Flying in the UK with FAA/TC license

[matthewlai]

Hello!

I am a pilot based in Canada (also have FAA PPL), and will be living in the UK for a year starting in October.

Just wondering if anyone has experience flying in the UK with a North American PPL? It seems like the EASA change just made things a whole lot more difficult and confusing, and information on this is also very scarce. There seems to be some kind of limited validation available, but not documented anywhere.

I will be living in London (studying at Imperial College). Just looking for a plane to do some touring, etc.

Would it be easier to find a N-registered airplane? Are there any available for rent?

Thanks!
Matthew

[AdamFrisch]

You can fly a UK G-reg on an FAA PPL without validation or conversion. That regulation might get shut in the future, but as for now it's legal (as far as I know). What you can't do is go abroad with a G-reg and your FAA license (a few countries accept it), but as long as you stay in the UK you should be fine. You can always go abroad with a N-reg, of course. And there's plenty of those around.

[matthewlai]

Thanks! That's what I heard, too, but I'm worried that it may no longer the case with all the EASA changes supposedly going into effect this month.

[ifitaintboeing]

Your FAA/TC licence is valid for private use on EASA and non-EASA aircraft until 08th April 2015. After this, you will be required to obtain a validation in order to fly an EASA aircraft in EASA states - regardless of it's state of registration. This validation will last for 12 months. Thereafter you will need to obtain an EASA licence.

CAP 804, Section 4, Part Q, Subpart 1 contains more detail. The date in CAP 804 is quoted as 08th April 2014 - this has been superceded by Information Notice 2013/206 which has delayed implementation until 08th April 2015.

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/IN_Defe...n_20122013.pdf

ifitaint...

[Mach Jump]

Bizarre, isn't it?

My UK ATPL was reduced to the status of a LAPL at midnight on 7th of April 2014, and at midnight on 7th April 2015 will become worthless.

Any non-EASA foreign Licence however, will continue to remain valid for use on any UK Reg. aircraft, anywhere, for another 2 years.


MJ

[Whopity]

What you can't do is go abroad with a G-reg and your FAA license (a few countries accept it), but as long as you stay in the UK you should be fine

There is no teritorial limit. The licence is valid on a G reg wherever it might be. The ANO Article 62 no longer applies to EASA aircraft but does apply to Non EASA aircraft. There is an Exemption in ORS4 No 998 which again does not impose any teritoroal limit and extends the validation to 8th April 2015. After that a validation can be obtained for 1 year using form SRG1118 You will also require an FCC Radiotelephone Certificate.

[matthewlai]

Thanks for the advices!

I guess the situation is not too bad for me after all. All else fails I can still get a validation since I will only be in the UK for 1 year.