youngskywalker
Not the experience I had last year. I had to have full FAA ppl before I could do the commercial. The examiner would not accept it any other way, had to sit and pass ppl written and do 2 check rides, private and commercial.
With respect, youngskywalker - they saw you coming. (How much extra did they charge you?)
A PPL issued "on the basis of.................." counts as a valid airmens certificate for those privileges provided it is valid. That has never changed, even since 9/11 and all the TSA requirements that one has to go through now. It's all laid down in 14 CFR 61.
(As my old Approach Procedural Instructor always used to say - "The answers in the book!")
My own experience bears this out (done 18 months ago, April 2004):
1) Arrive in U.S with CAA multi rating, and FAA single PPL issued " on the basis of..............."
2) Visit FSDO - get multi rating added to FAA licence "issued on the basis of..................."
3) Do training for FAA Commercial and instrument
4) Do flight test
I now have in my possession a shiny plastic new style FAA
standalone licence marked "Commercial Multi engined / Instrument"
I believe that you can no longer add ratings or licences on the back of an FAA ticket based upon a CAA one.
Again - pure rot. Read the FAR's - it's all in there.
Waterpau
I can't see how I could get an FAA ME and IR in the states based on the certificate issued on the back of the CAA PPL. Is it possible to get the ratings based on the UK PPL, given I'll be going for an FAA CPL?
Read above, if there's anything else you want explaining then drop me a line. I can even put you in touch with the school I used, who I would have no hesitation in recommending.
PS - forgot to mention - do get the writtens out of the way before starting the flying. Just remember they're only valid for 24 months from date of passing.