Overseas conversion
 

Hi all, I’m in the process of performing the overseas conversion of my ICAO ATPL to an Australian CASA ATPL.
Anyone here that has sat this conversion process before? The exams themselves seem rather straightforward, but I’m not sure as to what to expect of the flight test. As it is I hold an A320 PIC Rating and hope to do the check in a simulator, would appreciate any input as to why to expect (theory and flight test wise)
cheers

If you are going through someone like Ansett to do your ATPL flight test they will supply you with the information required. That said I've seen a number of overseas conversions go badly either in the sim or the IPC questioning before hand. Make sure you understand the CASA rules around your licence and operations in general in Australia. Handling in the sim will need to be up to scratch as well so don't skimp on the practice sims before hand or you'll find yourself doing another IPC sim. Remember, you either carry out a manoeuvre within tolerances and it's satisfactory or you have a sustained error and fail, there's no second chance or repeats like an airline check.

Not too worried about the actually handling part since that’s something I can get a bit of hands on practice with, just curious as to what is meant by rules surrounding casa license and the questions before the IPC

Have you considered going via New Zealand ?

You need to complete 1.) NZ ATPL Air Law exam 2.) Medical 3.) ATPL test in the A320 sim. You can then convert to a CASA ATPL via the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMRA).

Hank

Can you convert a converted ATPL? I don't think you can.

​​​​​​​Sure can, I have done it

No restrictiction whatsoever.

Which companies do the ATPL test in NZ?

https://www.airnzlearning.co.nz/

Hank

This is exactly why people trip up on their conversion in OZ. The CASA IPC is not like other parts of the world, your knowledge of rules will be tested and if not up to scratch you wont even make it to the sim. Download form 61-1512 from the CASA website and have a good look at the technical knowledge section, or get into the 61 MOS to understand what is required from you as a candidate. Put it this way, I've seen guys stopped at knowledge testing for not been able to answer what the privilages and limitations of their ATPL is.

Unless you are likely to need a NZ licence, I can't see any advantage in trying to short cut the system by getting that first then converting to a CASA ticket under the TTMRA.
You would be up for two initial ATPL medicals (with all the attendant other tests), simulator preparation plus one flight test in NZ, and the possibility that you'd still need to do a CASA IPC to be employable, so add more preparation anyway - unless you could find an Aussie operator willing to do that for you as part of their induction process (good luck with that!).
Regarding the comment above about a licence that is the conversion of another licence being acceptable to CASA , be very careful ! It may be the case, but there was also a time when CASA clamped down on Aussies who were too thick to pass the ATPL exams here skiving off to the USA, feeding money into a vending machine in Fort Worth Texas, waiting for the ink to dry, and returning a week later with a FAA ATP to convert. CASA quickly woke up and so it became policy when assessing applications to ask for proof that the pilot had actually done some operational flying in the USA. This was probably a good call, given that at least one of the USA training outfits at the time advertised "Examiners on staff - pass guaranteed". Standards in the USA have improved somewhat since then, and I'd venture that their handling test is more demanding than ours. Our mob are more obsessive about pissant rules, so it is these that you will need to get your head around.
If the licence you are using to convert contains a statement such as "issued in recognition of ATPL number ... issued by........" you could come unstuck. My experience with CASA is that they want a letter from the other authority that the licence was an initial/original issue. I could be wrong, but it's worth double checking. I have only used the TTMRA to go from CASA to CAANZ, and it was painless (took me 5 days), but I have heard a few horror stories about pilots coming the other way.
Add travel, accommodation etc and waiting time for the authorities-who-must-be-appeased to assess your application. Six weeks in NZ, six months in Oz.

Hey there, I'm in the process of doing the same thing. I'm approved for the three conversion exams and have contacted Ansett Aviation Training about doing the ATPL Flight Test in one of their sims down the track. It seems like a pretty tedious task and I've been seriously considering going the NZ ATPL then TTMRA route instead, it just seems a lot more practical.

CASA want the ATPL conversion exam, Air Law and IR exams followed by the ATPL Flight Test and IR Flight Test. Apparently the IR Flight Test can not be combined with the ATPL Flight Test too.

In NZ it is one ATPL conversion exam and an ATPL Flight Test, which is much more in line with how other countries do it. I've converted my licence in another country before and it was just an Air Law exam and a Skill Test in the Airbus sim. This is the website for more info regarding NZ conversion Recognising foreign pilot licences

Either way if you need a sim partner down the track for the ATPL Flight Test let me know, I'll probably be on the lookout for the same thing.

Not completely correct. When you do the CASA ATPL flight test it automatically gives you an IPC good for 12 months on the type. What it does not give you is an MECIR with single pilot privileges.

Also a reminder that whether you go the NZCAA or CASA conversion route, don't rock up with anything expired and expect it to be recognised. The powers can only validate stuff that is itself valid.
So if you last flew a particular type 10 years ago you will be SOL getting the rating accepted in NZ. CASA ?? who knows ?

Considering the cost of the jet sim hire, might work out cheaper doing a rating in a approved plane like a B200?!
Is that old Mojave plane still around in NZ? (real plane not sim) That used to be used for ATPL tests, pilots would get rated on it just for the test.

Does anyone know if CASA accept digital log book records for a licence conversion ?

Cheers
Hank

Hi, just wanna know wether you are done with the AOSA exam and can shed any light on the preparation for it. I’m also in the process of the conversion and a bit stuck with AOSA preparation. Appreciate any advice given.