Costs of keeping frozen ATPL current?

[Mike2001]

I am thinking of starting training at OATS next year, depending on what happens (remortgage house!). Realise that at current time it is next to impossible to get a job straight away, could anyone give me any idea how much it would cost to keep my ATPL current? :confused:

[simjim]

I'd like to know about this also Mike. Although, are you embarking upon a modular or integrated route?

I, like most others (having been lucky enough to have the decision), have had to put a hold on my plans to start training.

Ideally, I'd like to start on the ATPL sometime around the middle of next year and then take the decision on whether to continue to the CPL.

[Noggin]

Firstly there is no such thing as a frozen ATPL,only ATPL credits. It is a CPL /IR that you really want to keep current. In order to keep the aircraft rating current it will cost exactly the same as it would to keep a PPL current. The IR will cost a little more, you can let it go for a while, but don't exceed 5 years or you will have to resit the test with a CAA Examiner. If you let it go for more than 7 years and you will also lose the ATPL credits.

Be aware that if you are about to embark upon an ATPL theoretical course you have just 36 months from passing the last exam to applying for both the CPL and IR, you cannot afford to delay things.

[Mike2001]

Thanks, both of you. I'm thinking of doing the integrated course but may change my mind depending on how many hours i've flown by the start of training.
I thought that the IR had to be renewed each year with a flight test fom a CAA examiner, is this true or not?

[380]

Just be aware of that.

You gotta have 1500hrs including some jet or turbo to unfreeze the ATPL. So if you get your first job after 6 1/2 years it could be difficult to get theese hours.
I know many things can happen in 7 years, I just wanna make sure that you're aware of that.

[Polar_stereographic]

380,

Remember that the 7 year thing is a rolling 7 years. That is to say, EVERY time you renew the IR, you get ANOTHER 7 years added to the ATPL credits. Thats JAA.

Now, as we come to expect, with this European thing replacing JAA, it could be back to the drawing board all round.

Enjoy aviation

PS

[DiverDriver]

Polar, good info on the rolling seven years I didn't know that thanks but you go on to say:
-------------------------------------------
Now, as we come to expect, with this European thing replacing JAA, it could be back to the drawing board all round.
-------------------------------------------
please enlighten me have I missed something ? This NEW EUROPEAN THING!!!! :eek: :eek:

[Tosh McCaber]

Have I missed something? What is "this new European thing". I undersood that JAA is "THE European thing"

[simjim]

I believe Polar is referring to the possible future replacement of the JAA, EASA (the European Aviation Safety Agency).

The idea is, that unlike the JAA, they'll have legal powers. At the moment, the CAA completes this task. So rather than each individual state body implementing the law, one body will be responsible for it all. Which will probably mean more changes! At least that's my intepretation of it...

If anyone can correct me on my inaccuracies, please do so.

[Polar_stereographic]

Sorry for not getting back to this, yes as Sim Jim says, that's exactly what I was refering to.

Probably like most people, I have no details other than word that it'll be the next thing to affect any of us. If past experience is anything to go by, it'll be yet another up cock, more paperwork, more this and more of the other, all of which will keep the administrators of aviation in pensionable income at everyone else's expense.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not against change if it's for the better, but without wishing to start yet another debate on JAA vs National, or go along lines of the the ronch arguments, but what's been the improvements since JAA replaced the National system? And for those things that have improved (and I'm sure there are some), whats beeen the price for UK wannabies or indeed established professionals, or for that matter aviation in general, particularily at the bottom? Hmmm, me wonders.

Ok, off the soap box.

Morning all

PS

[RVR800]

One of the questionable benefits (for UK pilots) of JAR is the relative ease by which JAA approved pilots from over the EU can pick up UK jobs - such as the KLM Cadets picked up by Ryanair recently.

This will make getting a job after the current crisis is over more difficult for
UK fATPLs than it was after 1991 because
of the greater competition from type-rated multilingual pilots from e.g. Swissair Sabena
Alitalia etc etc

[bruce88]

SORRY, BUT I'M A BIT CONFUSED ABOUT THE 7 YEAR /1500HRS TO UNFREEZE THE ATPL. ARE YOU SAYING...YOU NEED TO UNFREEZE IT WITHIN 7 YEARS BY DOING 1500HRS, AND IF NOT YOU'LL LOSE ALL YOUR CREDITS.

:confused:

[baronvonmildred]

Jim88
you need to unfreeze with 1500 hours by June 2002. your IR must have been done or renewed within 5 years. if you miss the 2002 deadline then you still need an IR but with 7 years, and must also comply with the 500 multi crew requirement for a Jar conversion.

[foghorn]

Here we go again with the old frozen ATPL confusion. It never ceases to amaze me just how many myths circulate regarding this.

Keeping your JAA frozen ATPL current is simple: keep your IR current and your ATPL theory credits stay current.
Only if you let your IR lapse, you've then got seven years to revalidate it, or you lose your ATPL credits.

You get the full ATPL when you get to 1,500 hours TT, including 500 hours multi-crew (plus a couple of other easily-achievable night and cross-country hours requirements).

foggy

[ 19 October 2001: Message edited by: foghorn ]