JAA To FAA ATPL Converation

[80kts checked]

Can anyone recommend or even indicate what U.S. flight schools offer the appropriate conversion course?

[Hufty]

AFAIK, you just need any school that can do an ATP checkride...there are loads of them in the US a google search will bring them up. However, as you are in Europe unless you are a US citizen you will need to find one that is TSA approved and do all the paperwork, get the visa etc. before you head out. Quick search revealed:

http://www.atpflightschool.com/
http://www.flycfa.com/

You should look at FAR 61.159 which will give you the requirements for the ATP to make sure you have ticked all the boxes.

You also need to do the medical and the groundschool first (you can do them both in the US or the UK). The CAA website will tell you which CAA medical examiners can do FAA medicals and you can do self study for the written using material from companies such as Gleim (available from Sporty's I think). I think you can sit the exam at Flightsafety in Le Bourget or maybe even Willow Air in the UK:

http://www.willowair.co.uk/faa.html

Looks like they might be able to do your checkride too although they offer part 61 training - I have no idea if that is the same as the US - a lot of the atp schools seem to offer part 141 - not sure what the difference is but it is something you should check to make sure it is valid!!! Somebody on the USA forum or the flight school themselves will be able to answer this for you.

The checkride itself as far as I Know is a few hours in a light twin - basically a combined CPL and IR. There is an oral exam too. You can also do it on a full motion sim - if you are currently working and need an LPC, if it so happens that the examiner you're with is FAA approved then maybe you might be able to do it there and then provided you have the medical and written done already.

Good luck!!

[80kts checked]

Hufty, thanks for you're detailed response, it is much appreciated.
For you additional info and anyone else who may be interested, the writtens can also be sat at FlightSafety at Farnborough.