and as a "foreigner" you have to provide a minimum of 3 weeks notice to get homeland security vetting prior to visiting a federal office building!

I can understand why they need this but it is a pain.