EASA ATPL to UK CAA conversion
 

Hello, i know this question has probably been asked a tremendous amount of times in the past, but as a non-uk and non-eu citizen i never had to gather information regarding this conversion until my local airline does not accept my EASA FCL but requires a UK FCL

i have looked across the web for information about this all of which has different/conflicting info and opinions. Can someone please summarize what i must do in order to convert my EASA fcl to UK. To make matters worst i finished my theory examinations at the end of 2019. However my initial license was issued Aug 2021.

WIth the transition period and brexit closing date it is difficult to make of my situation. My biggest question is, would i need to resit all examinations again as part of the conversion from EASA to UK?

https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-ind...alent-licence/

Is the page you need. Because your licence was issued after 31 Dec 2020 you can’t use the easy pathway of EASA to UK licence. Tbh I’m not sure what you need to do, though I’ll do a bit more research.

rgds

Licence holders who fall into the below criteria cannot use this route and must instead email [email protected] (subject heading ‘Attention Tech: EU Conversion’) for further advice:

• pilots, instructors and examiners who previously held a licence with the UK CAA and have had an EASA licence issued at a higher level since 1 January 2021
• EASA licence holders whose licence was issued after 31 December 2020
  
  Good luck with emailing FCLweb!

thanks for the response, amidst all this confusion i would really like to know whether i would need to resit all 14 exams again as this would be a killer.

Fclweb email should answer your question. Their turnaround time for queries is about ten days. You could try phone but I doubt that will achieve much. If you’ve never had a U.K. licence you’ll need an initial medical.

A statement released by the UK CAA on 6th October 2020 states that:

• Only EASA exams taken before 31st December 2020 will be acceptable for UK CAA licence issue;
  
• After 31st December 2020 all exams for UK CAA licence issue need to be taken with the UK CAA;
  
• After 31st December 2020 any exams taken under an EASA member state will not be valid for for UK CAA licence issue.
  
• EASA exams taken before 31st December 2020 will only be acceptable for UK licence issue for a period of 2 years, until 31 December 2022.
  
  
  This was taken from aeros website, specifically on the fourth bulletpoint, does this mean that exams taken before the 31/12/20 is exempted in order to acquire the UK license? or does that mean that IF a uk license is issued, it will only be valid for a period of 2 years until 31 Dec 22 (though the latter isn't logical).
  

That would be my reading but you’ve gone way beyond my level of expertise and I think you’re going to have to contact FCLweb to get a definitive as per my reply above. You need to get a move on - the whole licensing system is pretty full on due EASA/UK conversions and you will need an initial medical for which most AMCs have a substantial lead time.

Good luck

The 2 years mentioned is the period from 1 Jan 2021 (when UK licences were first technically able to be issued) to 31 Dec 2022 at which time the UK CAA will no longer accept EASA certficates. This page makes it pretty clear that any UK licences relying on EASA pass certificates, which includes EASA exam passes dating before exit day, must be applied for before 31 Dec 2022. Relating to your first question "does this mean that exams taken before the 31/12/20 is exempted in order to acquire the UK license?", there is a process whereby any EASA passes before that date can be credited by the UK and, if they are not all already passed, you can continue your exam series with the UK CAA. It does say somewhere that this process is for people who previously had the UK as their SOLI and are 'returning' but I don't know how strictly that is applied.

thank you very much for this clarification, i was very stressed about this particular regulation since there are many ways to interpret it. Does it matter if you ATPL theory examinations were done under the EASA national member state's CAA or Austro control? My examinations were not under austro control

Phew. A grown up in the room. Thanks Alex. Again a reminder to get a move on - the CAA validation to operate on an EASA licence expires at the end of this year.

Does anyone know how long it takes to be issued a UK ATPL?

I have an EASA one but I did all the UK exams again, UK medical and skills test. CAA told me over the phone they have everything and it will be processed in 10 days. 10 days to get the license or 10 days for them to even bother to start to look at it?

Austro control issued me an ATPL within 10 days of them receiving the paperwork.

Just what the industry needs, it’s absolutely ridiculous.

It is ridiculous. I just got off the phone from a not so polite person at the CAA who told me my license will take on average 3 months to be issued but no promises. I checked how long my ATPL took to be issued by Austro Control, it took 5 days. I really start to regret going into aviation at this point. It's not worth the hassle at all.

For someone starting an ATPL now with a UK passport, is it best to go CAA over EASA? Fewer job opportunities, but they don't have the right to live and work in the EU

that is incredibly disappointing and frustrating to hear, i have already accepted that this whole year will be wasted in the conversion process and receiving the license. not happy.

Get the UK CAA, since you have a british passport. UK is pretty much third country ICAO by 2023 and you will have the same opportunities and rights in the EU-land as other ICAO licenses/countries which will be a headache to get a first job.

Thanks for the reply. What do you mean with the 3rd country in ICAO?

Hopefully mutual recognition CAA/EASA will happen before long

yes this is the ideal outcome everyone is hoping for, though unlikely.

Third country is essentially non-eu.

Hey everyone,

Just emailed FCLWEB for clarification but given the length of time it will take to get a reply, I thought I'd throw the question out there.

I have previously held a UK Issued Part FCL CPL and UK Part FCL Medical (Initial at Gatwick). ATPL Theory completed in the UK and exams at Gatwick long time ago.

Did the SOLI transfer to EASA member state before the deadline to keep my job in the EU. I therefore fulfill the first requirement for being re-issued a UK CAA licence. The only problem is that I have since been upgraded to an EASA ATPL so fall short on the second requirement as it's a higher level licence.

• All EASA licence holders whose licence date of initial licence was issued before 31 December 2020;
• EASA licence Pilots, instructors and examiners who previously held a UK issued Part-FCL/BFCL/SFCL before 1 January 2021 and have not had a licence issued at a higher level since 1 January 2021

The UK CAA website then asks you to email FCLWEB.

Anyone have similar issues and solution? Many thanks.
m-o