Hi
Ive read almost all the thread, and I know there is a search button but I would like to ask personally.
I currently hold a Faa Cpl with ME/IR, and I was informed Pilot Training college of ireland has a license conversion course.
I dont care about if its difficult or not, I mean, I think if you want to be an airline pilot you must be ready to face challenges.
I wanted to know about sitting the 14 exams, how does the system work, do you have to pass all of them with a specific %, and what does each exams usually consist of?
Thanks and hope you can help

Alexi,
when you convert from FAA (or any ICAO certificate) to JAA you start with the 14 exams first. This can be done either as a distance learning course or as a residential course. Either way plan to spend from 8 months to a year on it. Classroom may save you a few months of study time and is a great option if you're not the most disciplined - it is allot of material to study!

You can find a list of ground school courses in the UK here - http://www.bestaviation.net/uk/

The 14 exams are multiple-choice and require a 75% pass mark. Exams are conducted once a month and it is normal to split the exam sittings in two or three (sitting 5-7 exams each time). Each sitting takes 3-5 days.

Once you have passed all the 14 exams (try not to fail any - organizing a re-sit can take a couple of months...) it's time to do the JAA CPL conversion.

The CPL conversion is "training as required". Most places will quote you 5 hours and unless you're really current you will probably fly the five hours. The CPL skill test is done in a complex aircraft and there are a few differences in what they look for in the skill test that you need to be aware off.

Once you have your CPL you do your ME/IR conversion. Technically this is training as required with a minimum of 15 hours but many spend more than this. The major reason is the difference in operational procedures in Europe. You do more NDB stuff, ATC is a bit tougher to deal with (they're not as friendly as in the states) and transition altitude is 3000 feet as opposed to 18000' in the states. The IR skill test is done in a multi engine aircraft.

After your ME/IR you do an MCC course. This is not a pass/fail course. An MCC course normally takes two weeks and is done in a simulator. The purpose is to teach you how to operate in a multi crew environment.

Once all this is completed - about a year to 16 months from when you started......it's time to start applying for an airline and saving up the rest of your money (if you still have any).

Hope this was of any help. Good Luck!

Thanks it does help :ok:
The other question I have, if I get a JAA license in Britain or Ireland is it valid in all the other european countries unrestricted?

In all the other JAA countries - yes

Best Aviation,
That was a great post, summed up all of the information that took me ages to assimilate through searching and reading tonnes of stuff on this website.
Great work!!
Jez

Hi there, im having my JAA Private license,, and im planing to continue doing my IR CPL in canada,,, any one knows what should i do to convert it? and any recomended school in Canada.
Thanks.

Hi there

If it is A Canadian Lic you require, I can recommend Pro IFR in Vancouver. There web address is proifr.com. Or if you want to convert that back to JAR Moncton Flight College NB.:) but IR needs to be done in Europe IE JAA state. I competed my JAR Exams with Cabair Bournemouth (recommend them) and am converting my Lic back to JAR. fLYING to Van 2morrow drop me a line if any questions be glad to help

Best wishes

flz:)

FAA to JAA/CAA Conversion
 

Hi All

I recently failed the initial Class 1 medical at Gatwick as I am short sighted and i was just outside the limits. I will pass the class 1 renewal so my only option (which I know of) to fly commercially in the UK lies with getting FAA qualified and then coming back to the UK and converting to JAA. I am already UK PPL qualified.

The issue I have now is that I am finding it difficult to find a website or document which sets out in black and white the process I would have to go through. Can someone point me in the right direction, or write below what I would need to do?

As I understand it, I would have to go to the US and get qualified to US ATP standard, and then come back to the UK and and do the CPL/IR/ATPL exams/check flights/necessary hours.

When would I go for the CAA Class 1 medical at Gatwick?

This isn't my preferred route of becoming a pilot, but from what I have seen, it can work out to be cheaper than doing it all in the UK. Is this true?

Also, would I be able to do something similar in Australia, and then come back to the UK? I have looked at the Oz medical standards and it would seem my eyes would not cause a problem.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I love flying!

Cheers

Will

It's all in LASORS.

Alternatively 'phone an an approved groundschool, or PM me.

process
 

here's the process for you, since there's a lot of people doing this at the moment.

1. Do the 14 exams, either first or at the same time as flight training (if you can handle the load)

2. Go to Florida and get your FAA commercial multi with instrument.

You should at this point about 270 hours.

3. Then get the CPL ME conversion there as well. Naples Air Centre, FlyOft and FlyEft do them. (i recommend contacting Mark at Naples. He will give you the best guidance)

4. Fly to the UK (emphasis on UK. DO NOT CONSIDER MALAGA!)
Get your IR there. PFT in Bournemouth has the lowest price i've researched. 4500 GBP including 170A/skills test and landing and appch fees.

5. Jump over to the CAA in Gatwick and enjoy the tons of paperwork.

hi all..
im gonna taking cpl,ir,me,and atpl at wa aviation college..
any comment about that FS?..
and after finish that course can i convert to JAA'?...
thanks,
roxar

Ting Tang.

This situation has actually helped you out quite a lot beacause what vivaespain has described is probably the cheapest and best way of completing your training. It's probably the route I'll be taking anyway!

Good luck, Jon.

Thanks very much guys for your help.

Couple more things:

1) To sit the ATPL exams, do you have to attend an authorised course in the UK?

2) Am I correct in thinking that if you pass the ATPL exams, you then have 36 months to go and pass the UK CPL?

i.e. I would have to:
- attend a course in the UK to do the ATPL exams
(then in the next 36 months)
- go and get FAA ATP certified in the US
- either convert to JAA CPL is the US or UK
- Do the IR in the UK (could do with the JAA CPL if not already done in the US)
- Do the ATPL skill test in the UK

Would I, after i'm FAA ATP certified, be able to come straight back to the UK and do an ATPL conversion course and get everything done in one hit?

Finally, at what stage do I go to Gatwick to go and pass my class 1 JAA medical on renewal limits?

Thanks for the help again and sorry if any of this stuff is obvious.

Will

I think you will find Professional Air Training at Bournemouth are actually cheaper than PFT, they also have the added bonus of having aircraft always an advantage in the flight training industry.

;)

jaa ot faa or jaa to faa this is the question
 

well , recently back in the airplane,
you should consider before any training and spend you money, where you want to fly and which type of airplane......
let me know

I want to fly based from the UK. But I can't start my training in the UK since I can't get the initial class 1 medical. Therefore I have to start in the US and then move back to the UK.

Can anyone help on my questions above?

Will

I'm a bit confused as to how you will negate the JAA Class 1 med. by going to the US and coming back here to convert it, they will just make you take a full JAA class 1 initial won't they?

From what you've written, it seems you're implying because you have the FAA CPL-ME/IR, class 1 etc, they don't do the JAA medical as an initial back at Gatwick, is that correct?

Thats exactly what i'm saying. But there isn't much info on this anywhere which is why i put this post on the forum. I want to know if anyone has done this or come accross this.

Perhaps the guys at the CAA said it to me because i was so close to the limits that they will pass me in the circumstances i describe above. I'm not sure and i'm waiting for them to get back to me.

You might get a restricted 1st Class medical if anything...

@tingtang....Fair enough mate, I wish you all the best with it...let us know of any developments.

Cheers.