Ukcaa FI to EASA FI conversion
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2025
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 5
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From: Hampshire
Ukcaa FI to EASA FI conversion
Hi,
Don’t know if it’s been raised here before but I couldn’t find it anywhere.
I am considering converting my UK ATPL into EASA some time next year. My FI rating is current.
Just want to ask if anyone has experienced that before? Which state is the easiest to deal with in terms of cost and customer service?
I am considering Maltese, Irish, Austrian at the moment.
My understanding is that I might have to still do a test or short training.
Don’t know if it’s been raised here before but I couldn’t find it anywhere.
I am considering converting my UK ATPL into EASA some time next year. My FI rating is current.
Just want to ask if anyone has experienced that before? Which state is the easiest to deal with in terms of cost and customer service?
I am considering Maltese, Irish, Austrian at the moment.
My understanding is that I might have to still do a test or short training.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 447
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From: london
Unfortunately there is no real credit for that conversion on the FI part. You will have to do a full FI course. And theory exams if you want.to teach more than LAPL. Or are you talking about converting the ATPL? In which case its wrll documented. Austro Contol. Definitely.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2025
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Hampshire
Unfortunately there is no real credit for that conversion on the FI part. You will have to do a full FI course. And theory exams if you want.to teach more than LAPL. Or are you talking about converting the ATPL? In which case its wrll documented. Austro Contol. Definitely.
Soon to unfreeze my atpl. Written exams were done pre brexit so I don’t have to redo them. Just thinking the conversion of each rating.
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 734
Likes: 10
From: London, GB
"You could probably get a 50% credit..."
That's a pessimistic estimate!
"Unfortunately there is no real credit for that conversion on the FI part. You will have to do a full FI course."
Both UK and EASA licensing systems have a perfectly serviceable route for crediting third-country instructors. Pilots who hold an equivalent certificate and meet the Part-FCL requirements need only be evaluated by a training organisation, which makes a credit recommendation to the state of licence issue; the authority then determines the amount of credit, and the training organisation carries out the proposed or adjusted training plan. All this is clearly laid out in art 3(b) of Regulation (EU) 2020/723.
As an example, the Danish application form (TS-CFL 10/23) for reduced training states, for instructor certificates:
Regarding your third country instructor privileges; You must perform all the
exercises in the ATO's approved Instructor program but without any
requirements for number of training hours. An EASA approved ATO must make an
assessment how many training hours are needed to achieve the above before an
assessment of competence can be completed.
That's a pessimistic estimate!
"Unfortunately there is no real credit for that conversion on the FI part. You will have to do a full FI course."
Both UK and EASA licensing systems have a perfectly serviceable route for crediting third-country instructors. Pilots who hold an equivalent certificate and meet the Part-FCL requirements need only be evaluated by a training organisation, which makes a credit recommendation to the state of licence issue; the authority then determines the amount of credit, and the training organisation carries out the proposed or adjusted training plan. All this is clearly laid out in art 3(b) of Regulation (EU) 2020/723.
As an example, the Danish application form (TS-CFL 10/23) for reduced training states, for instructor certificates:
Regarding your third country instructor privileges; You must perform all the
exercises in the ATO's approved Instructor program but without any
requirements for number of training hours. An EASA approved ATO must make an
assessment how many training hours are needed to achieve the above before an
assessment of competence can be completed.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7
Likes: 2
From: UK
I obtained an EASA ATPL last year from the Danish authorities expecting to follow this path however on applying for my licence was told that this had changed.
I Was informed that in order to obtain an EASA FI I would have to complete a full FI course and my UK instructor certificate would not be recognised. The actual wording was:
We have been give new instructions from EASA:
We can give no credit for third country instructor ratings anymore.
Only credit for Teaching and Learning can be given if you have held an EASA instructor rating before Brexit
So sorry about this, please accept my apologies.
Hopefully things have changed back again but I'm not aware if anyone could point me in the right direction I'd also be grateful
I Was informed that in order to obtain an EASA FI I would have to complete a full FI course and my UK instructor certificate would not be recognised. The actual wording was:
We have been give new instructions from EASA:
We can give no credit for third country instructor ratings anymore.
Only credit for Teaching and Learning can be given if you have held an EASA instructor rating before Brexit
So sorry about this, please accept my apologies.
Hopefully things have changed back again but I'm not aware if anyone could point me in the right direction I'd also be grateful
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
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From: UK
I've got EASA CRI, and CAA CRI and FI, current licences in both regimes and loads of instructing hours - and whenever I've looked at it, trying to get an EASA FI out of that combination, is just more trouble than it would ever be worth.
G
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 911
Likes: 334
From: uk
Which is of course thoroughly ridiculous. Views on Brexit aside is there no scope for common sense? A UK FI instructing in Britain has exactly the same skill set as his French / German / Danish / whatever equivalent. I know I am just asking a rhetorical question but why would there be a need to complicate with excessive bureaucracy and expense to the individual. I would accept an appropriate’mini course’ of eg 3 hours flying and 2 days ground school but to ask for a full course is utterly stupid. And it should be the same in both directions.
