I would like to know how to convert my license,Austrian commercial helicopter to an Irish one.As both countrys are in the European Union,I don´t know if I have to go through any tests.Does anyone can give me advice or any contact direction of the irish aviation authoritys?Thanks in advance.

Question:
Safety Regulation : Can I convert my licence to an Irish Licence?

Answer:
It is no longer possible to convert a foreign CPL/ATPL to an Irish CPL/ATPL since Ireland commenced the implementation to JAR-FCL in November 2000. Consequently, all non-JAR State Licence holders must now undertake Theoretical Knowledge training and Flight training at a JAR-FCL Approved Flight Training Organisation (FTO).

At present, there are no FTO’s approved in Ireland, however, this position could change in the near future. There are, however, a number of approved FTO’s in the UK which you may wish to contact with a view to undertaking a course of study leading to the issue of a UK JAR-FCL CPL/ATPL.


From Irish Aviation Authority FAQ's

Email [email protected]

The easy answer: if you have a JAA licence it is convertable if you haven't then you will have to do everything.

Hope that helps

If you do have a JAA licence, the only requirement is to do 'an appreciation' of Irish Air Law. This can be done by an Irish company if you join one.

Leku,
I dropped into Aviation House at Christmas and asked them the same question (for a NZ license) and they told me more or less what Rotorbike has posted.

It looks like (in my case anyway) it's going to be a long uphill struggle to get my license recognised.

Best of luck,

Irlandés

Thanks you all.I contacted the IAA and now I´m waiting for an "official" answer.Cheers.

Leku,
can you post the reply here when you get it?

Thanks!
Irlandés

Hey Irlandés,don´t worry I´ll do it as soon as I get the answer.Anyway, I would like to contact you by e- mail to share some info,and if you have any question about helos in Spain or South America, do not hesitate to contact me.If you give an e-mail address I´ll contact you at once.Cheers mate.

Does anyone know of any companies in Ireland that do helicopter training sponsorship.

A friend of mine told me CHC do it, and that its on there website, but I cant see it, maybe I missed it.

Thanks
Al

Alan,

'Fraid your friend was misleading. CHC Ireland certainly do not do any sponsorship. At the mo' I don't know of any company in Ireland that does any form of sponsorship.

You may have to do a bit of fishing around but I think it's highly unlikely you'll find any at all anywhere. Sorry!

Me thought that was the case, thanks for the reply anyway.

Al

Hi -
Anyone familiar with the procedures (if any) to convert an FAA-issued PPL or CPL license to the equivalent Irish one?

Is it a straight-up change, or is there a flight test involved? Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Peter

OK - so the same question applies to obtaining an equivalent JAR license. Anyone know?

Assuming flungdung is correct (which I am sure he is)

JAR FCL-2.015 applies,

Different requirements if PPL or CPL (strangely enough).

CPL is dealt with in JAR FCL-2.015(c) which basically says you can't convert unless there is a reciprocal arrangement with a non JAA state , as far as I am aware that doesn't exist with the USA so it can't be done.

You may however be able to validate your license for 1 year based on the arrangements in JAR-FCL 2.015 appendix 1. (Lots of hoops to jump through, which I wont list here).

PPL in Appendix 2 to 2.015 and says

You need an ICAO licence.

You need a JAR class 2 medical as a minimum.

Have more than 100hrs as a helicopter pilot.

Pass Air Law and Human performance exams.

Relevant bits of subpart F which i presume means 2.240.

Pass a flight test for initial PPL issue.

Hold an acceptable RT licence (which means usually passing the RT practical and written exams, and applying for the licence).

JAR FCL-2 Section 1 can be found at

http://www.jaa.nl/section1/jars/444077.pdf

The pages you want are
JAR FCL-2.015(a-d) and 2.016 pages 5 & 6
Appendix 1 pages 18 & 19
Appendix 2 page 20.

It is of course possible to apply for a JAA licence if you hold an FAA licence and your hours will count towards it at least JAR FCL2.016 applies in this case and it is not a 'conversion'. Simply stated.

Have a Class 1 Medical.
Training as required to pass 'the equivalent' JAA knowledge exams.
Flight training as required at the discretion of an FTOs head of Training.
Pass the Flight Test.
Hold an RT Licence.

All explained in LASORS 2005 available at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/LASORS2005.PDF

If you need any more details let me know !

Cheers

V.

Hi all,

A friend over the water is interested in starting their PPL at Weston and asked me if I new any good schools there. Not having any knowledge of the schools or airfield I thought I would ask here for them.

All advice passed on with thanks.

Max T.

Hi, as far as I know, theres 2 heli training schools at weston, Im not sure if there the same one, but they have different websites.

http://www.eirecopter.ie/eirecopter/Main/Home.htm

and

http://www.ehaireland.com/map_eha.html

Check out the flyinginireland forums too, theres some members who fly out of weston who might know better.

http://www.flyinginireland.com/forum/index.php

I think Irish Helicopters are there too. . and the tower is getting a lot of complaints from the neighbours. .

do IH do training?, I know they have a bo105 and a 206, Im not sure if they even do conversions.

Thanks everyone,

Have found European Helicopter Academy and Eirecopter at Weston. Has anyone flown with either of these or know anything about their service.

Thanks again
Max T.

Hi Max
There are currently two schools at weston as per JAFO.
The BIG difference between them is the type aircraft they use. EHA train exclusively with 300 CBi. Whereas Eirecopter use R22. I know Eirecopter have recently accuired a Schweizer of some description but I don't know what model or their long term plans for it.
TF

Did my PPL with Eirecopter. Best of the bunch at Weston. Good crew of instructors there at the minute too.