rightseat152
12th Jun 2023, 03:42
As per the title this is a guide for those who are wanting to venture down under and want to know the detials of converting your CPL and instrument rating over to CASA. For context I recently converted mine from an ICAO state outside the EU (not an EASA license).
Whilst the CASA website does tell you how to go about it, there are quite a few small details that don't make the process as simple as it would seem online so I'd like to help out others going through this as moving countries is already stressful enough.
No links are posted as I dont have enough posts to do that on this website however most are found through the CASA website. Feel free to add links in the future if you find them.
This guide also does not touch on visa requirements as I am an Aussie citizen and didnt need to worry about that.
Last thing before we get to it remember this is from my personal experience and yours may differ as you may be converting from a different place than from where I am with different experience etc, this is more an overall guide.
So to start head over to the CASA website and just take a look at the list of requirements to get it started.
As I said it gives you a good idea of how it should pan out overall, but theres a bit more to it than it states.
Pretty much all of the steps require you to be in the country to do so with very little prep outside Aus is required however this is at least what I recommend.
Gather all your documents (license, logbooks goverment ID) and make sure everything is updated and certified. Also get your logbook stamped and certified true times by your employer, flight school, club ect. CASA may also require permission from your licensing body to recieve your information. In a nutshell before going, notify and authorise release of your licensing information with whoever you need to as it will be slowed down quite a bit, should it need to go back and forth. Some countries dont require it, some do.
Once you arrive you can apply for an ARN which is basically a license number to get the whole thing started.
Follow the link and the process through as its pretty straight foward overall.
Once you have your ARN you can begin the rest of the setup process.
If your license does not state your english level, then you'll need to do an AELP. Its pretty much a converstation that determines your english speaking level.
I would also say that around now is a good time to get the medical booked as it will take a while to come through. For a CPL you'll be after a class 1 with the process being similar, but with a few more tests than other governing bodies. The medical process was a little strange for me the first time but heres essentially how it works. It can be a little confusing to get things going as theres a few systems so here is how I went about doing the medical.
To start I booked one in after looking at who could do them in my area. You're looking for whats called a DAME to start (Designated aviation medical examiner) so simply look up ones in your area and see who you'd like to do your medical with. Before your examination you'll need to head onto the myCASA and set yourself up, then go through the MRS (Medical records system) and fill it out accordingly. Once this is done and paid for you can go do your inital medical. You will also be required to do four additional tests. These are an ECG, Audiogram, blood test and an eye exam. Most places will do at least the first three however the eye exam will require a special optometrist.
Once all the tests are done its a waiting game.
At this point I would take a look at form 61-4A as that is what you will be submitting to CASA for your conversion. Now towards the end of the form, at section 19, you will see a checklist of what needs to be submitted. This is where it began to become a bit more complex for me as I had no idea what this was at the time but theres a checkbox for a certified copy of either and AVID or an ASIC. This is basically a security check. You're best of just getting an ASIC as you'll need it for controlled airports. Getting the ASIC (red) is pretty straight forward as it asks pretty standard security questions like criminal and address history, however you will require something called an "operational need". You get this from a school or employer who basically confirm that you actually need one. To get this I spoke to the flight school I planned on doing my converion with, and they were able to authorise it. You will need to provide details for them in the application itself. I did mine through a company called Vertias, which after filling out the application, required me to head to a post office with somone who could sumbit the ASIC application on staff. The card took 2 weeks to arrive.
While waiting for your ASIC to arrive, get copies of the required documents in the checklist on form 61-4A, and get them certified at a JP (justice of the peace). Do that with your ASIC once it arrives too.
I'd also suggest using this time to get a passport photo and do the same as you'll need to submit a photo to CASA using the 61-9PIC form (submit with your conversion form).
Once thats all sorted, submit the forms and all documents as well as pay the required fees and congratulations. You have started.
While waiting for a response get to studying. One thing thats pretty nice is that if you've spent some time on the CASA website, you'll have a really good idea of what exams and tests they'll get you to do. What you are waiting on is an letter that officially states the requirements.
Exam wise expect to do the CHUF and COSA (CPL), as well as the IREX. In terms of study the CHUF and IREX have plenty of things online talking about them so I wont spend any time detialing those. The COSA can be a bit tricky to find things on so do your research. Take a look at the permitted materials and study accordingly. If you have trouble with law related questions then bob taits CPL law should help fill that in (make sure its up to date).
Once you get your letter and are required to do the exams, you can make an account on ASPEQ and book them accordingly.
Good luck with the exams.
Now you will also have some flying requirements after the theory (as usual). CASA may add specific endorsements and ratings directly onto your licence. These will be displayed on your letter and just require you to "activate" them making them current (flight tests will take care of it). The letter may also just state the flight test as a requirements however just like many countries, you are required to be recommended and will most likely need to get up to scratch anyway as there are plenty of things that will be different.
Each flight test completion will require you to fill out form 61-4B as thats the second part form for the conversion. The examiner will need to fill their side out and this will need to be done for each flight test individually (ie a CPL and IR test will require one each). Expect to do both the CPL and the inital instrument rating flight test (not an IPC).
After CASA has recieved these forms they will issue your shiny new license with the ratings you have converted.
It's a pretty lenghty process and should things move at a relativley stable pace you're probably looking at around 3-6 months at least for full completion. The letter you get is only valid for a year so make sure you get it done in time or you'll need to restart the process, including rewriting exams.
Either way good luck to anyone who does it and feel free to reference this post should anyone as in the future.
Whilst the CASA website does tell you how to go about it, there are quite a few small details that don't make the process as simple as it would seem online so I'd like to help out others going through this as moving countries is already stressful enough.
No links are posted as I dont have enough posts to do that on this website however most are found through the CASA website. Feel free to add links in the future if you find them.
This guide also does not touch on visa requirements as I am an Aussie citizen and didnt need to worry about that.
Last thing before we get to it remember this is from my personal experience and yours may differ as you may be converting from a different place than from where I am with different experience etc, this is more an overall guide.
So to start head over to the CASA website and just take a look at the list of requirements to get it started.
As I said it gives you a good idea of how it should pan out overall, but theres a bit more to it than it states.
Pretty much all of the steps require you to be in the country to do so with very little prep outside Aus is required however this is at least what I recommend.
Gather all your documents (license, logbooks goverment ID) and make sure everything is updated and certified. Also get your logbook stamped and certified true times by your employer, flight school, club ect. CASA may also require permission from your licensing body to recieve your information. In a nutshell before going, notify and authorise release of your licensing information with whoever you need to as it will be slowed down quite a bit, should it need to go back and forth. Some countries dont require it, some do.
Once you arrive you can apply for an ARN which is basically a license number to get the whole thing started.
Follow the link and the process through as its pretty straight foward overall.
Once you have your ARN you can begin the rest of the setup process.
If your license does not state your english level, then you'll need to do an AELP. Its pretty much a converstation that determines your english speaking level.
I would also say that around now is a good time to get the medical booked as it will take a while to come through. For a CPL you'll be after a class 1 with the process being similar, but with a few more tests than other governing bodies. The medical process was a little strange for me the first time but heres essentially how it works. It can be a little confusing to get things going as theres a few systems so here is how I went about doing the medical.
To start I booked one in after looking at who could do them in my area. You're looking for whats called a DAME to start (Designated aviation medical examiner) so simply look up ones in your area and see who you'd like to do your medical with. Before your examination you'll need to head onto the myCASA and set yourself up, then go through the MRS (Medical records system) and fill it out accordingly. Once this is done and paid for you can go do your inital medical. You will also be required to do four additional tests. These are an ECG, Audiogram, blood test and an eye exam. Most places will do at least the first three however the eye exam will require a special optometrist.
Once all the tests are done its a waiting game.
At this point I would take a look at form 61-4A as that is what you will be submitting to CASA for your conversion. Now towards the end of the form, at section 19, you will see a checklist of what needs to be submitted. This is where it began to become a bit more complex for me as I had no idea what this was at the time but theres a checkbox for a certified copy of either and AVID or an ASIC. This is basically a security check. You're best of just getting an ASIC as you'll need it for controlled airports. Getting the ASIC (red) is pretty straight forward as it asks pretty standard security questions like criminal and address history, however you will require something called an "operational need". You get this from a school or employer who basically confirm that you actually need one. To get this I spoke to the flight school I planned on doing my converion with, and they were able to authorise it. You will need to provide details for them in the application itself. I did mine through a company called Vertias, which after filling out the application, required me to head to a post office with somone who could sumbit the ASIC application on staff. The card took 2 weeks to arrive.
While waiting for your ASIC to arrive, get copies of the required documents in the checklist on form 61-4A, and get them certified at a JP (justice of the peace). Do that with your ASIC once it arrives too.
I'd also suggest using this time to get a passport photo and do the same as you'll need to submit a photo to CASA using the 61-9PIC form (submit with your conversion form).
Once thats all sorted, submit the forms and all documents as well as pay the required fees and congratulations. You have started.
While waiting for a response get to studying. One thing thats pretty nice is that if you've spent some time on the CASA website, you'll have a really good idea of what exams and tests they'll get you to do. What you are waiting on is an letter that officially states the requirements.
Exam wise expect to do the CHUF and COSA (CPL), as well as the IREX. In terms of study the CHUF and IREX have plenty of things online talking about them so I wont spend any time detialing those. The COSA can be a bit tricky to find things on so do your research. Take a look at the permitted materials and study accordingly. If you have trouble with law related questions then bob taits CPL law should help fill that in (make sure its up to date).
Once you get your letter and are required to do the exams, you can make an account on ASPEQ and book them accordingly.
Good luck with the exams.
Now you will also have some flying requirements after the theory (as usual). CASA may add specific endorsements and ratings directly onto your licence. These will be displayed on your letter and just require you to "activate" them making them current (flight tests will take care of it). The letter may also just state the flight test as a requirements however just like many countries, you are required to be recommended and will most likely need to get up to scratch anyway as there are plenty of things that will be different.
Each flight test completion will require you to fill out form 61-4B as thats the second part form for the conversion. The examiner will need to fill their side out and this will need to be done for each flight test individually (ie a CPL and IR test will require one each). Expect to do both the CPL and the inital instrument rating flight test (not an IPC).
After CASA has recieved these forms they will issue your shiny new license with the ratings you have converted.
It's a pretty lenghty process and should things move at a relativley stable pace you're probably looking at around 3-6 months at least for full completion. The letter you get is only valid for a year so make sure you get it done in time or you'll need to restart the process, including rewriting exams.
Either way good luck to anyone who does it and feel free to reference this post should anyone as in the future.