IAA License Conversion + German License and Medical

[D00D1]

Hello,

I have a valid EASA Part FCL license and have a question regarding license conversion to IAA. I filled out the necessary SOLI Forms and got a reply from IAA saying that the German LBA is at present "not in position state where they are allowed to supply the appropriate medical information". As I am required to obtain an IAA License to work for FR I am not sure what the correct course of action would be. Has anyone been in this position?

[VJW]

I'd call both Authorities and ask what that statement means, and how can you get around it. Perhaps doing an initial Irish medical?

[Pirrex]

The Germans in FR do not convert to an IAA license, but fly with their German licenses. They have approved TRE's who do the LST for them.

[D00D1]

Thanks for that info, but how do you know? In our initial information package we were specifically told to convert any non IAA license even if it's EASA.
I've also heard/read that what you say is true. But commiting to the self-funded TR means I have to be certain that all is in policy. I'd greatly appreciate any input.

[VJW]

Then as FR to put it in writing.

[Marchisio]

In my TR course with FR were 3 German guys. They are now all flying on German licences. They didn't have to convert anything at all, as the German medical departments don't want to release their information. Ask McGinley. They know about this.
Best of luck

[plikee]

Originally Posted by Pirrex

The Germans in FR do not convert to an IAA license, but fly with their German licenses. They have approved TRE's who do the LST for them.

That is not 100% true. Although I didn't know that was allowed to be fair, the 3 guys in my TR last year had their licences fully converted, but I do believe that now is tougher to get it sorted. If FR is aware of this situation, I guess you'll be fine but definitely speak with them. Good luck!

[Say Mach Number]

Its all sorted in house by FR and certain FR TRE's can now I believe do the LPC/OPC's for anyone with a German License.

It was causing a problem due to the Authorities over there but FR and I assume the IAA have found a solution.

[flyhigh788]

This is crazy! So itīs literally not possible to convert a German license at all anymore.

[N40PF]

I for my part would be happy to "be forced" to keep the German licence, why spend 1000€ to convert to some irish IAA who will make your life harder and charge ridiculous prices for that on top?
Praise the German data protection laws which prevent the Irish sharks from making pilots life more miserable than they do already. Under EASA a licence conversion should not be necessary in the first place to work in the EU.
All your Irish employer needs to do is have some TREs qualify themselves to know how to fill out the standardised German forms and do the check. And guess what. They need pilots so they do it. Doesnt even cost them a cent.
That is a much better solution than you begging for hundrets of German pilots to give more of their below-market-value-salary for paying even more fees out of their own pockets which would normally be covered by the Employer

[RAT 5]

What is the legality of an operator in an EASA country forcing you to change to a different nationality version of another EASA licence. Was the concept of JAR FCL, and following EASA, that all state licences were acceptable to all member states?
It makes it all the more curious if you are not even an employee of the mandating airline.

[Say Mach Number]

N40PF easy tiger get your facts right mate. None of us would be in this position if EASA hadn't moved the goal posts.

Its EASA that made life hard not Ryanair. Any TRE pre EASA could pretty much sign any licence in Europe. Then EASA rolls into town and says they have to do a course for every country licence they want to sign. Why? Have they all become worse TREs all of a sudden. A Belgian, Danish, Italian licence that they signed 24hrs previous that is exactly the same piece of paper apart the EASA title they now cant sign.

Try running an airline where all the pilots have different licences from every state in EASA and every TRE has to have an authorisation to sign every one from every country.

If you want to have a rant have a rant about EASA not Ryanair.

We all know Ryanair is an easy target but you need to redirect your 9mm.

Ps Ryanair did accept every european licence pre EASA without the need for any conversation to the IAA

[RAT 5]

S.M.N. Many thanks for the info. I was not commenting on RYR in particular: from your information it would be the same for any airline. I did have to go through this fiasco as a TRE; doing an authorisation course in 3 different countries. I didn't understand all the whys & wherefores, just wondered why it was necessary and why they were making an easy job difficult. Given that EASA is supposed to be a standardisation organisation for EU it would seem they have regressed into something more akin to pre-JAA and more nationalistic.
It is not such good advertisement for their understanding & knowledge of the industry. Muppet city, but perhaps we already suspected that.

[FlyingStone]

Praise the German data protection laws which prevent the Irish sharks from making pilots life more miserable than they do already. Under EASA a licence conversion should not be necessary in the first place to work in the EU.
All your Irish employer needs to do is have some TREs qualify themselves to know how to fill out the standardised German forms and do the check. And guess what. They need pilots so they do it. Doesnt even cost them a cent.

Well, this is one way of looking. The other way is that you'd make like of TREs very complicated if they had to learn and keep their knowledge up to date how to fill 30 different forms and licences - remember, there are other EASA member states beside Germany and Ireland, and every one of them has its own special rules and forms.

And Ryanair is by far not the only company who does this, British Airways and easyJet both request for your licence to be changed into UK one before joining.

[VJW]

Virgin want a UK licence during APPLICATION

Might not be illegal to ask to convert before joining, but to either only accept UK issued licences or expect people applying to convert that early in the process.... well that's another story.

[D00D1]

Hi guys,

thanks for the replies. I talked to VC, FR and IAA. This is indeed an EASA issue and FR is fully aware of that fact and accept german licenses at the moment until this issue has been resolved.