FAR 61.31 and 61.75 tell you what you need to know.
Here it is logically:
61.75 explains that you may convert your ICAO PPL to a FAA one, and that all the ratings are included.
(c) Aircraft ratings issued. Aircraft ratings listed on a person's foreign pilot license, in addition to any issued after testing under the provisions of this part, may be placed on that person's U.S. pilot certificate.
However, this does not supercede the requirements of 61.31, which require you to have had training (anywhere), and have an FAA instructor endorse you for that training.
Kinds of aircraft that require a type rating.
61.31
(a) Type ratings required. A person who acts as a pilot in command of any of the following aircraft must hold a type rating for that aircraft:
(1) Large aircraft (except lighter-than-air).
(2) Turbojet-powered airplanes.
(3) Other aircraft specified by the Administrator through aircraft type certificate procedures.
Large Aircraft is defined in FAR 1.1
Large aircraft means aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight.
If you don't have a type rating for an aircraft, then you can't take pax. 61.31(b)
For any aircraft:
(d) Aircraft category, class, and type ratings: Limitations on operating an aircraft as the pilot in command. To serve as the pilot in command of an aircraft, a person must--
(1) Hold the appropriate category, class, and type rating (if a class rating and type rating are required) for the aircraft to be flown;
(2) Be receiving training for the purpose of obtaining an additional pilot certificate and rating that are appropriate to that aircraft, and be under the supervision of an authorized instructor; or
(3) Have received training required by this part that is appropriate to the aircraft category, class, and type rating (if a class or type rating is required) for the aircraft to be flown, and have received the required endorsements from an instructor who is authorized to provide the required endorsements for solo flight in that aircraft.
So having determined that you need a type rating, then how do you show you have one:
(h) Additional aircraft type-specific training. No person may serve as pilot in command of an aircraft that the Administrator has determined requires aircraft type-specific training unless that person has--
(1) Received and logged type-specific training in the aircraft, or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of that type of aircraft; and
(2) Received a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who has found the person proficient in the operation of the aircraft and its systems.
In fact I have never tried to convert from JAA to FAA so am not totally sure about all this....
The important words are 'authorized instructor'. This is someone 'authorized' by the FAA. So therefore, you need to be able to fulfill two requirements.
A. Received and logged type-specific training in the aircraft, or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of that type of aircraft...this may be from an instructor from any ICAO country;
B. Received a logbook endorsement from an FAA instructor who has found the person proficient in the operation of the aircraft and its systems.
With those, I think you could go for an FAA type rating.
Well, I may be wrong, so would love to hear what others say.
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