in medium stat virtus
I do not really reply to such a complicated matter but I thought if someone has the need to convert this license it should be able to know what it entails in time and financial burden.
ICAO>>>JAA
depending on what country and level of license held and what country of the JAA member you choose there are various interpretations, mailnly because the JAR-FCL 2 have been adopted in several different stages and Amendments.
Basically if your ICAO was issued from a Country who became JAA Member state there were several discounts: for example for a CPLH holder they could grant up to a ATPLH ground credit (VFR) or if you held an IR then they could Grant you the all Knowledge for ATPLH IR. Nevertheless unless you had a certain kind of experience in Multiengine and Multicrew helicopters it will be good only to go to the checkride for a Frozen ATP.
If you were a old fox with more than 1000 hrs in multicrew IR etc then your license would automatically be converted into a JAA ATP. Mostly for Amendment 3 and 6 but all this will disappear with EASA in April next year anyhow.
ICAO>>>>JAA
from a non JAA member state to a JAA license, no credits ground school is not required as long as you can pass the written test and practical test.
Now in this category falls also the FAA but there are additional details we will see separately, lets say you have a canadian ATP or CPL, well you should get either a distant learning course or a crush course and be able to pass all the 14 exams or 9 exams required. Then according to the Head of Training of the FTO who will sponsor you for a practical examination you should train as needed depending on your capabilities.
Normally for an ATPLH IR you should receive a total minimum of 15 hours of Instrument training (of which 10 could be in a FNPTII) in european Airspaces. Youe should also undergo a MCC course unless you have already 500++ of multicrew helicopter time in that case it will be waived.
For a Commercial just demonstrated ability in the heli you will take the checkride and the instructor will sign you off.
Now again depending on the Member State fees and examiner availability may vary from few hundreds Euro and few weeks to months and up to 750 Pounds.
FAA>>>>CAA>>>>JAA
The only Member State who has a bilateral agreement with the US for the conversion of licenses is the UK.
Through the CAA / JAA it is possible to get a conversion which pretty much is like the above case but for the IR the minimum is all what you need 10 FNPT II and 5 in the aircraft if you hold already a Multiengine Type on your license. Still have to go through the 14 exams for the ATPLH knowledge, the online is the best option at this point for example the CATSGround is very well done, with exerts of instructor lessons on youtube and paperbooks also available, very good sample tests and progress tests. Included in the price there is also a crush week before sitting the exams, they can assist you to register and sit the exams in the UK of course but also in Florida or California, India and somewhere else in the world where they were able to get CAAInternational approve sites for examination with duly authorized proctors.
Anyhow unless you have 350 hours of Multiengine multipilot time of which at least 150 as PIC or PICUS no ATPLH IR but ATPLH IR Frozen.
You have time 7 years from the moment you pass the checkride to gain that aeronautical experience.
Hope did not scare helichick away, salaries in EU are more or less the same if you consider the current Euro-Dollar ratio but if you live in europe it buys less than you think.
It would be nice to work there paid in euro and live in the states but that could be a difficult commute.
C YA
Check you 6
keep the rotorhead lubricated