UAE GCAA Conversion
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 19
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From: US
UAE GCAA Conversion
Does anyone on here know or went through converting a FAA CPL to UAE GCAA? This is for someone with only 250 hours under their belt.
also, does anyone know if the process is different if you are to be hired as a “second officer” by an airline in the UAE? Meaning does the conversion process get easier?
also, does anyone know if the process is different if you are to be hired as a “second officer” by an airline in the UAE? Meaning does the conversion process get easier?
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 34
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From: Portugal
I think they only grant CPL conversions if you already have a job offer in the UAE.
It's a more or less standard license validation process. You'll need a Letter of License Validation from the FAA to allow for the GCAA to request validation of license, ratings and medical. You may need an FAA Accident/Incident Report too. They'll also want to see signed logbooks or certificates of your flight experience. Once that's done you'll need to do a full initial CLASS 1 medical once in the UAE and an Air Law written exam. If you already have a job offer in Dubai the airline can accelerate the process I'm sure but you will need to obtain papers from the FAA yourself.
The GCAA website has a lot of information and it's easy to navigate. You can contact them directly too.
It's a more or less standard license validation process. You'll need a Letter of License Validation from the FAA to allow for the GCAA to request validation of license, ratings and medical. You may need an FAA Accident/Incident Report too. They'll also want to see signed logbooks or certificates of your flight experience. Once that's done you'll need to do a full initial CLASS 1 medical once in the UAE and an Air Law written exam. If you already have a job offer in Dubai the airline can accelerate the process I'm sure but you will need to obtain papers from the FAA yourself.
The GCAA website has a lot of information and it's easy to navigate. You can contact them directly too.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 19
Likes: 2
From: US
I think they only grant CPL conversions if you already have a job offer in the UAE.
It's a more or less standard license validation process. You'll need a Letter of License Validation from the FAA to allow for the GCAA to request validation of license, ratings and medical. You may need an FAA Accident/Incident Report too. They'll also want to see signed logbooks or certificates of your flight experience. Once that's done you'll need to do a full initial CLASS 1 medical once in the UAE and an Air Law written exam. If you already have a job offer in Dubai the airline can accelerate the process I'm sure but you will need to obtain papers from the FAA yourself.
The GCAA website has a lot of information and it's easy to navigate. You can contact them directly too.
It's a more or less standard license validation process. You'll need a Letter of License Validation from the FAA to allow for the GCAA to request validation of license, ratings and medical. You may need an FAA Accident/Incident Report too. They'll also want to see signed logbooks or certificates of your flight experience. Once that's done you'll need to do a full initial CLASS 1 medical once in the UAE and an Air Law written exam. If you already have a job offer in Dubai the airline can accelerate the process I'm sure but you will need to obtain papers from the FAA yourself.
The GCAA website has a lot of information and it's easy to navigate. You can contact them directly too.
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 287
Likes: 25
From: bigland
You need a job offer from an UAE operator to convert the license. No other way around it.
As far as that second officer case for flydubai, you will only write the 14 exams. Only when they offer you a jov with the visa then only the license conversion takes place.
As far as that second officer case for flydubai, you will only write the 14 exams. Only when they offer you a jov with the visa then only the license conversion takes place.
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Portugal
I'm not sure about the 14 exams. I don't know anyone who has done that when transferring an ATPL. Maybe that's exclusive to CPL. You have better chances at getting your first jet gig in Europe than in the UAE. I don't know your situation or if you already have an offer there but usually people go to the main airlines of the Middle East with 5-6 years of previous airline experience (unless you're a local of course).
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 287
Likes: 25
From: bigland
I'm not sure about the 14 exams. I don't know anyone who has done that when transferring an ATPL. Maybe that's exclusive to CPL. You have better chances at getting your first jet gig in Europe than in the UAE. I don't know your situation or if you already have an offer there but usually people go to the main airlines of the Middle East with 5-6 years of previous airline experience (unless you're a local of course).
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: FL370
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 287
Likes: 25
From: bigland
The employment part is correct but there is not such thing as surrender your licenses. It will be still valid even if you leave the UAE but the only downside is you need to be employed or sponsored to renew the license if it expires.
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 250
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From: FL370
Could be. The pilots who joined my company after returning from the UAE had to submit their license to their employer upon exit.
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 287
Likes: 25
From: bigland
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 250
Likes: 2
From: FL370
