Military Pilot to Civilian Flying?
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Bristol, England
Age: 65
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Many military rotary pilots get a double licence, (H) and (A), and continue into fixed wing employment. If you meet the requirements for Military Bridging (2000 hrs on military aircraft and 1500P1) you can do a shortened version of the ATPL exams for the helicopter licence. This involves three exams, Air law, Operational Procedures and a bridging paper. the first two are standard ATPL(A) papers (bizzarely) and the last is a composite paper examined internally by the groundschool you choose. Assuming you are current and relatively experienced on type this will lead to either an ATPL(H) or CPL(H) without having to take any flight tests. Once you hold the ATPL(H) you can bridge across to ATPL(A) by taking Performance (A), Principles of Flight (A) and another Bridging Paper, this time all with the CAA. To get the aeroplane licence issued you will need an amount of fixed wing time, about 150hrs as you start the flying training, and to take two flight tests, a skills test and an IR. When you approach the CAA for licence issue you should have 200hrs fixed wing. LASORS has the details of (H) to (A) bridging in Section J1.9.
If you don't meet the standards for military bridging you will need to take all the ATPL exams for the helicopter licence, which (again bizzarely) can actually be 12 ATPL(A) papers and Principles of Flight (H). Having taken these you can then add on P of F(A) and Performance (A) to be double qualified - no bridging papers this time. The first route is the quickest and cheapest.
If you don't meet the standards for military bridging you will need to take all the ATPL exams for the helicopter licence, which (again bizzarely) can actually be 12 ATPL(A) papers and Principles of Flight (H). Having taken these you can then add on P of F(A) and Performance (A) to be double qualified - no bridging papers this time. The first route is the quickest and cheapest.
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: near ema
Age: 62
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blackbear 1
Just as an addendum to Alex's above.
I left in 2000 with 3000hrs Sea King/Lynx and went straight to Britannia (sic) 757/767. Then LHS with Thomson 737 since 2005. The general attitude of the CAA at the time was helpful and if you told them where you are and where you want to be, they were very obliging on issuing a road map on how to get there. The single most important point I remember was get an ATPL(H) or a CPL(H) - but take the ATPL(A) Nav exams! - not only did it give you a fall back licence for employment but I also got a letter from the licensing department stating that the exam passes remained valid for the entire validity of the professional licence - you never know, plans change....
I left in 2000 with 3000hrs Sea King/Lynx and went straight to Britannia (sic) 757/767. Then LHS with Thomson 737 since 2005. The general attitude of the CAA at the time was helpful and if you told them where you are and where you want to be, they were very obliging on issuing a road map on how to get there. The single most important point I remember was get an ATPL(H) or a CPL(H) - but take the ATPL(A) Nav exams! - not only did it give you a fall back licence for employment but I also got a letter from the licensing department stating that the exam passes remained valid for the entire validity of the professional licence - you never know, plans change....
Concur with the last post! Have recently left the Fleet Air Arm ex SeaKing and Lynx - post Bridging Package (thank you Alex and Bristol Ground School for all your help) with CPL (H) and CPL IR (A)thinking I would never use it enroute to an airline job. To my suprise, actually doing some civvy rotary work until my Type Rating begins next year! The more options you have - the more choices you can make! Good Luck. JD
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Ex Army
Chap,
I'm ex army rotary and now flying civvy fixed wing. PM me and I'll happily shed some light on my transition to the airlines.
VT
I'm ex army rotary and now flying civvy fixed wing. PM me and I'll happily shed some light on my transition to the airlines.
VT
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: GREECE
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Military pilot from Greece
Hi I'm co-pilot in C-130 but also i have a great experience as instructor in T-6 Texan II and i have cpl(A) IR Hercules ATPL theory credit. Do you believe is it easy to find a job either as a Civilian airliner pilot or as fast ex-military jets pilot in military organizations in Europe?
Thank you
Thank you
