Flying N-registered plane on FAA PPL in Spain
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Flying N-registered plane on FAA PPL in Spain
I currently live in the U.S. and I have a Private Pilot License. My wife and I will be relocating to Spain later this year. From what I understand, I can fly N-registered aircraft (U.S. registered) in Spain using my ICAO FAA Private Pilot Certificate.
I was planning to purchase a small aircraft, probably a Light Sport Aircraft, once we move to Spain, and to then register it with the FAA and fly it in a Spain using my FAA issued ICAO PPL. Based on the research that I’ve done so far this seems to be a feasible plan. Has anyone heard of other American pilots doing something similar in Spain, or in other European countries?
Is this is a feasible plan? How does the cost of flying in Spain compare to the U.S. (fuel, maintenance, repairs, inspections, hangar costs, etc.)? Are there any major hurdles to flying in Spain? I would very much appreciate any general advice on this topic. Thanks in advance for your insight and knowledge on this topic.
-Ryan
I was planning to purchase a small aircraft, probably a Light Sport Aircraft, once we move to Spain, and to then register it with the FAA and fly it in a Spain using my FAA issued ICAO PPL. Based on the research that I’ve done so far this seems to be a feasible plan. Has anyone heard of other American pilots doing something similar in Spain, or in other European countries?
Is this is a feasible plan? How does the cost of flying in Spain compare to the U.S. (fuel, maintenance, repairs, inspections, hangar costs, etc.)? Are there any major hurdles to flying in Spain? I would very much appreciate any general advice on this topic. Thanks in advance for your insight and knowledge on this topic.
-Ryan
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Madrid, Spain
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I currently live in the U.S. and I have a Private Pilot License. My wife and I will be relocating to Spain later this year. From what I understand, I can fly N-registered aircraft (U.S. registered) in Spain using my ICAO FAA Private Pilot Certificate.
I was planning to purchase a small aircraft, probably a Light Sport Aircraft, once we move to Spain, and to then register it with the FAA and fly it in a Spain using my FAA issued ICAO PPL. Based on the research that I’ve done so far this seems to be a feasible plan. Has anyone heard of other American pilots doing something similar in Spain, or in other European countries?
Is this is a feasible plan? How does the cost of flying in Spain compare to the U.S. (fuel, maintenance, repairs, inspections, hangar costs, etc.)? Are there any major hurdles to flying in Spain? I would very much appreciate any general advice on this topic. Thanks in advance for your insight and knowledge on this topic.
-Ryan
I was planning to purchase a small aircraft, probably a Light Sport Aircraft, once we move to Spain, and to then register it with the FAA and fly it in a Spain using my FAA issued ICAO PPL. Based on the research that I’ve done so far this seems to be a feasible plan. Has anyone heard of other American pilots doing something similar in Spain, or in other European countries?
Is this is a feasible plan? How does the cost of flying in Spain compare to the U.S. (fuel, maintenance, repairs, inspections, hangar costs, etc.)? Are there any major hurdles to flying in Spain? I would very much appreciate any general advice on this topic. Thanks in advance for your insight and knowledge on this topic.
-Ryan
There aren´t many N-Reg Light Sports for sale in Europe though unless you want to purchase a Euro- Reg and re-register with the FAA. You need to look a little: www.planecheck.com
Your Medical, Aircraft maintenance and so on must be carried under FAA Regulations. Maintenance and inspections can be carried out by Spanish shops but the maintenance books need to be signed by an FAA A&P´s. There are some FAA A&P´s in Spain. Make sure you get Insurance.
Costs: Avgas is more expensive. About twice as much as in the US. But everything else should be about the same.
Here below I have attached the reply from Carlos Perez Perez to my email:
From: Pérez Pérez Carlos <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 4, 2013 6:18 AM
To: Gonzalo Salvador <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Volar con licencia americana una aeronave con matricula americana
Buenos días Gonzalo,
Respecto a la pregunta de si se puede volar un avión con matrícula americana en España, aunque esta cuestión es propia del área de licencias, entiendo que si el piloto tiene licencia de ese país en principio no hay inconveniente.
El problema es que si se trata de una aeronave con un certificado de aeronavegabilidad restringido, como es el caso de los ultraligeros o las aeronaves que se construyen a partir de un kit (construcciones amateur), estos certificados restringen la operación de la aeronave al país en que se ha obtenido el certificado de aeronavegabilidad de la aeronave, por lo que para volar en otros países es necesario solicitar una autorización de vuelo por un determinado período de tiempo. Cuando el plazo de la autorización se cumple, no queda más remedio que volver a solicitar otra, es decir, las autorizaciones están pensadas para gente que se desplaza de forma temporal a España por vacaciones, estancias temporales, etc, pero no de forma permanente.
Si por el contrario este modelo de avión está certificado por la FAA y la aeronave tiene por tanto un certificado de aeronavegabilidad de acuerdo a OACI, no necesitará una autorización de vuelo para volar en España, pudiendo ser pilotado con la licencia americana.
En el caso de la Diamond DA 20 habría que comprobar el certificado de aeronavegabilidad de dicha aeronave para ver si tiene alguna limitación de operación fuera de EE UU, que será normalmente como dije antes en caso de que se construyera a partir de un kit, y si es así necesitaría una autorización de vuelo que tendría que ser renovada continuamente para volarla de forma legal en España. Estas autorizaciones se están dando por un período de 6 meses por año.
Otra cuestión es que si la aeronave se mantiene con matrícula americana, deberá tener en cuenta que las revisiones de la aeronavegabilidad o cualquier trámite deben hacerse con la autoridad del país de matrícula, en este caso la FAA.
Saludos,
Carlos Pérez Pérez
Servicio de Trabajos Aéreos y Aviación Deportiva
Dirección de Seguridad de Aeronaves
Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea
Teléfono: 91.396.8187
email: cpperez[email protected]
De: Gonzalo Salvador [mailto:[email protected]]
Enviado el: lunes, 04 de marzo de 2013 4:39
Para: Pérez Pérez Carlos
Asunto: Volar con licencia americana una aeronave con matricula americana
Estimado Sr. Pérez:
Loreto Serrano (siempre muy amable conmigo) me ha facilitado sus datos para realizarle una consulta:
Me llamo Gonzalo Salvador Sarabia.
En 2007 me trasladé a Miami para trabajar con Telefonica y como esto de los aviones me gusta desde pequeño, me he sacado la licencia americana de piloto privado y todos hasta el comercial
Dentro de 3 meses regresaré definitivamente a España y me gustaria poder seguir volando allí.
Tengo ambos pasaportes Español por tener padres españoles y haber vivido en Madrid, y tambien el americano por haber nacido aqui.
Siempre he estado de acá para allá o de allá para acá.
La pregunta es: puede un americano volar una aeronave con matricula americana en España?
Hay aviones con matricula americana en España?
Para el seguro de responsabilidad civil voy a tener problemas?
Agradeciendole de antemano su ayuda prestada,
Le saluda atentamente,
