Converting CASA PPL to FAA PPL. How long did it take you?

[triple7nz]

just wondering who here has got an FAA license based on their CASA PPL? How long did it take to do the conversion?

I want to have an license by January, but I still don't have my CASA PPL. I'm hoping to have it by the end of October. Do you think This will be enough time to convert it?

Thanks

[kfrae]

I converted my CASA CPL to FAA PPL a few months back, and even though it says the verification process takes 45-90 days, I got my fax back from Oklahoma City about a week after I sent it to them.

Once you send your form 452 to CASA to allow them to give the FAA details, they send it straight to the FAA, so as long as CASA are quick, then the feds are also really quick.

It also says it takes at least 2 weeks to make an appointment with an FSDO, which wasn't the case.. they aren't too busy these days, so depending on where you are going you should be able to make a booking straight away.

[triple7nz]

Thanks, exactly the answer I was looking for. I had a feeling they just over state the amount of time it will take to do the conversion. I think I can relax a little bit, knowing I don't have to rush to get my CASA PPL, although I won't leave it for too long in case the conversion does take a little bit longer.

[rubberprune]

Hi, I hold an Australian CPL. I have come late to this thread, but can anyone tell me if obtaining the FAA certificate 61.75 is a temporary licence, or is it just one step in the right direction towards the licence required to fly in the U.S.?

If I am required to undergo a flight review (as per 61.56) before I am entitled to rent and fly solo in the U.S., is this review conducted on site at a FSDO nominated by me? For example, San Jose FSDO will be close to where I am staying - are the GA flight reviews conducted there?

Cheers, rubber

[Gomrath]

Hi, I hold an Australian CPL. I have come late to this thread, but can anyone tell me if obtaining the FAA certificate 61.75 is a temporary licence, or is it just one step in the right direction towards the licence required to fly in the U.S.?

The nominated FSDO is where you book an appointment to turn up with all your paperwork to show proof.

A 61.75 certificate is issued on the basis of a foreign ICAO compliant license. It is valid for as long as the underlying foreign license is valid along with the foreign medical cert.
You may hold a foreign CPL - but you will only get a FAA 61.75 with Private privileges.
Having got a 61.75 - you then have to 'activate it' by completing a 'Flight Review' per the regs. This involves a check ride and a Ground review each must be a minimum of 1 hour but typically longer. The ground portion involves knowledge of the FAA regulations etc
You have to undergo the 'Flight Review' every 24 months.

If you want a full FAA unrestricted Commercial - you need to go through the process to get one.

[MarkerInbound]

And the FSDO doesn't do the flight review. You'll have to set that up with a flight school you chose. There should be several in the San Jose area or if that's not your final destination is the states, any CFI can do it, as long as they're rated in the class and category of aircraft you're flying.

[Dnav31]

Hi Guys,

Contemplating an extended holiday in the good ole' USA. Whilst there I would like to gain a FAA Commercial. What would be an appropriate time frame for this. I have a CASA PPL and meet a lot of the other hour requirements (XC, Night etc.), but guessing I wouldn't have time to do the Instrument component. I totally understand the restriction of no IFR, its also a lot cheaper to do it this way, and convert to CASA. I have several different stories from different places, so someone with the experience would be good. I would be available on a full time basis for most of it. (a few indicative $$$ would be good too.)

[Gomrath]

Originally Posted by Dnav31

I have a CASA PPL and meet a lot of the other hour requirements (XC, Night etc.)

You should review FAR 61.127 and 61.129.
61.127 details what training you require specifically for a Commercial (as opposed to 61.107 which is the specific training requirements for a Private).
61.129 outliens the Aeronautical Experience required.

[Dnav31]

Thanks,

Been through that and answered a lot of questions. Biggest question is..... Do I need a visa. Primary purpose of the trip is for a vacation/ holiday with my family, however, will be aiming to gain a commercial whilst there.

[lee_apromise]

Yeah you do because what you are after is certification hence the need for a M-1 visa.

[custardpsc]

You do not require a visa for a commercial if the training is incidental to your visit, ie vacation it does not require anything more than you require for a vacation. The issue is that because it us your initial lfaa licence you will need tsa which most people then interpret as requiring a visa too.

That said, its all about circumstances and individuals. If you have a few hundred hours and already got complex/ high performance and current so only need say 8 hours then its quite credible to do that within a two week vacation, especially if you are with your partner or on a business trip or whatevet. If you need say 25 hours and are clearly making a pilgrimage to a residential course at a flight school for a month youd be wise to be on an m1 visa.

My personal experience is that there is no issue with commercial training or indeed entering for a private check ride on visa waiver, based on several entries.

A 61.75 is worth having if you just want to do ppl rental, if you have any further ambition forget the 61.75 and do the faa ppl checkride and written, youll know you are up to the required standard and have the necessary knowledge to enjoy flying in the usa too.
If you hold a cpl already I just posted advice in the tsa thread also on this, depending on what else you hold

[sherburn2LA]

can anyone tell me if obtaining the FAA certificate 61.75 is a temporary licence,

don't listen to the naysayers. I have been using mine living here for 14 years. Apart from the niggle of the reissue for plastic license it has been no trouble. If you just want to do recreational flying here and in your home country there is really no need to go for a full FAA.

[Gomrath]

Originally Posted by custardpsc

The issue is that because it us your initial lfaa licence you will need tsa which most people then interpret as requiring a visa too.

The guy is going for a Commercial certificate - common sense would suggest that it would be prudent that he gets a visa - it would be a shame to be 'caught out' and subsequently banned from re-entry to the United States based on not spending a couple of hundred bucks on the Visa.

As for your comment that the need for a TSA application is interpreted as requiring a Visa..
TSA are not responsible for the immigration status of an individual, What they do however is the check with the USCIS on that status and they will cancel the TSA application if the USCIS come back with a negative response.

[rubberprune]

FAR 61.75 "Activation"?

Hi guys,
Can anyone point me to the FAA regs which say that the certificate issued on the basis of a foreign license must be "activated" by a flight review and ground review?

Cheers, rubber

[MarkerInbound]

It's not an "activation," it's a currency issue. Everyone needs a flight review every two years. If you had taken a checkride for a certificate, that would count as a review and start your two year clock. Since you didn't take a checkride, you'll need a FR to be current.

61.56 Flight review.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (f) of this section, a flight review consists of a minimum of 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training. The review must include:
(1) A review of the current general operating and flight rules of part 91 of this chapter; and
(2) A review of those maneuvers and procedures that, at the discretion of the person giving the review, are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate.
(b) Glider pilots may substitute a minimum of three instructional flights in a glider, each of which includes a flight to traffic pattern altitude, in lieu of the 1 hour of flight training required in paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) Except as provided in paragraphs (d), (e), and (g) of this section, no person may act as pilot in command of an aircraft unless, since the beginning of the 24th calendar month before the month in which that pilot acts as pilot in command, that person has—
(1) Accomplished a flight review given in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated by an authorized instructor and
(2) A logbook endorsed from an authorized instructor who gave the review certifying that the person has satisfactorily completed the review.
(d) A person who has, within the period specified in paragraph (c) of this section, passed a pilot proficiency check conducted by an examiner, an approved pilot check airman, or a U.S. Armed Force, for a pilot certificate, rating, or operating privilege need not accomplish the flight review required by this section.

[Gomrath]

Can anyone point me to the FAA regs which say that the certificate issued on the basis of a foreign license must be "activated" by a flight review and ground review?

and knowing that will be a part of the Flight Review when it comes to ensuring your knowledge of the FAR's in the ground portion of that review.
A foreign pilot with a FAR 61.75 is no more exempt from the requirement for a FR than any regular full FAA certificate holder.

The term 'activation' is often used as you can get issued a 61.75 and stuff it into a drawer for the next 6 months. Until you complete the FR it is still not usable. Once the FR is completed and signed off in the log book - the clock then starts to tick for the next 24 months.
As an aside, if you changed address in that interim period and didn't notify the FAA - then it would still not be usable even after a successful FR.

[rubberprune]

Thanks Markerinbound for the info.
Given the FAA certificate in my question is based on the foreign license, I thought it was only required that I maintain currency of the foreign license. Meaning a biennial flight review in the foreign country.
Otherwise can I expect to to two flight reviews every two years?

Gomrath, I can't find the term 'activation' in any of the regulations or paperwork pertaining to my application for a certificate based on a foreign license. Can you please show me where it says that?

cheers, rubber

[MarkerInbound]

"Currency" may be a term lost in translation. Since a FAA pilot certificate is good for life (unless you do something really stupid and the FAA takes it back) we 'Merrican pilots think of currency as 3 TOs and landings in 90 days, however many approaches and holds for IFR flights in the last 6 months (or a checkride) and a flight review (or something that fills the square) in the last 24 months.

I don't understand how other CAAs do it but I see questions here about revalidating a license. The FAA says if you can fly on your foreign license your FAA cert is good. But in their guidance to the FSDO is a note to remind the pilot getting a 61.75 that they need a FR before using it. And the FAA definition of a FR is one given by a FAA CFI.

Does Oz require a FR? Scoring would be finding someone who does the OZ FR who also holds a FAA CFI and can sign it off.

[rubberprune]

Thanks MarkerInbound,

It would appear that you are absolutely right.
A visit to the FSDO with my FAA verification letter resulted in an FAA-issued pilot's certificate, and a chat with the staff there revealed they believed some kind of flight review was required as well, though they didn't go so far as to say it was actually a flight review, nor could they highlight the regulation saying so.

The next day, a visit to a flying club, the CFI gave me one and a half hours ground and 1.7hrs flight covering everything I would expect from a flight review, minus the cross country nav.

Prior to all this I spent two days reviewing part 91 of the FAR, noting all the small and big differences between the Australian regs and the US regs, which was very helpful.

All in all, very educational and money well spent. And, of course, the review lasts for two years.

To answer your question, yes we are required to complete flight reviews in Australia. Now, my question is, does this FAA flight review count in Australia?

Cheers, rubber

[Tinstaafl]

No, it doesn't. In either direction ie FAA FR count for Oz nor Oz count for FAA (presuming the instructor isn't rated in both countries). See my 61.75 comment below

re TSA checks: It's not just the first FAA licences that requires TSA approval, but any licence or rating that increases one's ability to fly something bigger, faster &/or heavier. Private, Commercial, Instrument & every type rating *all* require TSA background checks.

re 61.75: Valid only as long nothing changes on the host licence ie licence number, country of issuance etc. If anything like that changes then a new 61.75 needs to be issued. The flight review requirement comes from the requirement, elsewhere in FAR 61, for a 24 month review. The rules specify who may give a flight review. That 'who' is an authorised instructor - and the only authorised instructors are those with locally issued instructor ratings.