Flying in Europe with a FAA license

[DerHausi]

Hello, I am relatively new to JAA topics and would like to fly in Europe with my FAA license (live in Germany now). Is this at all possible ? Anyone any experience with flying in Germany and the UK ? I have spend quite some time in the US and fly there regularly but finding information on Europe has so far been proven quite difficult.

[Phil77]

Private flying yes, commercial no (except private carriage on N-registered aircraft - no charter).

Paperwork from the Luftfahrtbundesamt:
LBA Anerkennung von Erlaubnissen und Berechtigungen

plus you need a radio station license. It probably makes sense to take an instructor up once or twice and read up on the regs (airspace is quite different for example).

[GoodGrief]

As per landings.com he has a PPL only. No commercial flying.

Sascha, download FCL-2, those are the rules we live by.

LBA Rechtsgrundlagen

[Runway101]

For private flying, you can take any N-registered aircraft below 12500 lb and fly away if I am not wrong.

I believe if you want to fly D registered aircraft, you will need a validated license first. At least that's the way if you want to fly OE registered helicopters, then you need to get your license validated with Austrocontrol for a few Euros. I am not sure if you also need a type rating in addition to your validation...

What type(s) were you flying in the USA?

[IRISHPILOT]

to use any FAA licence outside US airspace, you need the US RT licence. cheap and no test, but you need it.

do a search on here on how to get it.

[DerHausi]

Thanks for all the quick feedback. Will do some more reading. As for the various questions:
1. I currently fly R22 / R44 and am almost done with CB300
2. I have a BZFII from the stone ages (20 years ago - tried a glider license then but went to the US after I passed)
3. US RT - is this not part of the license ? Can you really have this separately ?

[Gordy]

3. US RT - is this not part of the license ? Can you really have this separately ?

Yep... You need a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit.
No test required for this one since you have your pilot certificate. Fill out and send in forms 605 and 159 with the fee and in a few weeks it will come in the mail to you.

Form 605

[Runway101]

DerHausi,

I used Das amerikanische Sprechfunkzeugnis to get that FCC Radio Station License (Euro 50 for them + USD 60 for FCC if I remember that correctly). Might be more expensive but saved me some typing, banking and mailing I guess. You get a temporary certificate directly, the original one comes after a few weeks. I have no other business or relation with that web site, just found it on web search. I've never been asked for it actually, but it's required as per FAR.

I have a R44 Raven II N-registered down at Lake Constance, if you are in for a short Europe trip as soon as the weather is somehow stable let me know. Cost will be low as I am otherwise going alone (would have sent a PM but you disabled the function).

[DerHausi]

Hi Alex et el,

thanks for the website link. Indeed much easier than the official forms. Started filling forms last night but that takes a while.... Have also talked to the LBA today after all the read from last night... lots to do... wish though they (FAA and JAA) could both just accept conversions. I understand the law bit but the rest ?

As for flying, most definitely, let me know, not easy to find N-registered R22/R44 in Germany. Thought this would be a piece of cake given the web but turned out not to be. Other recommendations here are welcome too.

BTW, only use skype as IM and have activated now. Just learning how to use the platform too....

Thanks again for all your comments,
Sascha

[DerHausi]

Hi Pilot.Pete, do you mean SFAR73 (Robinson requirements) ? I am current on those.

[nouseforaname]

FAA private flying G-reg machine

Does the FAA rotorcraft private grant any privilages on a G-reg machine. I know that for fixwing you can fly day/vfr but not sure about helicopters.?

I've got the FAA private with MD500 signoff, looking to fly a friends MD500 G-reg.

[md 600 driver]

YES IF
you are from the uk
your BFR is up to date
your your faa medical is up to date
and you are included as a pilot on that registations insurance

steve

[nouseforaname]

they are all yes answers so thanks for your help.

[chopjock]

and you are included as a pilot on that registations insurance

I never knew that.
I have a friend with an FAA licence, he flies my G REG and he is not listed on the aircraft's insurance.

[md 600 driver]

any aircraft flying in uk airspace has to have at least 3rd part insurance inc n reg helicopters
as most helicopters insurance is named pilots your name needs to be on there otherwise your not insured

in the us n reg private helicopters dont have to have insurance

[nigelh]

I wouldnt necessarily agree . Most are insured for ANY pilot who is qualified and with the permission of the owner , and there may well be an age stipulation ( usually 80 and could be min no of hrs which i have )
Great advantage of the US licence is the ability to fly ANY medium / light helicopter without a type rating ( saves you a fortune keeping all your types up to date ) , No specific night rating needed . Also you can fly G reg pretty much all over the world .....the other way around and you are confined to UK airspace . For most GA pilots the FAA ticket is a much better one to have in every respect in my opinion .

[nigelh]

i am probably being thick but what point are you making ? I am not aware that you ever need any type cert or training on any helicopter ( other than robbos ) when flying on a FAA licence . Also i believe you can fly through almost all of europe with FAA licence in a G reg .

[Jarvy]

The point being made is that if you have a CAA issued license and you get a certificate that allows you to fly in the US it is not the same as having a FAA license.
I have a certificate that allows me to fly as a PPL based on my CAA CPL(H) but only on types I am current on my CAA license.

[nigelh]

Ok i understand . Mine is stand alone FAA but some are attached to your CAA and are only valid whilst your CAA is valid .... therefore you are into the trap of ratings etc

[Mungo5]

And you need an international radio operators cert from the FAA.. nothing complicated, obligatory form and small fee.