Hello everybody!
I do apologize for opening a brand new thread on something that has probably been discussed plenty before.
I am a US regional guy with a little more than 3,000 hrs Tot and about 1,500 hrs as FO on a RJ, and having an European passport I was looking forward to convert my FAA ATP to an EASA ATPL. (why not!)
Now, I have read/heard plenty of times that having more than 500 hrs jet/multicrew time I wouldn't need to enroll in ATPL theory exam groudclass or DL with a ATO.
The fun part comes whenever I try to get details from most of these Organizations.
My experience so far has been of most schools/training centers quoting me for a DL Atpl, with or without exam fees (depending on the country) and afterwards the rental of a FFS of the type of my RJ in order to pass a skill test with an approved Examiner that should then release me a full ATPL.
Numerous times though, the company would either ask me to show up for a brush up (even if I should be exempt from one) or come over to complete a mock test that gets eventually sent to the authority (like most Greek flight school) before being able to be scheduled for the actual test.
Unfortunately, dealing with the commute from the US I am trying to streamline and simplify the process the most I can for me to use the minimum amount of days and get the exam sessions.
For now, I have considered Greece, the UK (Bristol DL), Italy, Spain and Poland, although it seems that everybody does stuff slightly different and they always try to turn the tide in their favor, by saying that the regulation with their own Authority is not quite the same as the other ones.
Now, to wrap it up:
- does anybody happen to have some legislative reference to the claim of being able to self certify for the ATPL theory and not needing to go through an ATO (and if it's the case, is there any EU state that does not allow it?)
- I cannot quite figure out how long will the Atpl received after the skill test on the FFS and the ATPL theory is valid for and how would I have to keep it current. ( I have heard a lot of different answers on this one, can anybody shine some light on it?)
Also, the FFS to be used for the skill test has to be located in the same EU country in which I would be taking the medical and Atpl theory?
- Last, do you have any suggestions or any good ATO to recommend for the process (I have been suggested to stay away from the UK because of Brexit and possible related trade issues in the future and from the Greeks because of how slow the burocracy is.)
Thank you in advance for the help. It is pretty frustrating to pass from the FAA's way of handling things to that EASA kind of "standardized" process.
Not quite sure who to trust anymore!!!