I'm a commercial helicopter pilot in South Africa. I'm thinking of doing my CAA ATPL here in South Africa, but I was told I should rather do the JAA ATPL seeing as I was born in England.
What I want to know is;
- Do I have to write the exams in Britain?
- Do I use my SACAA commercial license number to write the exams?
- Once I've completed and passed all the relevent subjects, do I have to do my flight test in Britain?
- If I have to do my flight test in Britain, do I have to do any flying over there before I can do the flight test, or can I just get straight into the aircraft and fly?
- As a rotorwing pilot here in South Africa you need 1000 hours in order to do the flight test. In Britain, is it the same?
- Lastly; once I have my JAA ATPL can I convert it to a South African ATPL, enabling me to fly both in South Africa and Overseas?