EASA PPL(A) Licence turnaround time
 

Hey there,

I passed my skills test and sent off my PPL application on Monday 15th October, which was signed as delivered to the CAA on Tuesday 16th.

I've been checking my credit card to see if they've taken payment, but still no word.

Is anyone else in the same boat or has anyone been granted an EASA PPL(A) from an initial application since the 17th September? I'd be curious to hear how long it took and how long it took them to take payment.

I see they are running a reduced telephone service and I didn't want to bother them by sending an e-mail just yet :E

Waiting for this little brown book has been just as frustrating as I was told it would be :8

:ok:

I have been waiting for a month for a simple licence exchange. Their current backlog is 25 working days but their web site says they have reduced the telephone service to help them to catch up with it. I would expect that a new licence issue will be at least 5 or 6 weeks.

In France it's counter serice by appointment at the local office. Licence done in front of you, or by return of post.

I recall reading that somebody sent in their paperwork on September 17 and they are still waiting for the licence. So it's at least a 6 week waiting time.

Also, it's a little blue book now. No more brown.

Blue, nice :)

Flip, 6 weeks is a long wait; hopefully some of the backlog has started to clear and it'll be less than that, but I'll not make any plans just in case. :cool:

Thanks.

I waited three months as I had missed a signature.

Into out 8th week here now i think. Well my brothers one. I'm in my 4th. The waiting is killing me

So are you grounded meanwhile?

Yes unfortunately. I am exchanging my PPL for an LAPL. My Class 2 medical has expired but I have an LAPL medical so can fly again as soon as my LAPL is issued.

6 weeks
 

Mine took 6 weeks - the excuse then was that they were dealing with a lot of military exchanges , now they will no doubt blame the transition, from what I have seen on historical posts on this or other boards - there is always an excuse for their poor service.

CAA needs to sort it out
 

I have submitted my ppl A application in person at the CAA and was told by the lovely girl behind the counter that it would take 10 working days to process. This was on September 21. It's been more than 5 weeks now, and still no news. They should be ashamed for using the EASA transition as an excuse; they knew it was coming years ago! I called them today 26th oct at 2pm only to be told that their licensing office is now closed so that they can reduce the turnaround time. Are you f&&&££& kidding me? Because of the long wait, I will need to do 3 more takeoffs and landings solo before I can other passengers with me. Maybe I should send the CAA the invoice for 2 go around fees and 1 full stop landing at shoreham.
Sorry for the rant. I just had to get it off my chest.




Happy landings everyone.

In my opinion, it is very rapidly approaching the point that someone, i.e. the CAA CEO, needs to be stepping up in front of a Westminster Committee to explain what is going on.

Why?

Confusion about Annex II, Language, What is/isn't Aerial Work, IR(R) etc

The CAA, in only the way that the CAA can, has jumped into EASA transition with both feet and sunk.

Other, perhaps more refined and less arrogant authorities, have chosen to wait a bit to fully prepare for the transition.

But as long as there is that 2 min message at the beginning of every phone call to the CAA about 'bullying and threatening behaviour will not be tolerated and calls will be terminated' everything will be fine.

If the CAA was more customer focused instead of inward-facing and self-centred, then the customers wouldn't get annoyed with it.

It is currently bollox!

:ok:

If you're out of currency now, then even without the five week delay it would still have been 55 days since you did three take offs and landings.

I'd think the least you could do for your potential passengers is have a bit of a practice first anyway...

I can only be thankful for living in Germany. At the club I fly from, a student passed his skills test last Tuesday, had his licence in the post yesterday......Admittedly, this was because the examiner worked at the Regierungspraesident but even if the examiner was a freelancer, licences are usually received max 8 days after passing the skills test......

It looks as though the CAA has at least learned from its experience and are taking the maximum derogation permitted for introduction of the Air Ops Regulation. Of course, that will not help those currently suffering the consequences of the rank incompetence that pervades the Licensing & Training Standards Department.

Most instructors will sign you off solo under their auth to let you fly without your ticket - why not do that a few times until the licence comes through?

And get used to currency requirements - there'll be many times when the weather/job/life will interfere with the magic 3 TOs - you going to invoice someone for that too?

From a friend of mine's conversation with FCL this morning it would seem that they are currently operating with a backlog time of 32 working days. ie they are processing applications received on September 13th.

Thanks for the info - but that's very disappointing news indeed :sad:

:bored:

my brothers came in today. just on the 8th week actually

Nice :-) :ok: Only 4 more weeks for you then, and 6 more for me :cool: