Originally Posted by
AdamSt205
That is what I am planning to do. I am learning to fly in the UK. I am just confused on what I need to do with regards to making my CAA fATPL licence into a dual one. I have my CAA medical and EASA medical already done. I have also found the course I will do to get both CAA and EASA theory it is just I am confused as to what I need to do to get my dual licence when I start my instrument ratings.
I know I will be doing IR(R) followed by CBIR(SE) followed by ME conversion so I take it all I will need to do is a EASA SEIR and CPL test to freeze both?
Get a dual Class 1 medical before you do anything.
Then once you have your PPL, you can start the ATPL exams.
Of course you’ll need to do each one twice, once with UK CAA and one with EASA (Austro Control).
Here’s what I’ve been told about the dual flying bit:
When you come to do your MEIR and CPL, it’s a case of train once (with a dual authorised ATO) then take two skill tests, one for each authority. Because the air works differently on the other side of the channel, at least it evidently has since 11pm on the 31st of December 2020, your EASA tests have to be taken in EU airspace. So on the day you’ll do your UK test, then do a ferry flight to the EU and repeat the test.
One thing to note is that if you don’t get a dual EASA PPL to start with, then your only EASA licence will be your CPL.
That means you can do your EASA MEIR ratings before CPL, but since they’re ratings you won’t actually have a licence to apply them to until you get your EASA CPL.
You can apply for both IR and CPL at the same time, but note you’ll only have six months from passing your IR skills test to applying for your CPL. So make sure you’ve got the time to get your hours and CPL training in.
That of course is irrelevant if you do the CPL first (but you need more hours before you can start the CPL).
Also note there aren’t many dual approved ATOs and they have waiting lists, some up to 12 months. So it’s worth getting your name down as soon as you have a PPL.
Fun, isn’t it?