Converting EASA to FAA licence
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: tiny office, great views
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Converting EASA to FAA licence
Hi guys, can you give me hints on how do you transfer your ATP licence from EASA to FAA. I would like to have both (considering to try migrate overseas). Are there any downfalls or things that are not obvious at first glance? Any companies that would oversee this process? Thank you very much for help.
As has been posted many times, there is no "transfer" or "conversation" of foreign licenses to FAA at the ATP level (unless it is a Canadian license.) You have to complete the same ATP Certificate Training Program, pass the written and pass a checkride. If a type rating is involved, there has to be a record of ground and flight training. The ONLY thing you get from holding a foreign ATP is you are allowed to skip getting the FAA commercial and private certicates which is the normal path to a FAA ATP.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: edge of reality
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's correct (though markerinbound you need to watch that predictive spelling nonsense.. 'Conversation' ?.. 
)
On the plus side the FAA ATP written is a complete joke.. nothing to compare with Europe.. not much more than a PPL written over here. The whole thing will take you less than an hour on a computer.
The only problem I ran into was finding a flight-school that knew what was required for the check-ride.. none of the schools I tried had anyone who held an ATP ! Typically in the US aspirants will go for the CPL and then sit right seat until upgrading and incorporate the ATP conversion into their upgrade check-ride or they simply go the flying instructor route.. I had to research what was required.. and unlike over here the check-ride will include an instrument check-ride.. I made five instrument approaches four were S/E.. The Oral component of the check-ride comes first and can be a tough one.. mine lasted apx 2 hours, I'm told that they can go on for 4 or 5 hrs if the examiner suspects that your not up to speed.. It varies with the examiner. On the whole it's no big deal for someone holding a European license and current.. just go for it.
)On the plus side the FAA ATP written is a complete joke.. nothing to compare with Europe.. not much more than a PPL written over here. The whole thing will take you less than an hour on a computer.
The only problem I ran into was finding a flight-school that knew what was required for the check-ride.. none of the schools I tried had anyone who held an ATP ! Typically in the US aspirants will go for the CPL and then sit right seat until upgrading and incorporate the ATP conversion into their upgrade check-ride or they simply go the flying instructor route.. I had to research what was required.. and unlike over here the check-ride will include an instrument check-ride.. I made five instrument approaches four were S/E.. The Oral component of the check-ride comes first and can be a tough one.. mine lasted apx 2 hours, I'm told that they can go on for 4 or 5 hrs if the examiner suspects that your not up to speed.. It varies with the examiner. On the whole it's no big deal for someone holding a European license and current.. just go for it.
Yeah, our knowledge test is a joke, I don't think I could survive a dozen writtens. But then I look at the ATPL questions thread and shake my head. You really need to know how far you'll move on a 500,000/1 chart if you're flying 378 knots?
Anyway, the hard part right now is getting the ATP CTP completed. There are only a handful of schools approved as of the end of December. It's about three classroom days and two days of sim running about $5000.
Anyway, the hard part right now is getting the ATP CTP completed. There are only a handful of schools approved as of the end of December. It's about three classroom days and two days of sim running about $5000.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: edge of reality
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you think that a pointless question be glad that you didn't have to sit the exams I sat back in the mid 80s.. questions on calculating drift by dropping a flare through the hull of the a/c ! "So class.. welcome to your first class-room day for the A380.. now.. by lifting this section of carpet... "
I believe that the extensive written's we face in Europe are a product of an attempt by our CAA to ensure an acceptable level of academic achievement by pilots. The exams are not only extensive they're designed to put candidates under pressure as the time limits can be very tight.
While I've heard criticism, particularly from American colleagues of this policy I would defend it. If anything it has more relevancy than that common in the US where airlines (The majors anyway) in order to ensure an acceptable level of academic achievement by their pilots usually require a four year college degree.. but the degree does not have to be in an aviation related subject.
I was amazed a few years ago when paired in the cockpit with an aviation veteran (he'd flown off a/c carriers during the Vietnam war and flown just about every heavy in his long career) was puzzled when during passage of some weather I mentioned the ITCZ.. he didn't know what I was referring to.
I believe that the extensive written's we face in Europe are a product of an attempt by our CAA to ensure an acceptable level of academic achievement by pilots. The exams are not only extensive they're designed to put candidates under pressure as the time limits can be very tight.
While I've heard criticism, particularly from American colleagues of this policy I would defend it. If anything it has more relevancy than that common in the US where airlines (The majors anyway) in order to ensure an acceptable level of academic achievement by their pilots usually require a four year college degree.. but the degree does not have to be in an aviation related subject.
I was amazed a few years ago when paired in the cockpit with an aviation veteran (he'd flown off a/c carriers during the Vietnam war and flown just about every heavy in his long career) was puzzled when during passage of some weather I mentioned the ITCZ.. he didn't know what I was referring to.
