ClintonBaptiste

Does anybody know if I can do my JAA FI(R) in France, or do I have to take a different Flight Instructor's course?

Also, what are the chances of getting a job as an instructor in France, I have previously lived in France and speak French (mais a ce moment mon niveau c'est de la merde!)

Many thanks

LEVC

Check old posts as this has been previously covered.

I was in the same situation you are now, JAR, but non french licence, it took me over 6 months to get the FI rating validated by the french dgac (that included to repeat the Flight test and the theory/Class test with a big shot from the french dgac), after that i was able to work there as FI.
It takes a lot of determination to get through it, the French authorities together with the norvegian are being protective and elusive when it comes to apply the licences recognition, in fact if you read the french version of JAR FCL1, the paragraph talking about recognition is not the original one, is different.

I suggest you try UK, more jobs, better paid and no hassle with licencing issues.

I have to say it is not a matter of nationality, wouldn't matter if you were french, what it matters is if your licence is french or not.
There are french guys with british licence having trouble to work in france.

Good luck

markkal

I am in the oppsoite situation !!!

have a french licence (JAR Ppl).
And an Italian JAR FI(A)

So far useless because I have problems in getting the french to transcribe the newly acquired rating on my licence.

By the way I will not instruct in france, but wish to keep my french licence because italian bureaucracy is a nightmare, then I have a aerobatic rating that will not be transfered automatically if I give up french licence for italian one.

Have sent a comprehensive file to the "direction du Personnel Navigant" in france 3 weeks ago, still waiting an answer..

Anyone been through this before??????

Thanks for letting me know!!!

richatom

Yes, you can do your JAA FI(R) in France. I have a French friend with CAA CPL, who did French FI, and who is now instructing in France.

I would respectfully suggest though, that unless your French is very good, and that you have fluent "cockpit" French, you will not be able to compete the FI course, as it will all be done in French.

You would really need a French FI to have much chance of getting work in France, though I have read on here of an English lady who got permission to instruct in English in France with her UK FI.


That depends if you want to get paid or not. Many instructors at aeroclubs are benevoles (voluntary) (Don't let Flintstone see that or he will have another fit!). To get a paid instructing job, you mostly need to work at an FTO.

I think that there is a need for English mother tongue instructors in France at FTOs, especially with the new language requirements. Certainly at the FTO where I did my training, there were a number of pilots who would have preferred instruction in English, but none of the French instructors really had the necessary level to teach in English to the same standard that they could teach in French.

I suspect that the DGAC will not relent on their protectionism to French pilots in the near future however. Bear in mind that they do not even accept a CAA FRTOL as giving you the right to speak English on the radio.

markkal

Hi folks,

I have an update about my case, got a reply from Mr Courtois (DGAC- DCS Direction du Personnel Navigant).

I hold a French PPl, am a foreign citizen living abroad and wanting to exercise my rights abroad.

Under Jar-Fcl regulations I undertook a FI(A) course in an FTO in Italy after gaining the theoretical JAR Italian CPL. Have a freshly gained Jar FI(A) rating.

As I have been anticipated, it will not be possible to have this newly acquired rating endorsed on my JAR-Ppl.

Under EASA I was told by this person that they would have to endorse such a rating, because then it will be binding...

So this is it, time and money down the drain, a lot of it.

Though the FI(A) course in some respects was interesting, Can't say the same about the Theoretical Jar/Cpl.
80% of it is brain washing crap nobody will ever use..

Beware anytime you embark in an enterprise involving Caa's of different european JAR-FCL members.

Enjoy flying as much I as I've been doing it for 28 years... It's not my work I do it for fun and would have loved to help other's for free!!!

richatom

You really have my sympathy.

You have really done it the hard way, and have learnt (as far as I can understand) to fly and teach to fly in several different European languages (which is not at all easy). You are just the sort of person that JAR and EASA should be looking to for future leadership in European aviation - yet you are being penalised by petty and obstructive nationalistic, protective, bureaucratic requirements.

I hope that this setback does not put you off continuing your odyssey.

skydriller

This is blind stupidity from the DGAC that does not surprise me one bit. There is apparently a shortage of FIs in France, my club found it very hard to find a replacement instructor this/last year. The DGAC appear to have an endemic "anti" attitude to integrating licencing from other JAA countries, creating obsticles just for the sake of it and should not really be classed as a JAA country. It will be amusing to see how EASA fits in....

This is the one thing that keeps private flying active in France. Clubs are run by members, for members, without any profit. Dont knock it too much. To me it is a breath of fresh air to be in a real aeroclub where flying enjoyment has priority over business profit. It means I actually get to use club aeroplanes for more than 30-60 minute local jollies without a telling off if Im late back, ie I can have a 'plane for a whole day to actually go somewhere and do something....Thats what flying is about!!

Regards, SD..