Transfer UK ATPL to EASA
 

So what is the best way around this now?

If I wanted to convert my UK issued ATPL to an EASA state what is the best route in terms of ease, cost?

I've looked online but it seems to be a complicated matter and I'm sure some of you guys must have gone through this recently (i.e. after the UK withdrew from EASA).

TS34 - did you find out the process? Your PMs are full as tried to send you detailed step by step of the fastest route.

Hi Journey

Apologies for that. Still no clearer! Should be able to send PMs now, however.

Cheers

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Until you have a posting history you don't have access to private messaging and adding urls.

5 messages blocking you in. Email will work just fine if you pass it on.

D.F. - got your message, can't reply as your inbox full also. Send me your email or clear some messages and I'll get the info across to you.

it sent now

I’d also appreciate the route anyone has taken with this. Feel free to pm me.
Cheers

Any updates on the situation. Journey man can you also send some details over to me.
I hold CPL/IR issued by UK while still EASA member. I checked with Croatia, Malta and Norway and they all say i need to re-take all 14 exams (because I did them more than 36months ago)with EU ATO and then a skills test as well.

The exams are still valid for an ATPL but expired for PPL/CPL/IR purposes. Your options are (a) get a UK ATPL or (b) retake the exams again.
Or I guess (c) wait and see if the rules change.

Hi,
I am also in the middle of a conversion process (I hold a Turkish CPL and need to have EASA ATPL soon). Try easy-pilot.com . They are pretty familiar with any kind of conversions, I think they will have an answer for you. Good luck!

Thanks Rudestuff. That's the conclusion i have come to as well. Unfortunately I don't have the hours for ATPL yet.

Why do so many people want to convert from UK to EASA? There was a transparent conversion process which has now ended, which means surely everyone should have the licence they need?

I suspect that if and when Brits get the right to live and work in the EU it will go hand in hand with a simple conversion process.

I can not talk for everyone but in my case - I was flying for UK airline with a UK license - happy days. I now lost my job and everywhere i look they want EASA license.

The license has nothing to do with the right to live and work in the EU. Many operators require the right to live and work in the UK but require EASA licenses for reasons such as AOC of convenience. I have even seen a position in Dubai that requires an EASA license.

I wrote my UK exams middle of last year so the fact that there was a transparent process that has ended now does not help. Given that the exams are almost exactly the same, it would be nice if there was a simple process to convert to EASA, without having to write the same exams again.

Anyone taking their exams after the transfer cut off date would have had the option to study once and take both sets of exams - taking the same exam twice shouldn't be a big deal for someone who's studied. However, given the politics of the situation having both licences is a luxury, not the necessity people seem to think it is. Where are all the threads asking "I'm not allowed to work in Australia, but I really think I need a CASA licence"...?

Hi joryblg, I hope you've found a solution for this now. I didn't come across this and used exams sat a under JAR, so more than 36 months ago. If you haven't found a solution, talk to the authority you are seeking to use directly.

Has anyone tried talking/emailing Balpa?

Could somebody clear this up for me? I earned my EASA licence in the UK 6 years ago. It was valid for a lifetime.

When the UK brexited - legally speaking - did EASA revoke my licence? For what reason? I still have it, I earned it 6 years ago. There are no issues with holding 2x ICAO compliant licences at the same time.

Right now, the CAA are still allowing new EASA holders to obtain UK licences and take jobs in the UK. See the CAA Brexit microsite.

Are my conclusions correct? Thanks.

Your UK issued (I assume uk issued) EASA part FCL licence is now a UK part FCL licence (non EASA).

Your conclusions are indeed correct.

Thank you deltahotel. I would suggest that it is now termed a "UK part FCL" by the CAA, which is fine I suppose - they can call it whatever they like! The reality is though, that it was earned under EASA as a lifetime licence, and in order to now not be recognised by EASA, it would have had to be specifically and legally revoked by EASA.

Well, you know and I know that’s not going to happen!

Id also be curious as to the legality of this.

Low Average

I’m definitely not an expert but I think it went like this. A pilot with a UK issued licence had to make a decision. Do nothing then on the stroke of midnight post Brexit the it became an ICAO licence issued by the UK. As far as EASA are concerned the fact that it was the same licence previously is irrelevant. This was how it was explained to me in an European training outfit. It’s just another ICAO licence.

Alternatively, you could have SOLI’d it across to another European authority. I know there were pilots at easyJet who went for the Austrian licence. Then post Brexit the UK CAA are allowing pilots with an EASA licence to convert allowing an orderly transition to the post Brexit world. I believe that ends this year.

I was chatting to a BALPA rep about this and I believe that the European Cockpit Association are lobbying EASA/UK to recognise UK licences and vice versa. Basically what we had before. Remember the CAA didn’t want to leave EASA but were forced to by their political masters. Does all this make sense - No. Was it entirely predictable. Absolutely! Happy to stand corrected.

Good post BBK. I believe the dreadful Shapps has his greasy hands all over this. The previous Uk licence was EASA compliant and there is zero difference in the licences in terms of syllabus and content. There was no need to separate from EASA and the motives were purely political regardless of inconvenience to the UK pilot group.

That was my understanding. The only thing I would add is that there was the option, once having converted from a U.K to EASA license during the grace period, to apply for a U.K. ICAO license whilst in possession of your recently converted EASA license - for very little extra effort, but at a price.

There are several colleagues I know who now hold both a U.K. and EASA license. They did this for various reasons such as being British and working in or commuting to and from the EU, working for an EASA member airline etc.

It’s a very sad situation, and I have to agree it was motivated entirely by political considerations….

Fixed for you.

Good point well made!

Does anyone know where/ if you can look up EASA approved TREs in the Uk? Or advice on a UK location do do an EASA LPC in the 737?

I’m looking for a 737 TRE do do a skills test for the issue of an EASA licence from a UK one. Advice welcome.

thanks

Try David Mather, he's an IAA 737 TRE and uses the L3 sims at Gatwick.

https://thesimguide.com

I suggest the blame lies more with No.10 and the ERG than with the DfT, which did lobby its political masters for retained EASA membership but were told to toe the party line. Shapps could of course have stood by his principles and quit, rather than standing on them to raise his Cabinet profile, but that's modern British politics for you.

I foresee little chance of a bilateral aviation licensing agreement in the near future. EASA will need the nod of its member states to allow the UK to establish bilateral agreements with it, and, quite reasonably, schadenfreude continues to be a strong leitmotif in a post-Brexit continental Europe. 'Post-Brexit' is a misnomer for the UK though, as there's nothing 'post' about it. We've got years of 'Brexit-Limbo' ahead of us and bilaterals, I fear, are but a distant dream.

Success anyone?
 

Has anyone successfully converted recently without retaking the 14 exams? Possible via Malta. Thanks

I managed to convert a UK Part FCL ATPL to Croatia EASA ATPL. It was not easy or quick but at least they didn't require me to redo my ATPL exams like Malta wanted.

Would you mind sharing the rough process you had to go through for this? Any flying etc or was it just a paperwork and fees based exercise? I don't think I could bear the 14 exam re-sit! Oh, and congratulations, glad you made it!

I just received my UK CAA FCL and medical. It was 2 bare sheets in an envelope, no blue book attached. Surely for £600 the blue booklet comes as standard??

Seems not at the moment but just call up and ask for one explaining it wasn’t included with your initial. I received it two days later after doing this

I got a new blue book and the paper work when I got my UK CAA lic "back" this year.

Hi, is there any chance you could send me on this guide too please?

Thanks

Uk to EASA
 

Wondering if anyone has had any success with obtaining a EASA license without having to resit all the theory exams. I have a UK license but really need to obtain a EASA license now my situation has changed. I have contacted EASA & CAA sometime ago but am still awaiting a response.

This from Transport Malta is pretty good: https://www.transport.gov.mt/07-PEL-...tion.pdf-f7066

Cheers