new zealand cpl conversion
 

Hi there,
I'm a UK citizen, seriously considering spending all my pennies on a cpl course out here in nz but need a coupla things answering before I decide.

1. are there any JAA approved schools in new zealand at all?

2. if not, what would I need to do to convert a new zealand cpl to a commercial license that is functional back in the UK? is this going to cost me a packet?

would appreciate any wisdom and insight into these matters.
have a good one.

I can't answer the question about JAR compliant schools in NZ. Best see the CAA for that one. (My guess is no).

Converting the NZ CPL to a JAR one? You'll need to rob a bank or something. Best thing would be to get a job in either NZ or Oz to get some time up preferably on turbines. (Much harder than it sounds) A NZ licence is acceptable in Australia.
To convert, you'll need to do all 14 JAR ATPL exams + at least 15 hours for the IR. (and the medical etc)

I´m currently doing the NZ CPL/IR, working towards ATPL papers as well. Planning to convert to a European licence asap. I´ve completed the majority of the NZ papers and now doing the flying. At the same time I am concentrating on JAA papers via correspondence. Exams are sat in the UK on two seperate sittings, ( more money ) similar content as expected, slightly different formats but just as hard if not worse in some areas so far!

I would suggest that you don't consider it unless you plan to work out this way in order to build 1500 - 2000 hrs. That is unless your pockets are deep or you are connected back in the UK of course!

There has recently been a change in the rules in Europe but still really hard for us low time guys to convert. Basically a money problem really if there is no job offer after the conversion.

The good news - theory courses are getting cheaper all the time in the UK right now and the rules in Europe regarding this may well change again before you are in a position to do the IR test flight conversion.

Good luck.:eek:

Oh - forgot. No there are no JAR approved schools out this way. Aussie has BAE but I think they have now stopped the JAR course. Or there is Malaysia if your really keen! They have the exact same exams as in the UK as I understand it. But you'll need to check this out as I am not 100% sure.

No JAR schools in NZ.

You'll have to do all the JAR ATPLs, JAR CPL flight test and IR flight test. There's a compulsory 15 hours of dual before you can sit the JAR IR, and while there's no compulsory dual for the CPL it does have to be done in a "complex type" ie something that's retractable with a CSU, and you're unlikely to have one of those on your licence if you've just got a fresh kiwi CPL.

Total cost of conversion will be at least 5,000 pounds and potentially a lot more, the first time pass rate on the JAR IR flight test is only about 35 or 40%, it is the hardest flight test on earth in my opinion. Oh yeah and the ATPL theory exams are complete bastards as well :(

Better to just stay down under in the short / medium term in my opinion ... there's sweet FA in the way of jobs in the UK at the moment, and well founded rumour says that Air NZ are about to do some large scale hiring for the first time in decades - could really clean out the regionals down here and open up some jobs for low timers, if it's true.