Converting NZ CPL to UK CPL
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Converting NZ CPL to UK CPL
If anyone can provide me with any information on how to do this and rough estimates on costs that would be great. I have a New Zealand CPL, Instructor rating and Multi engine command instrument rating. I am considering moving to the UK and am wondering about converting this to the UK equivalent.
Also what are job opportunities like in the UK, i have around 650 hours total time, 500 of which is Pilot in Command, and 250 is instructing.
Any information on any of the above would be fantastic. Have had a look at the UK CAA website and found it very hard to navigate so figured i would ask here. Cheers
Also what are job opportunities like in the UK, i have around 650 hours total time, 500 of which is Pilot in Command, and 250 is instructing.
Any information on any of the above would be fantastic. Have had a look at the UK CAA website and found it very hard to navigate so figured i would ask here. Cheers
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Jaminz,
Sorry for the CAA's website; it's pretty difficult to navigate around it and find what you want. The answers to all your questions will be in LASORS on the website. It's a 17.3 MB PDF file, so make sure you have a decent internet connection before downloading. It's also only slightly more easy to navigate than the CAA website...
The European states are pretty unforgiving in what they recognise, so be prepared to be disappointed in what you'll have to do. I'm not an expert, so do check the details yourself, but with your hours, it appears you need to do all the exams through an approved theory provider (although the head of training can grant dispensations on how much training you need to do), then training as required by the head of training at an approved school followed by skill test to get your CPL. Your IR I think needs 15 hours minimum training (5 in aircraft, 10 in FNPT II) followed by skills test. Not sure on the transferral of FI rating.
Basically, it's not easy, nor is it cheap.
Finally, re job prospects, check out the employment forum on this site.
Sorry for the CAA's website; it's pretty difficult to navigate around it and find what you want. The answers to all your questions will be in LASORS on the website. It's a 17.3 MB PDF file, so make sure you have a decent internet connection before downloading. It's also only slightly more easy to navigate than the CAA website...
The European states are pretty unforgiving in what they recognise, so be prepared to be disappointed in what you'll have to do. I'm not an expert, so do check the details yourself, but with your hours, it appears you need to do all the exams through an approved theory provider (although the head of training can grant dispensations on how much training you need to do), then training as required by the head of training at an approved school followed by skill test to get your CPL. Your IR I think needs 15 hours minimum training (5 in aircraft, 10 in FNPT II) followed by skills test. Not sure on the transferral of FI rating.
Basically, it's not easy, nor is it cheap.
Finally, re job prospects, check out the employment forum on this site.
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UK Job Prospects
So im considering moving the the uk and converting my licence but with the cost looking at being up to 5000 pounds or more i need to know if its worth it. I am currently an instructor in New Zealand with just under 700 hours total time. Have cpl with multi engine command instrument rating and obviously an instructors rating as well. What sort of jobs are on offer there and what are my chances of picking one up? be as brutally honest as you like, would rather be disappointed then mislead.
Hours break down is roughly, 400 pic, 50 multi, 250 instructing.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated, Cheers
Hours break down is roughly, 400 pic, 50 multi, 250 instructing.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated, Cheers
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cheers, have made some inquires as to getting the conversion done and am waiting to hear back on those. It does sounds very difficult, time consuming and costly. My question however is more aimed at job prospects, so if i went through the whole trouble of getting things converted, would it be worth it??
on a quick side note though, would any of this be easier if i had a frozen australian ATPL?
on a quick side note though, would any of this be easier if i had a frozen australian ATPL?
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Would very much doubt it. In Europe we are now under EASA. The ability of a regulator to set it's own independant standards are virtually gone. Having said that the CAA was never one for accepting other licences with a rubbber stamp validation at CPL and ATPL levels.
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You would be lucky to convert for £ 5000. Just between the medical, Groundschool, and the 14 CAA exams, I spent £3500 and that doesn't include any incurred lodging costs and travel costs to get to the ground school or exams.
Then there is the mandatory 15hrs of instrument trainIng and you can figure 5-10 hrs for the commercial plus testing fees.
You might be able to convert only the cpl single engine for £5000, but if you want ME and IR, plan on quite a bit more, at least 3x.
Job prospects?? If you can afford the conversion then it will open some doors but not sure if it is worth it. I had a lot more job prospects back home, plus P2F is all but dead over there. And the conversion is super expensive.
Living in Europe? Worth it (I've never been to NZ but it is better here than in the USA IMHO)
Then there is the mandatory 15hrs of instrument trainIng and you can figure 5-10 hrs for the commercial plus testing fees.
You might be able to convert only the cpl single engine for £5000, but if you want ME and IR, plan on quite a bit more, at least 3x.
Job prospects?? If you can afford the conversion then it will open some doors but not sure if it is worth it. I had a lot more job prospects back home, plus P2F is all but dead over there. And the conversion is super expensive.
Living in Europe? Worth it (I've never been to NZ but it is better here than in the USA IMHO)
Last edited by zondaracer; 16th Feb 2011 at 08:22.
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Cheers for all your help and advice guys. Sounding more and more like Australia is the better option. They recongnise my licence outright, just a small fee and some paper work. As for job here, wouldnt call it a job as i dont really get paid, only hours and i have more 152 time then anyone needs but not going to burn any bridges as crap flying is better than no flying at all!
EASA does not take responsibility for licensing for at least another year and, since the JAA has effectively disbanded, all licensing matters are now dealt with by the individual states. The UK has stated that it will continue to act in accordance with JAR-FCL, although some of its recent actions call that statement into some doubt.
If you intend to pursue the issue of a JAA licence in the UK then, as sarboy said, you need to read LASORS.
If you intend to pursue the issue of a JAA licence in the UK then, as sarboy said, you need to read LASORS.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
States will only recognise licences, not exam credits.
"Frozen" is simply short hand for a CPL with IR and ATPL exams done.
LASORS is your friend but it is a fair old challenge to work around.
Personally, if I were you, I'd try and get your NZ ATPL sorted and some turbine time before emigrating. The experience you have now isn't that exciting to the European market.
However, if you want to "get started", there's nothing stopping you from getting Bristol Ground School's excellent distance learning course.
For a conversion (prices are off the top of my head),
Medical done at Gatwick (£300)
ATPL subjects (£3000)
Exams (£300 - I can't remember their prices)
20 hours flying (£5000)
MCC etc
I would budget a minimum of £15,000.
"Frozen" is simply short hand for a CPL with IR and ATPL exams done.
LASORS is your friend but it is a fair old challenge to work around.
Personally, if I were you, I'd try and get your NZ ATPL sorted and some turbine time before emigrating. The experience you have now isn't that exciting to the European market.
However, if you want to "get started", there's nothing stopping you from getting Bristol Ground School's excellent distance learning course.
For a conversion (prices are off the top of my head),
Medical done at Gatwick (£300)
ATPL subjects (£3000)
Exams (£300 - I can't remember their prices)
20 hours flying (£5000)
MCC etc
I would budget a minimum of £15,000.
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The Bristol Ground School´s website explains everything clearly. Expect to spend upwards of around 20000 GBP on a conversion done in the UK.
Bristol.gs
Redsnail... just to piggyback on your pricing... the Bristol Ground School I think cost me 2100GBP. The CAA exams cost me 66 GBP a piece, coming out to 924 GBP for all 14. The medical was 330GBP, but when I did it, they had me do an extra ECG on my own, which was free in Spain but I had to pay €80 to get it translated.
There was also the the extra costs for lodging and transportation for the medical, theory brushup courses at Bristol, and exams at Gatwick. In all, it ran me up a small fortune
Bristol.gs
Redsnail... just to piggyback on your pricing... the Bristol Ground School I think cost me 2100GBP. The CAA exams cost me 66 GBP a piece, coming out to 924 GBP for all 14. The medical was 330GBP, but when I did it, they had me do an extra ECG on my own, which was free in Spain but I had to pay €80 to get it translated.
There was also the the extra costs for lodging and transportation for the medical, theory brushup courses at Bristol, and exams at Gatwick. In all, it ran me up a small fortune
Last edited by zondaracer; 16th Feb 2011 at 10:19.
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Might be worth bearing in mind it's gonna take you a year to convert and there is no way of telling what the job market will be like then. It way well have picked up (and we all pray it does) but It could also get worse. None really knows.
If you could get yourself a full Aussie ATPL that would make the conversion cheaper and easier as you could miss out the ground school part. Stay where you are, study online and just pop over for the exams. That is the way a few of my friends have gone.
All the best
If you could get yourself a full Aussie ATPL that would make the conversion cheaper and easier as you could miss out the ground school part. Stay where you are, study online and just pop over for the exams. That is the way a few of my friends have gone.
All the best
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Can anyone confirm for me if this is true, heard from a guy today that it is possible to convert a nz cpl to a uk one without all the exam business spoken about earlier, and that the way to do this is to convert from NZ to Australian to South African to UK. Obviously this would cost a bit and im not saying its a good idea or that im thinking about doing it, but is this true or is someone pulling my leg?
is this true or is someone pulling my leg?
