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how long to send licence off

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how long to send licence off

Old 8th Feb 2015, 09:53
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how long to send licence off

Hello everyone,

I passed my PPL a month ago but haven't had chance to get down to the flying school in the week to get my stuff sent off.
Just wondering as I've now passed my PPL can my ground exams still run out? Or anything else..
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Old 8th Feb 2015, 12:40
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Be aware that you cannot carry passengers until you have the licence in your hand which can take about 8-10 weeks after the CAA receive your application form.

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Old 8th Feb 2015, 13:56
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8-10 weeks after the CAA receive your application form
my license was turned around in 3-4 weeks from the time the application was sent off - directly by the school.

I would expect this still to be the case.

Make sure you select the secure courier option for the return of your logbook and license.

Scoobster
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Old 8th Feb 2015, 15:03
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You have to send your logbook off?
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Old 8th Feb 2015, 16:12
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In 1983 I applied on a Monday and got the licence back on Thursday of the same week.
I suppose that's progress for you.
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Old 8th Feb 2015, 18:19
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PPL application

They quote a processing time of 10 working days, in my recent experience, it's taking 2-3 weeks.

You generally don't need to send your logbook anymore, since the application process went online. Lots of attaching of scanned, certified copies of things though! That's quite a recent development though, pretty sure we were still submitting actual logbooks by post last year.

Last edited by mrmum; 8th Feb 2015 at 18:19. Reason: Spelling
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Old 8th Feb 2015, 18:57
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Hi KidInk,

Just wondering why you think you need to visit the flying school during the week to "send off...(your)...stuff"? I'm assuming here that you will be applying for an EASA PPL(A), rather than an NPPL?

Nowadays there is normally no need to physically send anything to the CAA. The application is submitted over the Internet, all they need is the completed online form, some kind of payment card details, then scan and attach certified copies of: your ID, course completion certificate & examiners report form.

See here
Initial Application for a PPL(A) Licence | Private Pilots | Personal Licences and Training

Your flying school should be able to arrange all those things for you, either by email or post, maybe even drop off/pick up at a weekend, if the person who certifies things for them is only available Monday to Friday.
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Old 8th Feb 2015, 20:55
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My school sent mine off directly.. this was back in September 2014.. because I was away on business.

I don't know if the internet thing is recent..

But yes I had to send of my logbook for verification.

Scoobster
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Old 9th Feb 2015, 09:22
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They quote a processing time of 10 working days, in my recent experience, it's taking 2-3 weeks.
In my recent experience it is taking significantly longer than that.

I renewed my license in December, and sent off the application (for an EASA "upgrade") on the 22nd December.

I received an email from the CAA on the 9th January (fair enough, it was xmas) saying that we had used an out of date version of the Course Completion Certificate. Myself and my instructor emailed them an updated version on the 10th January.

On the following Monday I rang them to ask if they had received it (knowing full well that they had because I received an automated email response from them) to be told very cryptically that if it had been received it would be logged, and dealt with in due course. I would know if it hadn't been received when I don't hear anything back from them.

I then rang a couple of weeks later to see what was happening, to be told that all was progressing perfectly well and the license would be sent out on the 28th Jan and I would receive it some time after that.

Last week I finally lost my patience and rang again, to be told firstly that all was OK, and then in a second conversation that I need to resubmit my Course Completion Certificate.

I did that Thursday evening, and rang them again Friday morning just gone to be told that it would be put in the post later that day. (Which implies to me that they hadn't actually lost my CCC at all - at the time I rang they hadn't even opened the email so couldn't have dealt with it.) They agreed to Fedex it to me at their expense because of the time it has taken, which is four weeks since the updated Course Completion Certificate was sent to them. How long it would have taken had I not chased them heaven only knows. (I guess that if they hadn't lost the CCC then it might actually have been the same time, but who really knows!)

I did ask them to email me the tracking number so that I can keep an eye on progress. It seems it's currently out for delivery...here's hoping.

As it happens I have some sympathy for the licensing department. They even suggested I email the head of licensing to complain, which is what I did. It seems to me they have issues, and know it, and are trying to effect change by making sure that the management are aware of what they have to deal with.
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Old 9th Feb 2015, 10:02
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I would know if it hadn't been received when I don't hear anything back from them.
What a ridiculous piece of logic.
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Old 9th Feb 2015, 11:26
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When I applied to convert my UK PPL to an EASA PPL last year, I sent off all the paperwork and didn't hear anything for more than a month. I emailed and despite receiving an acknowledgement and a copy of an email asking someone to let me know the position, I didn't get a reply to tell me what was happening. Eventually I phoned the CAA and was told that I hadn't included an English Language Proficiency Certificate with my application. They claimed to have emailed me to tell me this shortly after I submitted my application but I could find no trace of the email. For all I know they sent it to the wrong email address. My application would have remained in the application tray indefinitely if I hadn't followed it up.

I hadn't sent in a certificate because I had been assessed by the CAA at Aero Expo the previous year and was told that the assessment would be on my record for whenever I next made an application. Anyway I got a further certificate signed, sent it off and got my new licence back within a week or so.

The moral is that if you don't hear from the CAA, don't assume they are working on your case. Assume it is parked and chase it up. To be fair, they were very pleasant and helpful on the phone - they just seem to be working with a shaky system.

Last edited by Andrewgr2; 9th Feb 2015 at 11:26. Reason: Typo
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Old 9th Feb 2015, 13:06
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What a ridiculous piece of logic.
Indeed. But I suspect it was only said because the guy couldn't see the email, and/or a hard copy, and couldn't be sure that someone else hadn't already dealt with it.
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Old 9th Feb 2015, 13:08
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The moral is that if you don't hear from the CAA, don't assume they are working on your case. Assume it is parked and chase it up. To be fair, they were very pleasant and helpful on the phone - they just seem to be working with a shaky system.
That is exactly the advice I would give.
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Old 9th Feb 2015, 13:13
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Indeed. But I suspect it was only said because the guy couldn't see the email, and/or a hard copy, and couldn't be sure that someone else hadn't already dealt with it.
In which case he could have checked and told you he would let you know either there and then or very shortly afterwards. Rather than effectively say "if you haven't heard anything by the year 2525 iyou may assume we have not received it."
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Old 9th Feb 2015, 17:57
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I never send anything by post if possible. Although it is a day spent at Gatwick I go there in person so that any difficulties can be addressed at the time. This has paid off numerous times, and I get the paper that day. Otherwise it can be weeks.
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Old 12th Feb 2015, 18:07
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I passed my PPL a month ago but haven't had chance to get down to the flying school in the week to get my stuff sent off.
Just wondering as I've now passed my PPL can my ground exams still run out? Or anything else..
You must have valid passes in the theoretical exams (24 months from passing the last one) and you must have a valid medical (hopefully you know when yours runs out).

It used to be that your Skill Test pass was only valid for a certain period (6 months I think).

I do not believe that applies anymore but I do seem to remember it being 'replaced' with the "Course of Training" having a validity - Your Flying School will have stated when your Course of Training was completed (usually just before your Test).
Cannot find a reference for this, so happy to have it confirmed, or to be corrected.

All these validities are for Licence Issue.
This means the date the CAA process your application not the date they received your paperwork - this can catch some people out if there is a backlog at Gatwick.

Best to apply asap once everything is complete and, I would suggest a minimum of two months validity remaining on whatever expires first.
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