Thanks for the details INNflight. I'm just starting out looking for some information on how to get started. I've emailed Austrocontrol with some questions but it's been about four business days now and no response from them. I sure hope it's not going to be the months long struggle you had to go through. I'll probably end up having to call them.
The school I emailed in Linz seemed nice enough but the lady who answered my email wasn't able to answer specific questions about the whole process and referred me to Austrocontrol. She was saying I would have to first get the PPL, then CPL(A), then IR(A) before I could even start with the distance learning for the ATPL(A). Seems a strange way to do it. I sure hope id don't really need the PPL(A) and can start with the CPL(A).
B2N2, I emailed the contact you sent me. Just waiting for a reply. Hopefully he can shed some light on this.
A fight instructor at a school in Vienna, Klosterneuburg, was quite helpful, but again didn't know for sure what was required for the conversion.
I'd like to get a confirmation from Austrocontrol before I start throwing Euros around.
Schools in the UK seem to have their act together a bit more since this is what they specialize in. But one reason I wanted to do this in Austria was to make some contacts/network so that I might be able to slide my foot in the door at Tyrolian. That and my wife has a job offer in Linz. would be nice to be with her.
Thanks everyone!