Snapshot of the Chinese Pilot License Requirements
 

Chinese Pilot License Requirement Snapshot

I just squeezed through the Chinese Pilot Licensing process and wanted to share my experience with a summary of events to consider before starting the process. These are requirements by the Chinese Authority only, not including individual airline interviews/screening processes.

OVERVIEW

Background Check
Medical Screening
ATPL exam
CAAC sim ride
Work permit
Approval processing times

Background Check

- You have to obtain a FBI "good conduct report" unless your state issues local police report, Arizona doesn't (must be clean). FAA license verification and No Incident Accident Report (must be clean and can be obtained online from Federal Aviation Administration.) School/work/residential history must go back to high school. Current passport with Chinese visa. This should get you through the security clearance.

Medical exam

- Upon arrival in China you must undergo the CAAC medical exam performed at one of the CAAC regional medical centers by their own doctors. This is a two day process, be prepared to wait in line with 50-60 other candidates to enter the different offices/screening rooms. Listed below are the required items performed during the exam:

- MRI scan (brain only)
- MRA scan
- Carotid Ultrasound
- EEG (brain wave test)
- Heart Stress Test (on treadmill measuring heart pump rate and volume. BP resting and exercising. Max systolic 140, Max diastolic 90 resting).
- Eye exam (eye ball pressure, color vision, near sight, far sight)
- Hearing test
- Blood screening, all known STD's, AST, Cholesterol, glucose, prostate cancer and a slew of other screening panels, etc, too many to list in this posting.
- Urine test, glucose, drugs, etc.
- Ultra sound liver, kidneys, stomach
- X-Ray lungs
- EEC
- Interview with CAAC doctor regarding past medical history
- Balance and neurological test (i.e stand on one foot lifting the other foot forward, 10 push-up's, some finger coordination tests, etc.)

ATPL exam

- 100 questions, 70% minimum passing score. (Study Gleim meteorology, aerodynamics, weather, IFR, holding, HSI, RMI, Airspace, Performance B737/727 and A320 performance tables. There are plenty of CAAC question banks floating online, but beware, they have just changed some of the questions on the test. Study the Chinese "Blue Book").

CAAC sim ride

Basically the same as a regular PC on the type of aircraft you are flying, except there will be a CAAC guy in the observer seat during the ride.

Work Permit

Another medical exam including EEC and blood tests (not nearly as involved as the CAAC exam, this exam takes only about 3-4 hours)

The process is not as bad as it sounds, but it is time consuming, plan on at least 3 months from start to finish.

Processing times

ATPL exam: Instant results
Work permit: 21 days
Medical: 7 days for results
Pilots license: 30 days after submittal of accepted ATPL and medical results.

Good luck! The money is great over here and China is not at all a bad place to live!

Disclaimer: Author accepts no liability for the content of this posting, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.

Thanks 737.

Good advice regarding process in that Country.

Seems to be quite long...

Thanks I am in the queue hopefully August for assessment! The thought of doing ATPL exams again Nooo!

With 5+ years in China thats a pretty good summary. Count on similarly thorough medicals every 6-12 months. The Company sim checks to follow will probably be a little tougher than the initial CAAC check. Good Luck. :)

Most of the above seems accurate except for the CAAC Background check. Having been here in China 18+ years myself I can tell you that this particular check was much more involved that what is stated.

For myself and others I know the FBI check was not required nor accepted. What was insisted on was a Criminal Records Check (CRC) Specifically from one's Home Town. As in the Town you were born in/grew up in.

This CRC once acquired must then be Notarized.
Then it must go to the Dept. of State for authentication to verify that the Notary public is actually authorized.
Lastly, it must then go to the Chinese Consulate or Embassy Office for the region your hometown is located in to then be Authenticated again by them.

Only after all this is is your CRC ready for submission

Has anybody had the situation to be faulted on the CAAC check ride (last step screening process)? Yes of course!!
Is China closed after CAAC check ride fault? Yes....no "region shopping" allowed now.
If not what is the process to continue looks like? Not good at all. Forget China. Look elsewhere.