CAAC requirements for Biz jet
 

I have read thru the very helpful posts on the required written test - thanks all.

Additional questions:
1. Will CAAC endorse a temp license, ie newly typed but waiting for the updated plastic card from the FAA?
2. Do we have the option of doing the medical somewhere besides Beijing?
3. I'm told that FlightSafety is authorized by the CAAC but am wondering if the CAAC will require further training and/or check rides in the actual jet?
4. As I'm unfamiliar with all the applicable Chinese regs, do the CAAC impose high minimums for new/low time in type captains?
5. None of these above questions really pose any problems but in addition to just jumping thru all the hoops, can someone estimate the time required to get the final validation? Schedule and take the test, schedule and fly the ride and then time to wait for the paperwork to process?

I have been given a rough estimate of 3 months to include studying for the test, scheduling the test, going to school (3 weeks) and then scheduling and flying a check ride with a CAAC officer plus waiting time for the paperwork. This could increase by as much as 3-4 months if they require the actual plastic license so I suppose that is the most important question, time-wise.

Thanks so much for the help.

1. No
2. Yes
3. Flight Safety is approved by the CAAC, but you must hold a valid CAAC license for the training to be recongised. Otherwise you will have to go through validation process with the CAAC once you have received your perm FAA license with the type rating.
4. You'll have to check with your company, there is some regs you have to meet prior to becoming a captain + company requirements.
5. FAA usually respond to CAAC request pretty quickly, do allow 2-4 weeks for the license validation process. The whole process from initial screening to arriving in China can easily take 5 months or more, good luck! :ok:

2. you need a company to "sponsor" you for your medical so you will do it usually in the CAAC approved medical place near where that company is based.

3. If you only have a CPL (not an ATPL licence) and you train outside of China at a CAAC approved flight school, you and a Chinese airline/company have to pre register with the CAAC BEFORE starting to learn to fly, otherwise you have to convert your licence in China. If you only have a CPL,this would usually involve doing an IR & CPL/MECR flight test, IR, CPL & ATP Written exam and 20 hours training in a high performance aircraft( if you have not done some flying in a bigger aircraft) however if your company is part 135, i'm pretty sure you don't need to do the high performance training
This year a new regulation come in which means you now need a min of 500 hours to convert a foreign licence.
If you have a foreign ATPL, which i'm guessing you do) then the process is different and i think you know it.

4. The Chinese regs for Biz Jets (part 135) are exactly the same as the FAA part 135 regulations, so you can check the FAA regs for minimums etc. Out of interest the Chinese part 121 regs (airline) are also based on FAA part 121 regs, but have a number of differences.

5. As stevieboy said the CAAC process can take a long time. However if your company is part 135 you can get some kind of temp licence based on your foreign licence, that will let you start flying in China. I'm not sure exactly how this works but I know an American captain who is flying an air ambulance in China and he was allowed to fly a Biz jet on a temp licence before passing his Chinese ATPL written exam and therefore didn't have a full Chinese licence. Might be something to look into.

Thanks guys! I'm still gathering more info but it appears that there is a definite order of things to be done to make it as efficient as possible.

Purple or do you prefer Richard, hehe - I've also heard of a 3 month temp license being issued but it was to ferry a jet to maintenance. Maybe it could apply to this company as well so long as all the other boxes were checked off - written, medical, background check, authorised and recognised training completed - who knows? But doubtful as another friend in China says they need to literally see the license in person, not photocopies or scans even when supported by official FAA letters attesting to the qualifications.

All sounds doable given enough time, money and patience.

Thanks again.

see private message, you can call me Richard if you want, but i'm not sure i'll ever answer you........:}

Business Jet experiences??
 

Is there anyone that has gone thru all the steps to fly chinese registered business jets that can chime in as well? Especially for a jet that you had to be typed in for the job? I'm guessing its very similar to the airline process but I am still trying to get as clear a picture as possible.

Cheers!