Conversion FAA to EASA
 

Hello everyone. I am looking to convert my FAA CPL IR to EASA. Everyone is telling me that it is complicated and hard, but nobody can tell me the exact process.
Any help or tip is welcomed.

You don't need ATPL theory, but it is more efficient than that for the CPL/IR in the long run.

It is not impossible, but has to be approached in the right frame of mind, and 40 hours in the classroom.

If you have an ICAO CPL (you do), you only need 400 hours of study anyway.

And just to point out - what may seem irrelevant at this stage will not be irrelevant later in your career, as many people found out when their airline's computers went down and the paperwork had to be done manually - back to basics!

Having said that, some questions are a little strange to say the least, so you will need guidance through that minefield.

To answer your question, you need a ground school provider and a flight trainer. Expect the process to take about 6 months.

Good luck!

@sinisamandaric

Everything Negan says is true!

The flying training you need depends on how many hours you have. The CAA use a credit system depending on TT to determine your training requirements.

Seeing you only have a FAA CPL, rather than ATPL, I would assume you will have to do ALL the flight tests with the exception of the Private pilot.

So you first need to get a class one medical then make sure you are FAA IR current as well..if not you need your IPC done.

Then you do the following flight training leading to the relevant tests;

CPL - SE (training as required, then checkride)
ME (training as required, then checkride)
ME IR (minimum 15 hours, then check ride)

Then fork out another £1500-£2500 for a MCC, then optionally pay £16-£20K for a type rating (if you think that will work for you)

Then, get in a very long queue for a job!

It is not easy and it can be strongly argued that most of the ATPL theory stuff is irrelevant (whether for now or even later in your career!), many exam questions are not written properly in the official exams, in a few crazy cases some "correct" answers arent even correct, the learning objectives are long (some quite vague)....

But, with the right attitude, right school, right notes, question banks (and lots of extra money) you can do it :O

good luck man! :ok:

Currently a 320 Capt at a US carrier. 20+ hrs, 3 types. Possibility that I might be able to get a DEC with my step daughters carrier in EU. Would like to finish up with some flying with her if possible.:ok: What do I need reference the previous posters info? Many thanks...PM if needed

conversion
 

Thank you everyone for information provided.
So I guess my 15 hours in Multi engine flown in USA does not count?? I was ready to do my ME there, but airplane went tech and I post pone it. Now I can't go to USA and I am looking for a way to convert to EASA since I am a European citizen.
I am looking in to a few schools, in Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Greece. Can't decide where.
I guess I have to do more research.

Thank you again guys, any additional info is more than welcomed.

It's true to say you need guidance through some of the questions - BUT - you can answer 30% of them just on common sense and PPL knowledge alone. Knowing the material will cover the rest handsomely, leaving the crap to sort itself out.

It is not as bad as people make out.

You can save a bit of cash of you don't get an MEP rating. CPL/IR conversion is two tests, ATP conversion would be one test (and much easier if you're current on type)

FAA to EASA - more questions
 

I'm U.S. FAA certificated commercial pilot (SEL/MEL/IR) with 920 hours TT looking to convert my U.S. certificate into EASA license. As I result of this conversion, I'm interested in obtaining CPL/IR/ME/MCC with "frozen" ATPL theory (as fast and cost efficient as possible, of course).

However, the more I explore this area (including this forum) the more questions I have. Hopefully somebody will help me to figure out.

So the questions are the following.

1. I understand that as a first step I must pass 14 ATPL theory exams, and many training organizations offer their help in this process (even those who don’t provide further flight training). It seems that they all use pretty much standard kits for distant preparation (like AviationExam, Bristol GS, Oxford CAE, etc), and also provide some «review» or «brush-up» sessions before real exams with the CAA. What I don’t understand is the difference between these organization and their actual role in preparation process (except that I must obtain some amount of training at ground school anyway, as per regulation). In other words, how to choose between these ground schools?


2. From your experience, how travel-intensive the whole endeavour is? In other words, how many times should I attend ground school, what’s average duration of these sessions, and is it possible to combine them with exams? Just trying to estimate amount of travel I need and thus the cost.

3. Is there any difference between EASA members in terms of ATPL theory exams, or I can choose whatever country I like in terms of travel and visa convenience? 
Is it possible to sit ground school at one country and pass exams at another? For instance, Greek school offer quite attractive prices, but I've heard a lot of bad stuff about their CAA.

4. Should both theory and practical exams take place in the same country, or theory test results may be transferred between EASA members?


5. Is there any expiration period between ATPL theory exams and CPL check ride?


6. Do the requirements for practical training/check rides (for the purpose of conversion) differ between various EASA members, or they are all the same?


7. Any advise on good schools (both practical and theory) or positive experience with the CAA world be very helpful too.

If you go full time, the training provider will teach you everything. If you go part time it's up to you.
You could go with CATS because they are half the price of Bgs - then use BGSonline anyway. You do the brush up exams, do the 2 or 3 weeks classroom stuff, and they endorse you to take the exams.

The whole process part time will take 6-12 months, so if you're working, get an ATP: you can self endorse. No requirement to buy a course or attention ground school.

If you're in the US, you can take the ground school and exams in Florida I think.

I think you have to take all the exams in the same country, but you can do the practical in a different one.

Once you take your last exam, you have 36 months to get your CPL and IR issued. You then have a rolling 7 years to get your ATPL issued.

It's a whole lot easier if you have a multi crew type rating and 500 hours multi crew - then you can just take the ATPL ride in a SIM. Otherwise you'll have to do the conversion courses for about £10k

Hello,
I just found this forum as I was searching about FAA to EASA conversions. I have few questions, hopefully one of you will be able to answer it :)

I am an Icelandic citizen, however, I am getting my training in the US and currently I am working on the IFR or IR which I am almost done with. I will have to stay in the US until January 2019, because I am completing my Bachelor's degree in Management, so I want to use my time wisely and collect 250 hours total to get my CPL.

1. I am wondering if getting my MEL, would be a good idea right after the CPL, or should I save my money and come and do it in Europe?
2. Where can I convert my license as soon as possible and be done hopefully by the end of 2019? I know I have heard the process itself takes some time but I am really interested in getting done by the end of 2019.
3. My preference is to do this in Iceland, however, one flight school confirmed that they DO NOT offer conversion courses. I have yet to ask the other school. I was hoping one of you might be able to recommend a good reputable institution, with good prices and awesome instructors? I would prefer to stay within the Scandinavian countries but I am open to ideas about other EU countries!

I would really appreciate your help!

Thank you.

@atr-drivr - you'll need to a medical, the 14 exams (but not all the ground school bits, - I would recommend a refresher ground school course, one example is Bristol Ground School), then a flight test with the UK CAA observing. I'd do it in an Airbus. All of that will need to be organised by you.... So, medical at Gatwick, 14 ATPL exams (and a refresher course), some sim training to get up to speed with any EASA pecuiliarities and a check ride observed by a CAA examiner. Ta da. The check ride will be a bit like a licence skills check.

Good day everyone!! I did all my helicopter training in a flight school that are specialist in FAA and EASA training based in the USA. I enjoyed my training and recommend the place, instructors were experienced. I was trouble free taking the EASA CPL. They do mainly helicopters and airplanes. Just call them! They might be able to help. I hope I have indirectly answered all your questions. I leave here the web where you can find the contact. www.jtheli.com

kilerio I just checked the school you mentioned. Is there someone else here that convert FAA to EASA for Helicopters??
I'm just checking schools and prices. I have clear as water that I have to do the 14 subjects but what about flight time for taking the exam?
I hear about a table taking your TT so you may go from 30h to 10h or 5h .. of training to take the exam.
I'm currently living in Spain but I'm open to go anywhere (in Europe) to get my EASA. Even the States but just thinking in the flight ticket I think will be cheaper some place here in Europe.

Hope this threat is not dead!

FAA to EASA conversion
 

Hello all!
Does anybody have experience with converting FAA to EASA, cost, process, time? How quickly can I convert FAA MEL fATPL into EASA cert, and do you have any recommendations for schools?
Or obtaining EASA in the US (some hrs required in the EU, but much shorter time in school)? Thanks a ton!

I'm going thorough this process now.

First of all, for low-timers (under 1500h) 14 ATPL subjects. Hard, but doable and not very expensive compared to the rest: from about 1000 to 3000 eur (depends on a school).

I assume that with that FAA license you already have above 200h TT and a 300nm+ solo XC.

NVFR: 5 hours training in a single-engine (SE) airplane, from 2 days.
IR/SE conversion - if you have 50h PIC IFR (not FAA PIC though - it should be without a CFI in the airplane), no min hours requirement. Just some training in the EU airspace to prepare for a skill test. From 1 week.
CPL: 15 hours training in a flight school (ATO) and a skill test. From 1 week.
ME: 6 hours training and a skill test. From 2 days.
ME/IR: 5 hours training and a skill test. From 2 days.

Total price highly depends on flight hours. ME hour price is very high in Europe, and even those 11 hours mean a lot of money (hour price is from about 400 eur). SE hour price is from about 150 eur. In overall it will be about 10-15k euro.

That's it for piston airplane ratings. After all of this it will be unrestricted EASA license with SEP/IR and MEP/IR, most probably with PBN.