Australian flying in Europe
 

Hi folks,

Are there any Aussie forum members who have made the switch to flying in Europe? I am currently working for a large Australian airline (with an ATPL) and am I'm interested to know if people have made a similar switch. Would it be reasonable to expect a job with a large carrier in the UK with Australian airline experience? Would the likes of Easyjet/RyanAir/BA/VA look favorably up foreign airline experience or do they prefer to train/recruit their own lower hour pilots?

Also I understand that to transition to an EASA license all 14 ATPL exams must be taken and a flight test. Are there any further hurdles to jump through? Is there any way to get an exemption from the flight test by having a certain amount of hours/experience at an Australia airline?

Thanks

Q1. Have to ask because you didn't mention it: Do you have the right to live/work in the EU/UK?

Sorry forgot to mention that I do hold British citizenship so I do have the right to work in the EU.

Ah that's one hurdle cleared - good luck with the rest.

Another hurdle might be age.

From my experience not really. We have one guy in my current company who made a transition from Australia and according to him airline flying in Europe is more relaxed than out there.

You'll find plenty of Australians flying in European airlines, the only thing you need is the right to live and work in the EU with no restrictions and your UK passport gives you that.

Regarding the 14 ATPL exams, as far as I remember, you can be issued with a validation on your Australian license, when you first start and this is valid for a year. During this time you'll need to take the 14 exams and you'll then be granted an EASA ATPL. From what I've heard from people that have done it, they all did it distance learning and said it was hard work but doable. As far as a flight test is concerned, I think your initial sim check or a recurrent sim counts towards that.

Plenty of airlines in Europe are hiring, so just check out what jobs there are and see if your experience matches the requirements.

Does any Airlines validate anymore ? I Guess you have to convert Your licence first and then start the applying prossess.

Thanks for the responses. Are there any references for the license validation through the uk caa? I've done some googling but haven't been able to find anything.

Also the flight test, if you don't have a job when you go there I assume one would had to privately hire a sim/instructor and support pilot? Is there any way to be exempt for this by providing sim/flight records from a previous airline? I imagine it would be quite a costly and logistical headache trying to find a sim and appropriate testing officers.

Thanks

I also would have assumed things would be easier since the uk and Australia are commonwealth nations and tend to align in a lot of other matters. Does not seem to be the case with aviation though

I made the jump when it was still JAA. So did my hubby. I *think* the validation (ie 2 exams, 3000 hours, 1500 hours in command of +30 tonne a/c) has gone now it's EASA. I haven't checked so I may be wrong.

Generally within the UK, easyJet and Ryanair tend to mainly take low houred guys. There is the exception every now and then. Other airlines view experienced folks as acceptable. There has been hiring lately but as you well know, hiring is a boom/bust cycle.

I don't know your hours but it's safe to assume you'll need a medical, the 14 exams, a flight test. If you have 500 hours on a multi pilot a/c, use that one. Ideally one that has a sim in the UK. Yes, you'll need some revision as EASA/UK do NDBs slightly differently to Australia. (speeds mainly). Yes, organising a sim, a crash buddy, an instructor and the CAA examiner is a pleasure that only the most sadistic of sadists could dream of.

Good luck.

Check out CAP 804

Part Q subpart 1 has Validation

Part Q Subpart 2 is Conversion.

Keep in mind regarding the conversion route holding an ICAO ATPL, doesn't necessarily mean you meet the experience requirements of an EASA ATPL.

Same applies for the validation path, except the experience requirements are considerably higher than via the conversion route, and your required to convert it anyway (normally 1 year)

Have just done it all,
14 exams (can sit in ADL)
ATPL skills test on your current type
Flight radio operators licence
Class one medical

PM me with any other questions

Good luck

bobyyy1,

"Citizenship" is something of a grey area, I previously worked in recruitment where many would claim to have grandfather rights or similar ... The question being "Do you hold a passport of the United Kingdom and/or the European Union?" because if you haven't got such a passport then you don't have EU rights.

If you have got such a passport then you need to overcome the Campaign Against Aviation a.k.a. the CAA.