ATPL(H) to ATPL(A) and Credits
I'm in the process of performing the manoeuvre as described in the thread title. I've put this particular query to CAA FCL, but as it's been designated a "complex technical" query it could take up to 30 working days to get an answer, so I thought I'd canvas some opinions here.
Specifically this is in relation to the 100 hour credit applicable to the holder of a Part FCL in another category (in this case CPL(H)) when applying for a CPL(A).
The fundamental question is this: Why state 100 hours credit is available when it seems to me that you can only make use of 75 of those? Let me elaborate.
Before the skills test you must have the following experience:
200hrs total time
100hrs PIC
25hrs Dual Instruction
Some finer details not relevant to the question
I have well in excess of 100 PIC Helicopters and an ATPL(H), so the CAA sees fit to gift me 100 hours towards the total time. Of particular importance is the following quote from the CAA web site regarding this 100hr credit:
"The specific modular course requirements must be met. The credit only applies to the total flight time . These hours cannot be used towards the 100 hours PIC requirement."
So I can't use this 100hr gift basket to meet the 100hr PIC requirement.
My training must therefore be as follows... 200hrs - 100hrs credit = 100hrs total time, of which 100hrs must be PIC. Except of course I also need 25hrs dual instruction, so my course can't be any less than 125hrs.
The end result is that as far as the CAA is concerned, 200hrs - 100hrs = 125hrs.
To repeat... The original CPL requirement is 200 hours total time. Within that you have to fly 100 PIC + 25 dual = 125hrs. So what's the point of my 100hrs credited gift certificate, because the most I can claim after I've completed the specific modular course requirements of 125hrs, is 75hrs?!
Is that just me making some spectacular calculation error, or misunderstanding? I've more or less resigned myself to the fact that I have to now burn a hole in the sky to the tune of an extra 60 hours or so to get the PIC time I need despite burning a helicopter shaped hole in the sky for circa 7000hrs already, but I just can't understand the calculations performed in order to decide these available credits.
Perhaps someone can show me the light?
Interested to hear from anyone else that's followed this path with little or no previous A experience.