Convert EASA CPL IR to FAA

[MReine]

Hello !

I'm actually CPL IR-ME EASA and I'm looking for an US flight school to convert to FAA CPL IR

Do you have any advices or feedback ?

Approximately, how long the training could be and how much ?

Many thanks

[MarkerInbound]

Well first there's the TSA background check, then in order to get a FAA commercial you have to have a FAA private. Have your CAA verify your license to the FAA and you walk in to a FAA office and walk out with a private certificate. But before you walk in to the FAA office, pass the regular FAA IR written test. Then when you walk out of the FAA office your certificate will say "US TEST PASSED" and you'll have an IR on your private certificate. Then pass the commercial written, complete 20 hours of flight training (I'm guessing you want a MEL) and pass a checkride.

[MReine]

Thanks a lot for your answer.

If I've understood, If I've passed my IR written test before walking an FAA Office, I will have automatically my IR on my Private licence ?! Wich IR : Single engine or/and Multi Engine ? Without passing the practical test ?

[MarkerInbound]

There are no IR class ratings in FAA land, only categories. However, if you take your IR checkride in a SE airplane and later add a ME rating, your certificate will have the ME with a VFR only restriction unless you "demonstrate instrument proficiency" during the ME checkride. Normally a FAA certificate just says INSTRUMENT AIRPLAINE or INSTRUMENT ROTORCRAFT.


There are two IR writtens for airplanes. The "normal" IR written and a "foreign pilot" written. You want to take the normal written so that the rating will move to your commercial certificate when you take the checkride. The "foreign pilot" written only adds the IR to your 'based on" certificate. Both happen without a checkride.

[MReine]

Okay so (after the IR SE and CPL ASEL) during the ME checkride, I have to performed a VFR part and IFR part.

Quick review : I will ask the FAA to recognize my PPL IR ASEL from EASA to FAA, pass the IRA ("normal" IR test) and the CPL theorical test, then CPL training and the CPL practical test and it's done ? I need to be sure that I could be paid to fly under IFR conditions...

[MarkerInbound]

Yes, most of the commercial checkride is flown VFR. Somewhere along the way the Examiner will hand you the hood and then an engine will fail, imagine that. Then you go shoot an approach to a landing.


Your timeline is correct, just make you pass the IR written before you show up at the FAA office to pick up your FAA private certificate. And remember our TSA wants to make sure you're one of the good guys before any of this happens. Plus you'll need at least a FAA third class medical for the checkride and a second class medical before you're actually paid to fly.


The FAA makes available on the FAA website a guide to checkrides called the Practical Test Standards or PTS. The commercial airplane PTS lists all the items covered during the oral and checkride for SEL, SES, MEL and MES. Gives you an idea what you're in for.

[Direct_TRI]

Originally Posted by MarkerInbound

Yes, most of the commercial checkride is flown VFR. Somewhere along the way the Examiner will hand you the hood and then an engine will fail, imagine that. Then you go shoot an approach to a landing.


Your timeline is correct, just make you pass the IR written before you show up at the FAA office to pick up your FAA private certificate. And remember our TSA wants to make sure you're one of the good guys before any of this happens. Plus you'll need at least a FAA third class medical for the checkride and a second class medical before you're actually paid to fly.


The FAA makes available on the FAA website a guide to checkrides called the Practical Test Standards or PTS. The commercial airplane PTS lists all the items covered during the oral and checkride for SEL, SES, MEL and MES. Gives you an idea what you're in for.

Good day MarkerInbound, would you be able to confirm that once the "normal" IR written is taken, and successful, no IFR check ride would be needed to move the IR to the CPL. This would be done during a commercial multi check ride which would include the demonstration of instrument proficiency, on the same commercial multi ride?

I ask because a DPE from FL advised me that if the "normal IR" written is taken I would still have to do a IR check ride but no check ride is needed only for the "foreign IR" written but that would only give instrument privileges on the "based on" license.

I am a CAA CPL IR holder, looking to acquire a FAA MEL CPL w/ IR.

[MarkerInbound]

No, you're always going to need a checkride for an IR on a regular FAA certificate. Sorry if I was unclear about that above. If you already hold a SE certificate with an IR you only have to demonstrate the engine failure and engine out approach to have the IR apply to the ME rating.

[Marlon Brando]

You don't need to do 20hrs of training for the CPL. From what I've understood....

All training received in Europe is valid. It's part 61.41 paragraph 2.

So if you already met the requirement, you're good