This thread makes interesting reading, some of you have no problems with foreign pilots flying in the UK, some of you do, and some simply sit on the fence. It would horrify some of you to know the actual figures involved of foreign aircrew and foreign registrations operating in the UK this summer. Something else is that some of the crews are not just here for the summer, but are here on an ongoing basis. There is an advert looking for 767 crews in flight this week, and although the company concerned is not a US carrier they are still insistent upon either US citizenship, or residency, is this fair? FACT: I hold a UK ATPL, and 3 other professional licences including FAA, B737 TRI, with thousands of hours on type. The FAA has told me that in order to validate the B737 I need to do the following:
UK Licence to FAA
MEET THE REQUIRED EXPERIENCE.
FULL US ATPL GROUND SCHOOL (part 121)
FULL B737 GROUND SCHOOL COURSE.
B737 FLIGHT SIMULATOR AS REQUIRED.
FAA CHECK RIDE.
And if I wish to validate my TRI rating
FULL INSTRUCTOR GROUND SCHOOL.
FLIGHT TRAINING WITH A CFI.
CHECK RIDE.
B737 INSTRUCTOR CHECK RIDE.
NO TRE EXAMINER PRIVILAGES POSSIBLE.
After all this I can then fly a B737, and instruct in the simulator. (Assuming I can work there of course) By comparison this is my understanding of what a US pilot is required to do with similar qualifications.
USA Licence to UK validation
MEET THE REQUIRED EXPERIENCE.
SIT AN ABRIDGED AIR LAW EXAM.
PASS AN LPC.
Whilst I accept that the FAA licence is a little more practical based than the UK licence, and is a little faster to obtain, I ask you, is this a level playing field?
A previous contributor said that he had been flying in the US without going through the whole process. This is the case when flying UK registered aircraft, not so when it is US registered, crazy I know but that’s my understanding. Also not so when foreign pilots wish to fly UK registered aircraft. This will escalate to a point of no return if we do not collectively act on this very real problem now. Without any support from the government this will be difficult. The IPA deserves some serious support and recognition for their tremendous effort.
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