Flying in Oz (Merged)

[jonnoboy]

Flying in Oz

I have a JAR PPL and I am going to be moving to Australia to work for a year. I have heard that I can fly with my current licence over there but am not completely sure what is involved, i.e. whether i need a simple check, or if i have to do some kind of test?

Could anyone shed any light on this please.

Jonnoboy

[djpil]

Civil Australian Safety Authority of Australia has the info online - note the additional requirements for UK licence holders. i.e. you need to pay the UK CAA some money before they will respond to CASA - "...further information will be published on the UK CAA website."

[MLS-12D]

I am not familiar with verification procedures for UK residents. However, to answer your specific question ("will I need a simple check, or do I have to do some kind of test?"), I believe the answer is: it depends upon what sort of Australian license you would like to acquire. If you want a "Special Pilot License" (which 'piggybacks' on your JAA license), then no tests will be required. On the other hand, if you want to convert to a regular Australian PPL, then you will have sit a couple of examinations.

The SPL is fine for recreational flying, unless you need instrument or night flying privileges (which cannot be exercised by an SPL holder, regardless of whatever foreign ratings he or she may have). It is a lifetime document.

[Taildragger55]

Obviously, some training in inverted flying would also be necessary.

[MLS-12D]

Touché!

[mrjamesgroves]

Take care with your C of E; I lived in Australia for 3 years and flew with my CAA PPL (CASA will automatically grant a PPL(S), the s is for special). Like in the UK, there is a requirement to demonstrate competancy every two years, called the Biannual Flight Review (BFR). Now when my C of E was close to running out, I went to the place where I rented my aircraft, spoke to the CFI, and he told me that the BFR was sufficient to keep me flying. Well he was was right, in that I did keep flying for all my time in Australia, there was never a problem when I was asked to show documentation. However, when I returned to the UK, the CFI at Cabbair opined that I had been flying illegally for the past 3 years. That said, it wasn't a problem as I did an hour with him, and he gave me a new C of E stamp. I imagine that the solution would have been to find a JAA instructor and get a stamp from him. Bit hard to find in Australia, but would have stopped the endless logical conundrum of (i) PPL(s) valid on basis of current CAA PPL (ii) BFR sufficient for everyone in Australia, that PPL(s) is current (iii) CAA PPL not validated by BFR (iv) PPL(S) invalid. Now I'll dissappear in a puff of logic!

[windy1]

You may like to know that the CAA verification process worked very quickly and efficiently for me. Less than one week elapsed from completing the CAA Form to an email from the local CASA Officel comfirming verification completed.

However, I was advised that there is still much uncertainty about how new security procedures ( photo licences etc ) will affect alien pilots. Have a look at Dununda GA for an insight into this.

[vetflyer]

Flying in Australia

Hi

Does anyone has details of the requirements to use your CAA/ JAR

licience in Australia?

Plan to go to Perth , any ideas on destinations etc and how to avoid being ' pomp pilot lost in bush '!

Thanks

[helicopter-redeye]

You can get a special pilots license (SPL) on the strength of your CAA/ JAR PPL. Apply to CASA at Mascot and go prepared with $90AUD (about £35).

This gives you equiv. priv. to your CAA/ JAR for private flying.

Nip into the air supplies shop and get the terminal area charts for Perth and the en route guide (Oz Pooleys), and then find a flying school/ club to check you out for hire purposes.

If you want to borrow an (old) en route and charts, if your passing EGSY your welcome to borrow them for planning purposes.

h-r

[jimmydacraw]

I will as I have done before recommend Minovation at Jandakot Airport in Perth. I flew there a year ago for a couple of months around Western Australia and it was simple. It involved getting the CAA to release my details to the Australian authority (CASA) and then filling in some forms when I arrived in Australia. I was flying there within 3 days. Min stokes offered lots of help (www.minovation.com) and the guy at Perth's CASA office that seems to deal with the authorisation to fly on a UK PPL is called John Pritchard (if memory serves correctly).

If you do go over there have a great time and pick the time of year carefully... It seems June is a bit of a dodgy time regarding rain in the lower extremeties of the west coast... I reckon March would be your best bet. Let us know how you get on!

Jimmydacraw

Edit : PS : If you want any more info feel free to PM me, I still have all my PLOG's and maps and all manner of stuff from when I did it last year

[djpil]

See more info at this other thread.

[smithgd]

I used Minovation when I went over in Oct 2002. Fantastic help from Min and the gang. Contact Min and she will fill you in on all the latest paper work requirements. Then it's just a checkout to familiarise yourself with Jandakot.

The flying is easy, just make sure you plan ahead for fuel, not every airstrip offers fuel. You can get charts and airfield guides over the internet, ask Min for the details.

I went during Oct, weather near Shark Bay was v.hot and windy at Perth was hot with a few days with showers and down south near Albany/Esperance was warm and showers (more Showers than Perth).


Enjoy

smithgd

[quarter hr pack]

I agree, you can get some brilliant flying days over here during winter, but you can also get some frustrating ones too! The first couple of hundred miles north of Perth are nicest to see around September - everything is (hopefully) still green, the wildflowers are out, and the days are warming up but not too hot. Further north is nice most of the year, but again can be a little unpleasant during summer, especially in a light aircraft! Not too sure about the far north as never have been there! There are some beautiful places to see in the states south west, weather can be a little hit and miss but nothing too dramatic, especially if you've been flying in the UK. Around March could also be a nice time, though it's not uncommon to be still getting occasional 40 degree plus days at that time of year.
Have a great time - you'll love it!

[jonnoboy]

Thanks for the info guys.

I have contacted CASA and they have emailed me the forms (very efficient). It appears that the Special Pilots Licence is slowly being phased out, so hopefully i'll get away with just doing a check flight.
You now have to get a photo i.d aswell, which has recently been introduced. The joy of paperwork and fees!

[MLS-12D]

It appears that the Special Pilots Licence is slowly being phased out

Maybe ... but CASA has been saying that for years.

If they do eventually eliminate it, I trust that those who already possess the SPL will be 'grandfathered'.