why Canadian licence?

[MidgetBoy]

Canadian license doesn't expire, it becomes invalid when your medical becomes invalid.
And theres all those check rides, t/os and ldgs you have to do if you don't fly for long periods of times.

[dannyjet]

What if you've been flying but not in Canada? And of course been keeping a Category 1 medical valid in that other country you are flying?

I have dual citizenship (canadian/chilean) but I've always lived in Chile. Last year I finished my flight training in Canada and recently I finished my convalidation here in Chile. I now have a chilean CPL, validated by its respective chilean Category 1 medical of course. I also convalidated IFR and all the canadian flight time was credited.

So since I came back I've wondered if the fact that I fly here in Chile, I have a chilean CPL, I've done the written tests and flight tests as part of the convalidation and have also keep the medical current, has a positive impact in keeping the canadian documents current as well. By the way, Chile is a member of the ICAO.

DU

[Mostly Harmless]

The real issue here isn’t really about which license you have in your wallet. The real issue is in the labour laws of individual countries. In other words, do you have the right to work in the US? If you do not, then you cannot be hired to fly an N numbered aeroplane. That would render your FAA license somewhat moot. Either way, the conversion process to hold both is not too bad, but could add extra cost… it’s been a while since I have looked into this and it looks like others have put up some good links. Just make sure you investigate your ability to hold down a job wherever you get your license. Now while you are correct that you could get an instructing job south of 49, I believe that your visa would limit you to only being an instructor and never being able to escape that roll. I may be completely wrong here, but that is the thing you want to research.

Best wishes on whichever path you choose to travel.

[dannyjet]

Well at least for me the "labour laws of individual countries" do not apply as I have dual citizenship. Excuse me if you were replying to another post.

DU

[varigflier]

Mostly Harmless, that is not 100% true. Although I agree with you here in Brazil there are lots of N registered business jets that require FAA licenses to fly them and since most Brazilians don't have FAA licenses, it is a good option for those who do have one. I am not sure if other countries are the same way but it is cheaper for the plane to be N registered than to have it registered in Brazil. Lots of red tape and high costs. So in this case even though you could not be able to work in the US, you could fly any N registered aircraft here.

VF

[varigflier]

Daniel,

How long did it take you to convert your Canadian license to you a Chilean license? Did Chile accept all of your flight time ok or was it a hassle to get it accepted?

VF

[dannyjet]

It took me around 10 months but it is doable in half that. I was working as an english teacher in a couple of institutes at the same time plus the fact that I arrived to Chile late last year when summer vacations were close and everything slows down. It took me like two months to get the medical certificate due to the fact I didn't have health insurance. Written tests are easy to get rid of although flight tests are scheduled for you in three weeks time or a month because of demand and low quantity of examiners.

And yes, the flight time was all credited. It was kind of weird though; in Canada your dual time goes PIC to the instructor. Here in Chile, dual time or better said, instruction time goes PIC to the student, so I guess here in Chile I have more PIC than in Canada hehe.

Now go figure how good of an idea is it to be an instructor in Chile with that regulation haha. The thing is I think there is no such thing as dual time in Chile, it is either PIC or copilot... yes, copilot; no matter if the aircraft is a certified two crew member or not.

DU

[varigflier]

It took me 8 months to get a conversion from FAA to ANAC in Brazil. And my flight time wasn't accepted so was a brand new commercial pilot with 0 flight time. This was over 4 years ago but I doubt it has changed.

[Asrian]

(English is not my first language, so please bare with me)
To understand it right, I would like to ask again:

There is no difference between a Canadian PPL and an US-FAA PPL regarding expiration? Both don't expire, but just become inactive without a valid medical and can be paused for a longer time period and can get reactivated later?
Or is there a difference regarding expiration?

Any other license and training-related reasons I should do my PPL in Canada instead the US? (my aim: cost effective but quality training for PPL for private flying)

[Taxidriver009]

I can understand you want to obtain a “proper” license while saving money. Bigger countries offer “cheaper” training but I would suggest you do your PPL in the country you intend to do your flying.

If you want to make a career of it, then broaden your horizons with additional licenses and validations. Rather use money spent on travel and accommodation abroad, for additional time in the cockpit!

If it is that much cheaper to do it in North America, it still doesn't matter which license you hold, but experience in the cockpit.

Clear as mud?

I'm sure the flying schools you are researching will assist with all your questions regarding licensing in applicable country..........

[Asrian]

Taxi,
thanks for reply, but You didn't answer my question!

So I would like to ask again:
Is the Canadian PPL like the US PPL regarding expiration or does it expire like the JAR-PPL or national PPL in most european countries when not kept current all the time?

[Taxidriver009]

All the answers you need regarding TC licensing.

Flight Crew Licensing

[BeechNut]

Both don't expire, but just become inactive without a valid medical and can be paused for a longer time period and can get reactivated later?
Or is there a difference regarding expiration?

While the license does not expire, their are conditions attached to being able to exercise the privileges of the license. One of those is the requirement for fairly extensive refresher training if you haven't flown in 5 years or more.

It involves doing all of the exercises necessary to obtain the license, that you would need to demonstrate to a TC examiner. The difference is that you don't have to demonstrate them to an examiner as there is no formal exam, you do have to demonstrate them to an instructor and be signed off by the instructor. You also have to write the PSTAR air law exam, but that's a piece of cake.

The reality for a PPL, as I am, when letting your skills lapse beyond 5 years, is about 15 hours dual with an instructor.

Beech

[joe grind]

n reg acft

You can fly an N reg acft for hire without right to work in the U.S. as long as you have an faa cert.
You just can't fly it in the U.S. or it's territories.
There are many N reg acft working throughout the world.

[Asrian]

Thank You Beech and Joe for Your anwers!