Converting NZ Licence to UK
 

Greetings all
I'm currently doing my PPL,CPL and IFR in Dunedin, NZ. It is my intention to head to the UK (with my Pommie Girlfriend) when finished and look for work. I've heard that the licence conversion process is long and outrageously expensive. Can anyone out there tell me if this is the case? Should I rethink where I train or is there a way around it? Any advice anyone can give me would be most appreciated! Cheers.

152 Jockey, yep its long and expensive, use the search function..look for posts by redsnail:ok:

Thanks Haughtney, will have a look now:)

Might sounds like a silly question, but why not just go over and do your training there? :confused:

Surely the extra cost involved in training would outweigh the time, inconvenience & cost of conversion?

Especially if you're planning on staying there and working. Why train in unique NZ conditions then move somewhere else? :confused:

Just my thoughts. :ok:

consider doing the aussie licence swap under the TTMRA, then coverting that one.

Still won't cut anymore mustard here in JAA land toolowtoofast, an Oz license is just as useless as an NZ one.

Thanks Kiwi Chick, thats something thats looking more and more likely. Its just so painful to think of shelling out so many quids! I'm halfway through my PPL here so may as well finish that off and reconsider my options - one of which may have to be giving up the flying dream:uhoh:

Toolowtoofast - thanks for your advice, sounds like our Antipodean licences aren't as valued overseas as we're told!

I thought there was some discussion between JAA and auz CAA - there is definately something in the wind with LAME quals.

Hopefully with the "pilot shortage" I keep hearing about there will be some co-operation between different regional authorities.
Does the same awful licence conversion process apply for trying to get a job with an Asian airline? I guess its a long shot, but has anyone out there gone down the working for an Asian/middle east carrier, based out of UK road? I understand that I would be limiting my options but I would like to do my first few hundred hours in NZ. Am I a dreamer??!

Kiwi Chick - you make perfect sense, I guess I'm trying to have my cake and eat it - nothing ventured nothing gained I guess.:)

Nothin wrong with that my boy. No point aiming for the bottom. :ok:

(I'm actually NOT being rude here for once :) )

KC - There really is a first time for everything :}

152Jockey...I'm considering doing the same as you. With regards to toolowtoofast's post, I've also heard that the EU are now seriously considering changes to the JAA requirements that will allow NZ/AU licenses to be converted in a manner similar to FAA etc.

You still need the right to be able to work in Europe, but no more JAA exams (except perhaps law?) and much less flying involved in getting your JAA CPL/ATPL.

Hope it happens sooner than later :uhoh:

LP

152 Jock,

I tried the same thing you're considering about 7 or 8 years ago when the UK CAA licence was still in effect, pre-JAR, so not relevant now but I imagine the same sort pain is required to jump through their hoops.

I had 350TT, CPL, Multi IFR and because I had less than 700hrs I would only qualify as a Basic CPL (not a full CPL) which allowed you to do aerial photography and instructing I think?? I could do a short up-grade course of 109hrs to get a full CPL but I'd still have to do 14 exams, a CPL flight test & IFR flight test to complete conversion. I think the going rate for a Cherokee 140 was about GBP180/hr which at the time equated to nearly NZD550/hr for a single engine, anyway it came to nearly NZD60k to do everything they wanted so flagged until I had more hours. Still interested in doing it at some stage, especially if they relax the conversion requirements. Interestingly though, they did credit my Night rating and morse code (which I knew some of but not enough to be credited towards a licence!)

Anyway, I can't see it being a whole lot different now under JAR but am happy to be corrected.

You could try and enquire about CTC in Hamilton who have JAR instructors and examiners, who could do both for you prior to departure.

S2K

My experience of the conversion
 

Long time listener....first time caller!

I am almost at the end of the process of converting my NZ CPL/MEIR to a JAR(UK) CPL/IR otherwise known as a frozen ATPL.

The process is not an easy one. If you go from a straight CPL/IR it involves the 14 ATPL exams as well as a ground course for these. Then its training "as required" to sit the CPL skills test, for me 8hrs. Instrument Rating is a minimum of 15 hrs, 10 of which can be in an approved sim.

I started the process in late May when 8 huge folders arrived in NZ for all the theory subjects. Since then i've passed all the exams, CPL skill test, and hopefully wil sit the IR test next week. So from start to finish the whole process will have taken about 5 months, including working full time for the first two.

Cost wise it depends where you go and what you do and where you stay. Expect $60,000 for the conversion. Maybe a wee bit cheaper if you do the IR conversion in a JAR state like Spain rather than the UK. Test fees are horific, 712GBP each for the CPL and IR skills test. There are also lots of little costs which pop up from time to time RT tests and issue fees for example.

Some evenings when i'm buried in paperwork I think is it all worth it! Maybe I could have sat it out for another 18 months and got that airline job in NZ..... but then the opportunities here are pretty good. There may be a bit of a slow down in hiring at the moment but the scale of the industry here is huge and that has to be good for job prospects, plus you get to do a bit of travelling!

There are ways to convert back to an NZ ATPL once the JAR one is unfrozen, like converting to an AUS licence and then use the TTMRA to get your NZ one. The Aus conversion requires that you have held or do hold an Australian IR, you can get that by converting your NZ one. So as you can see its complicated.

Hope this helps!

Thanks KC,TLTF,Haughtney,LP,Trailing Edge,Sqwark

What a minefield! Thanks to all of you for your responses, they have certainly given me something to think about - looks like I have some big decisions to make in the next couple of months! Its' a very tight thing financially for me to train in NZ so, training in the UK with the vast expense involved is unfortunately not very realistic for me :uhoh:.
Hopefully the EU will reconsider the status of NZ Licences (hmmmm) soon! Meanwhile I'll have to look at the Australasian/Asian market and see if theres a way in to Europe in the future (I live in hope). Worst case scenario is instructing in the vistas of the Southern South Island......Life could be worse!!

Thanks again to all for all your valuable tips - don't be scared to keep them coming!
For now, back to my circuits!

Hey 152Jockey!

Are you in the circuit? (or were you just using that phrase?!)

I'm only asking because... do you have a first solo coming up...?!!!!!

Hi KC

Did my first Solo last night after a few dual EFATO's and Flapless landings, quite a buzz! 11 hours gone now, 3 hours solo buzzing around the Taieri aerodrome in Dunedin to look forward to next week (you can tell I'm green eh!).

Lovin' it :)

WOOOHOOOOO!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Will be one of the highlights of your flying career, and a moment you will never forget!!

(did you talk to yourself all the way round...? :E)

Well done! :ok:

KC

Thanks KC

Did you say crapping myself all the way round? :) There were a few mutterings of "carb heat on", "hold the nose" etc, but on the whole it went fairly silently and without a hitch (unless a very slight bounce on landing counts!). But yes, I won't forget in a hurry!

Can't wait for my next one :ok:

Cheers!

:ok: :ok: :ok:

LOL!

Have fun!

hahahahah that is probably the most truthful comment I have ever seen on this board!! :ok:
I remember thinking to myself at one point during my 1st solo (and 7 years later during my 2nd 1st solo) that I hope I didn't have an open mike! and was very concious of where my thumb was in relation to the PTT switch! :oh: