Post-Brexit: Austro or CAA?
 

I am sure this has been asked plenty of times before but the search functions seems to have failed me.

I am about to sit my Mod 1 ATPL exams but I am still yet to decide on UK CAA or Austro. I was hoping that the situation would become clearer on 31 Jan 20 but if anything, the water has become event muddier with the CAA warning of a future outside of EASA.

I am in my mid 30s and I am looking at a second career as a commercial pilot. If this fails, I still have my previous career to fall back on. I plan to only be based in the UK and so the ability to work overseas with my licence is not important. I plan to complete my exams by Summer 21 and complete the remaining practical elements by Easter 22 which is when I am due to retire from my current career.

Therefore, I am struggling to decide between doing my ATPL exams with Austro or UK CAA:

Austro: There is risk that the CAA will leave EASA on Jan 21 and not rejoin meaning I would have to redo my ATPLs with the CAA if used Austro Control

UK CAA: There is risk that the UK leaves and rejoins EASA and the validity of ATPLs take with the CAA in the non-EASA interim period could come into question when applying for an EASA CPL.

So given we are now out of the EU and the CAA has published some advice (albeit scant), would people in my shoes do their exams with Austro Control or UK CAA?

CAA on record as accepting training credits from EASA countries for 2 years post brexit.

You probably won't have the right to work in the EU from next year on, so I think UK exams would be more useful to you.

Austro
 

Hi 4535Jacks,

Similar position to you but a couple of months ahead - I've taken Austro for MOD1 on the assurance that the UKCAA can use them to issue an EASA license if a deal is made or a UK license if it isn't - either way you've covered if you get you license in the next 2 years to fly either in the UK or the EU depending on where your CPL/IR get issued. The other upsides are cheaper (£45 per exam) and the results are instantly available which can be a relief - some of the guys managed to get retakes in the same sitting though I believe Austro have said you cant do that as of end of Feb...

Side note, assume you are using BGS? My plan is similar to yours in that I don't really want to fly outside of the UK, but would rather instruct - especially Aeros/UPRT- interest to know where you're thinking of flying?

Thanks mate. You are correct about the recent change meaning no more same day resits under AustroControl. Also I am attracted to Austro because appeals are free rather than the £150 the CAA charges per appeal!!

My concern is whether I can complete the training in the next two years. I am due to finish my current job in Apr 22 and although I plan to complete MEIR and CPL before the end of 2021, work and family life can always get in the way......

Yes, I am with BGS :)

I'm in exactly the same boat as you, and about to book my first exam sitting and unsure whether to go with Austro or UK. I only intend to work in the UK but you never know what the future holds and as mentioned above the UK CAA have stated that for 2 years (I think post Brexit) you can convert your EASA licence into a UK one, giving you both an EASA and UK licence. So on the face of it, it seems to be more beneficial to take that route, than to go down the UK route.

The challenge is to ensure that the school where you do your CPL/IR/FI course and exams are an EASA ATO. I've spoken to a couple of schools in the UK who said they're in the process of applying to become an EASA ATO post Brexit, but I also heard that the cost to do this is expensive so perhaps some UK schools won't bother. In any case I guess you could just go to Ireland or somewhere else in EASA land to complete the practical courses/exams.