Are UK airlines pushing for the UK CAA to recognise EASA licences.
Joined: Aug 2022
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 240
Likes: 152
From: Edinburgh
S o you keep saying. The world is not fair, you choose EASA over CAA, it was your choice, I now realise your a Brit, by choosing EASA you pretty much locked yourself into Ryanair and no one else.
No one forced you.down this road, you pays your money and you.takes your pick.
You have a nice shinny jet job with the Irish Airline, if your a SFO, pretty good money, enough to give Alex a call at Bristol GS, get the exams done then license. I had to sit the FAA when I wanted my N reg, it's no different.
anyway I'm done debating with you, there is no point me continuing
No one forced you.down this road, you pays your money and you.takes your pick.
You have a nice shinny jet job with the Irish Airline, if your a SFO, pretty good money, enough to give Alex a call at Bristol GS, get the exams done then license. I had to sit the FAA when I wanted my N reg, it's no different.
anyway I'm done debating with you, there is no point me continuing
And you're correct, no one did force me down this road, I don't regret it. If I find myself needing to go and sit the UK ATPL exams, so be it, but my career plan will have diverged massively from what I expect to do, and I will have messed up royally, because I'm really not interested in staying in the UK any longer than I need to.
None of which changes my opinion, or the fact, that the way the CAA handles EASA license conversions is uneccessary, burdensome, and a waste of people's time and money.


Joined: Jul 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,090
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From: Germany
I think most people would be happy if the UK and EASA agreed on the equivalence of the theory exams. There might however be some logic to a separate air law exam. Genuine question for the experts, what meaningful differences between CAA and EASA air law would warrant a separate paper?

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,305
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From: Vietnam
If I want an EASA licence it's 13 exams. Doesn't matter if I did the 13 Hong Kong exams or 12 Singapore ones and they are very similar. Why should CAA give you a pass if you did the EASA ones? EASA doesn't give a free pass to anyone.

Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 587
Likes: 60
From: FLSomething
I think most people would be happy if the UK and EASA agreed on the equivalence of the theory exams. There might however be some logic to a separate air law exam. Genuine question for the experts, what meaningful differences between CAA and EASA air law would warrant a separate paper?
Why do you think there are now c.300 fully funded cadet programme places a year!!

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 93
Likes: 1
From: U K
It would be a mistake to believe that many EASA National Aviation Authority licences are any where near UK standard. Even some EASA Autorities will not accept other countries licences. EASA is a shambles, there is no common standard.


Joined: Sep 2003
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 955
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From: away from home
Ah, good to see the British aura of superiority is alive and well. Carry on!

Joined: Jul 2025
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From: Gibraltar
Complete bollocks, that might have been the case 20 years ago...
Joined: Sep 2023
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
From: Cardiff
Exactly. Idk if anyone remembers but I sure remember having to memorize seasonal monsoon patterns in India as part of my EASA meteorology exam.
I also think that Newhairdo is just rambling about random stuff because how is the ITCZ or Australian CTAFs relevant to the differences between operations in the UK vs the EU?
I also think that Newhairdo is just rambling about random stuff because how is the ITCZ or Australian CTAFs relevant to the differences between operations in the UK vs the EU?
Joined: Sep 2023
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 11
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From: Cardiff
Touching on what I said, it also is a pointer on why some people might not want to memorise random bs like this to convert their license. It's tough once you're a pilot and you know how useless the theory exams are for the most part.
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 574
Likes: 429
From: Outbush
Exactly. Idk if anyone remembers but I sure remember having to memorize seasonal monsoon patterns in India as part of my EASA meteorology exam.
I also think that Newhairdo is just rambling about random stuff because how is the ITCZ or Australian CTAFs relevant to the differences between operations in the UK vs the EU?
I also think that Newhairdo is just rambling about random stuff because how is the ITCZ or Australian CTAFs relevant to the differences between operations in the UK vs the EU?
1. Because holding the licence allows you to fly there as a commercial pilot.
2. You clearly haven’t read the thread properly. If you had done so, you would have seen the other replies, and understood the context of the conversations. Do better.

Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 352
From: UK

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 184
Likes: 56
From: Dubai, once... now London
I’d support bringing back mutual recognition between EASA and UK-CAA licences. It wouldn’t change who can actually take jobs: non-Brits in the UK and non-EU pilots in Europe still need the right to work or visa sponsorship. All mutual recognition would do is reduce duplication and cost for crews who already meet training, medical and recency standards - without undermining each market’s immigration controls or airline hiring policies.



Joined: Jun 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 696
From: Brit living in Malaysia
I’d support bringing back mutual recognition between EASA and UK-CAA licences. It wouldn’t change who can actually take jobs: non-Brits in the UK and non-EU pilots in Europe still need the right to work or visa sponsorship. All mutual recognition would do is reduce duplication and cost for crews who already meet training, medical and recency standards - without undermining each market’s immigration controls or airline hiring policies.
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 574
Likes: 429
From: Outbush
Far too sensible! Or just a simple endorsement on one's licence which authorises the holder to operate. The host country administrates the endorsement. The licence holder's national Authority administrates the rest of the licence.It's how much of the rest of the world operates.
Full recognition is the only sensible solution, a bit like the Australia / New Zealand Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement (TTMRA).
Don't hold your breath though! Can you really see Sly Keir and his broken government having the time or appetite to negotiate this with Europe? And what do you think Europe might say anyway!?



Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 119
From: uk
It's nothing to do with 'sly Keir and his government', rather the sh!t Brexit deal negotiated by, among others, Shapps because EASA has an E at the beginning. Remaining within EASA was always an option. And why should EASA/EU care anyway? And even if there was recognition there are still the 'right to live and work' hurdles to clear. For clarity, yes I think mutual recognition would be a good thing, staying in EASA would have been a better thing but we are where we are. My experience of working with mainland Europeans and their view of Brexit is mainly a shrug of their shoulders and a sense of bemusement and them getting on with their lives.
Joined: Sep 2025
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 27
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From: Birmimgham
It's nothing to do with 'sly Keir and his government', rather the sh!t Brexit deal negotiated by, among others, Shapps because EASA has an E at the beginning. Remaining within EASA was always an option. And why should EASA/EU care anyway? And even if there was recognition there are still the 'right to live and work' hurdles to clear. For clarity, yes I think mutual recognition would be a good thing, staying in EASA would have been a better thing but we are where we are. My experience of working with mainland Europeans and their view of Brexit is mainly a shrug of their shoulders and a sense of bemusement and them getting on with their lives.
The fractured nature of the current system also raises concerns on regulatory capture of these authorities by airlines with a lot of money and power… the fact that the U.K. CAA for instance allow a particular airline to fly non G-reg out of UK bases permanently while other airlines have properly split their fleets says a lot and that’s just a clear influence we can see.



