Flying in the UK with an FAA PPL
 

I hope somebody can help me on this one as I have read various contrasting opinions and can't seem to get a straight answer anywhere.

Basically I have got a PPL which was completed in Florida and is therefore FAA. However, I am English and now I am back home, I want to fly here in the UK.

What are the steps I need to take in order to fly in the UK.

I look forward to hearing a definitive answer to this question and thanks in advance to anybody who can shed any light.

you can fly in the UK on your FAA licence. Contact a club and get a check out. You may not use your night priveledge in a G registered aircraft.

Tucked away in LASORS (the CAA version of the FAR/AIM) Section B B1.1 Annex 1, you will find a paragraph with regards to your radio licence and it states that you need to contact the FCC to get a paper copy of your radio operators licence before you can operate any radio station. i.e. without this you are not operating an aircraft illegaly, but you are operating a radio illegaly (unless accompanied by a pilot with an RT licence).

This can be obtained from here wireless.fcc.gov/uls and believe it or not, there will be a "small" admin fee of aprox £75

On a side note, I wonder how few people have actually done this?

basically. go and have a checkride and enjoy flying here.

What would one have to do in order to fly at night on an FAA PPL, if it's possible? Cheers.

Option 1) Fly an N-Reg aeroplane

Option 2) Convert to a JAR PPL with a night qualification. Requires a few exams [air law and HPL, IIR] and a full skill test. If you meet the JAR night qualification requirements, you get that, too - otherwise separate exercise.

For (2) you either need min 100hrs TT or meet the minimum JAR training hours.

It's a bit of a contentious subject; FAA license, G reg plane, night.

The ANO simply states that you cannot fly in airspace where IFR is mandated. So technically I guess there's nothing to stop you trundling around your local Class D at night because you'd be SVFR.

the FAA ppl has night privilegies included and is ICAO recognized worldwide. you can use it anywhere in the world with any aircraft day and night. It is only up to the owner of the aircraft if he will rent the aircraft to you or not, legally you can fly all over the world any registration aircraft for ppl purposes only.

outside the USA you do need the FCC radio license or any equivalent, you could get for example the UK radio license for that purpose, or any ICAO radio license.

will anybody check it out? I do not think so, it never happened to me in the last 25 flying years

Now that's interesting. I'm not sure if I understood that completely right, considering on FAA licenses there's no thing such as a radio license / radio operating exam as in JAR countries.

If I get that paper copy through the aforementioned source, does that mean I do not have to sit the radio operating course in my local JAR country?

Weird isn't it... you have a FAA CPL and talk to all kinds of ATCOs while flying in the States and people think you can't talk to ATC without a license of the local JAR state :ugh: a pure money-maker imo.

( /rantoff )

The ANO in the UK automatically validates an FAA licence for use on British aircraft. It may not be so simple in all countries. The question is whether a flight school would accept that. In my experience schools are very sceptical about FAA licences and even JAA ones, normally requiring a 're-training' period, sometimes upto 5 hours, in order to adapt to the different conditions found in the UK.

If flying at night under SVFR you are absolved from the IFR requirements and therefore this is permissable.

I would find a source for RSFTO's suggestion that any radio licence will do. I would have imagined that your radio licence must match your pilots licence. The ANO would be a good start.

To get your FAA radio licence, start here and register:
FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS): ULS Home

You are wanting a 'Restricted Radiotelephone (non-limited)' licence. The process is not particularly clear, but they are prompt with the paperwork.

radio license does not have to be from same country issuing pilot license.

It just must be a radio license ICAO recognized or at least recognized in the country where you plan to use it.

in USA the pilot license suffice for the radio license bust as soon as you cross the USA border you must have a radio license. the USA FCC will give you the radio license on the basis of your faa license, all you need is a form and a fee, with no training and exam because if you passed you pilot check ride you must have demonstrated proper radio use e phraseology.

Be careful. It is a requirement for use of the FAA licence outsie the USA that it is accompanied by FCC Form 605 FRC. Without this, the licence is not valid and technically you would not be flying with an ICAO Annex 1 licence.

Is anyone going to get excited? Probably not..........except the insurance company when the wheel comes off and they have a get out clause for not paying out on the policy. 'Sorry, pal, it was your responsibility to ensure that the person you hired the aircraft to was qualified to operate the aircraft LEGALLY'. The phrase 'opening a can of worms' springs to mind.

It only takes about 10 days (if that!) and it can all be done on line so there's no excuse for not getting one. It's a load of blocks, admittedly, but don't let yourself get caught out. It's not worth it.

And once you have it, you are authorised to operate RT equipment in UK registered aircraft.

Thanks to all of you for your input - one more question - what is thdeal with carrying pax in the UK with an FAA PPL? My Dad and other family members have said they really want to go up and it would be nice to show them my new hobby - is it legal or in the UK do I have to fly solo?

Perfectly legal.

A slight variation on the same theme.

I have a FAA commercial SE, ME and IR, as well as the FCC Restricted Radiotelephone license.

I understand I cannot fly commercially on said license in the UK, however, I would like to be able to fly under instruments when I return to blighty this easter. Is there anyway I can do so?

Also, is there any validation required with my FAA license? Or can I show up at any old flying club, get checked out and go fly?

Thanks

Why not? Plenty of people do, just needs to be an N-reg (or Isle of Man, if we're being pedantic) aircraft. The bizjet industry would be on its arse if you couldn't.

Again, in an N-reg you can do whatever you like. The CAA will give you an IMC rating based on your FAA IR which confers pretty much the same privileges as an IR outside Class A airspace.

Yes. If your club tell you any different, they should brush up on their air law.

Thanks for the reply.

I should have clarified, I understand I can fly commercially on any N-reg (and M-reg) anywhere in the world. However, I am assuming that most clubs have G-reg craft.

Will a CAA IMC based on my FAA IR allow me to fly IFR in G-reg planes? How would I go about getting my IR validated?

I assume my FAA Commercial is equally valid in singles and multis? The main obstacle to renting a Twinstar (or whatever) is going to be insurance requirements, is this correct? I understand you JAA boys have types on your licence (eg DA42, PA34) whilst the FAA doesn't go in for that malarky, is this going to be an issue?

With all the helpful information about the sites to be visited to apply for a 605-FRC. Can anyone tell me how to apply for it if you have already left the USA and do NOT have a US address. I can't find anyway of doing it and od help me if I'm missing something but I'm guessing you need to have a US address to apply for it online?

You do not need a US address for the radio licence. If I remember correctly there is an option for non-US addresses somewhere on the application.

You do NOT need a US address for the FCC "licence". I got mine here in the UK last year and all for US$60.

As for flying G reg on an FAA licence at night - I think you will find that in euroland night flight is considered as flight in instrument conditions for which the JAA night rating covers. As the FAA IR is NOT valid on G reg, it does seem that it cannot be done. My feelings are to get it in writing from the CAA before night flight in a G reg.