Okavango - no you can't, unfortunately. I looked into it and had to go the old fashioned route. Even if you turn up with your books and paperwork, you have to leave it with them to process. Mine took just over a month, but it was before the EASA train hit.

Very easy to blame the men and women at the top. I've just been watching the news and seen Amazon staff working round the clock because of the Christmas rush. Who'd bet against the CAA staff downing tools at 5pm, backed by a union shouting that overtime during a busy period is "an outrage"?

Thanks sapco2.

So I guess an IR renewal doesn't constitute a change?

Not as far as I am aware south coast, but ask them to change something on a perfectly valid JAA licence, and you'll need to stump up another £139 for a brand new licence you thought you didn't need.

The CAA brought this on themselves.

They wanted to be the child at the front of the EASA queue straining to raise their hand in the air shouting 'look at me teacher'.

Why have other authorities decided to take a little longer to move across????

Time for an MP's question about being fit for purpose methinks.

:ok:

Very slightly off thread but:

I have a nice shiny EASA ATPL which I need to be 'verified' in support of a new job outside EASAland. EASA form duly downloaded and GUIDANCE NOTE 3 states that a Certified Copy of a UK licence which shows most recent Certificate of Revalidation must accompany the application - and the cheque for 44 quid of course. The Certifier has to be the Head of Training of a EASA ATO or Head of Standards of an Organisation with its own EASA AOC. Not easy to obtain if you dont live in EASAland - which I dont. After weeks of emails and phone calls the CAA finally told me 'Oh I'm sorry. GUIDANCE NOTE 3 appears to have been entered in error to that form and its actually not a requirement at all!"

Moral of the story - check all those new EASA forms very very carefully and query anything that seems even slightly odd.

I was at the CAA last week for other reasons, however, a trip to the licence section showed a number of CPL holders with years left on their licences just waiting to change for the EASA version for the sake of it...why clog up the system for no reason...

Well I now have an EASA CPL. The ratings are all there, and only one "valid until" date appears to be wrong. I also now have Level 6 English...I'm so proud, all of those years of practice have paid off. No cover to put it in as they have run out, but they will send one when they can. I have two receipts. One for me and one for a Mr S Martin. Don't worry Mr Martin, there are no card details shown.

I'll post the other chaps receipt to him tomorrow.

Well I am / was at Gatwick yesterday and today, and will be tomorrow, so far I can see that the money we pay them buys them nice things :suspect: but in general the atmosphere there seems relaxed and calm, not in a million years would have I thought theres a backlog there...

I almost forget. So in my case there was a forty working day turn around time.

I've submitted the forms to change address which also meant converting my JAR ATPL to EASA. Question for those that have sent an application in, how quickly did the CAA take the money from your credit card?

Other than calling them this seems to be the only way of checking that the process has started.

Thanks

New type and JAA to EASA conversion done today, all went to plan. Just ensure you have your level 6 english form signed by an examiner and all certificates / medical / logbook / passport, etc

Arrive early and take a number...

Arrived at 0830, licence in hand at 1230.

Hi

For anyone that's been for the day service, would it be possible to go and submit the application then pick it up the next day or after work the same day?

The other question was for a straight swap from JAR ATPL to EASA do they want to see log books?

Thanks

It's not possible to collect the next day... I asked them a couple of weeks ago. It also states it on the posters in the counter service waiting area.

They close at 16:30, so if you can get there after work before this time, then you should be ok.

Get there very early. I arrived at 8:10 and was number 14!

Thanks SB... Did they want your log book? Mine is a little out of date!

You don't have to pay for a simple change of address?

Hi Mr G
They wouldn't change the address without changing the licence to an EASA one, so while the change of address was free the still wanted £139 for the new licence. It would be nice if I'd got that wrong but suspect they"ll take the money:*

Did they want your logbook, mine is a little out of date.

I am totally amazed that you are even contemplating turning up at the Belgrano with an out of date logbook.

What a fantastic concept!

Don't think you need a logbook for the JAA to EASA conversion, but there is a form to fill in.

Anyone know what the restriction LV means on a type rating? Some people seem to have it on their new licence, and some don't.

LV = Low Viz

Thanks for that.

Not really getting why someone would have a Low Vis restriction.

Ah thanks for that provo!

They will be hard pushed to get a penny out of me based on the paperwork I sent, as I had great pleasure in putting a big black line through the payment section of the form!!! :}

Will give it a few months and if nothing is returned then it looks like I will have to pay up!

Jonty,

It's a qualification, not a restriction, ie. Low Viz qualified

Thanks

Looks like a call to the CAA is needed.

If you fly Airbuses as I do, when you do your LPC/OPC under the new EASA scheme of life, your licence will now have a renewal/revalidation saying A320 SERIES IR/LV. That is just to state formally that your low viz qualification has been tested and revalidated for another year. In the past it was not stated even though it was true - now it is formally written down to show to any Inspector that you are authorised to carry out Low Viz Operations.

Mission accomplished. I'm now the proud owner of a blue folder to put my licence in. I just have one comment. The folder sleeves are long enough for a small sheet of paper (GR examiner), but by the time that you fold up the licence itself or the medical, then the paper is so thick that it won't go to the bottom of the sleeve, and therefore the top pops out over the top, unprotected.

After all you ve been through thats what bothers you now mate? :rolleyes:

Not really, but it just strikes me as being daft.

Sounds pretty daft to me too. you're required to fold an A4 sheet of paper into the size of a credit card a cram it into one of the sleeves so that only part of the information available is readable.... What are all those other sleeves for?
The Irish EASA licence authorities produce the same type of plastic cover but make use of all the sleeves so that all of the data can be read.

WRT the LV annotation, when re validating a type rating the requirement now is to enter the following for example .. B737/300-900 IR LV to indicate qualification to operate to minima below Cat 1. Just done my TRE revalidation with the CAA and this was pointed out.

EASA Licensing / FCL Gatwick
 

I had the unpleasant experience of being relieved of £140 the other day - because I was adding a type - not voluntarily!

The new licence is awful - impractical and housed in a cheap tacky wallet that looks like its come from one of those child dressing up packs at pound land.

I guess they have done it to save money but I find the fact that every time now you need more revalidation space you need a licence reprint! Bonkers - they are making work for themselves!

The other highly irritating thing is every time you ask them a question eg - how did we end up in this mess - they say - "that's because of EASA. You would have to take it up with them"

Not fit for purpose.

One month to go!
 

So

Here I am, one month to the date my JAA ATPL expires. Previous experience was that they sent me the reminder and a form about a month before, nothing yet. So thanks to what I have read here I know an early drive to the Belgrano (is it still called that?) if for me!!

On the web site, form downloaded, all seems quite simple. The site says 'we endeavour to process applications in 10 working days'

So a simple renewal of JAA to EASA has left me with some concerns,

What about this 'Language Proficiency Endorsement' ?

What about talk of any of the application being signed by employer ?

As an Airbus pilot I am cat 3, nothing in my current licence certifies that, do I need that to get Airbus 320 series IR/LV ?

Doing airline and private flying do I tick apply for ATPL and also PPL ?

390
Here to wish all CAA staff a merry chrismas during their break 25/12 to 02/01!!!

I too have received my nice shiny blue EASA ATPL and I took the bold decision to chop it up into eight pages as my old JAA ATPL was supplied.
If this was wrong then tough luck as they give no instructions at all and I was one of the first to receive the new type of licence.
I also feel they have now incorporated the eye test in being able to read the text as it is teeny tiny.

Well, not quite, it is mentioned here
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/2330/The%2...0Explained.pdf
that cutting the licence is not allowed.
Anyhow, a valid point was raised some posts before, on how long after they draw the money from your CC they send you the licence, but did not get any replies. Anyone??

T.

This time, the money was taken a day or so before the licence was issued. They had had it for 3 weeks by then.

Thanks Thanos1970 well spotted:D

I went through the whole doc and missed that little note:ugh:

Oh well, I cannot wait to see the look on the DFT inspectors face when he/she pulls it out of the cover:=

With regards how long it took, just over two months and the money was taken a few days before posting.

V sorry to bring bad news but your licence is null and void if you cut up the individual pages, even though it seems logical to do so. Best to request a replacement ASAP at a cost of approx. £35.

I don't think anyone is going to do that unless someone from authority actually says so and makes a thing about it. The pilot will then play ignorant and say I didn't know I wasn't allowed.