US to UK requirements

[DSP12]

I’m looking to eventually transition from the US military and move to the UK. Would a US commercial and ATP fulfill UK requirements for entry into the airlines?

[ahwalk01]

No. Those licenses would need to be converted. A Commercial requires 13 written exams and a checkride for example.

For ATP it can be easier (type rating) but still requires UK medical and license. Where will you fly to? EASA will also be needed.

Third Country CPL and ATPL licence conversion requirements from 1 January 2023 | Civil Aviation Authority (caa.co.uk)

Not cheap not quick. Pointless.

[LTCTerry]

Generally people start flying in airline jobs in Europe w/ a ME Commercial License and the numerous written tests for ATPL completed - at about 250 hours. Add in a couple "work like a crew" courses and this combo is colloquially referred to as a "frozen ATPL." Though it's really just multi-commercial.

The ATPL written tests require hundreds of hours of mandatory ground school, though as an existing ICAO-compliant ATP you may self refer to the tests, I believe. The tests focus on minutiae American pilots would never consider: "what is the frequency of the super heterodyne receiver in the backup module of the vortex generator when the entertainment system powers up on a second sequential reboot?"

Typical advice here and on Reddit is that financially it makes little sense for a competitive American pilot to pursue an airline job in Europe. "CFIs make more than new FOs" is a common comparison.

[Amadis of Gaul]

Originally Posted by LTCTerry

"what is the frequency of the super heterodyne receiver in the backup module of the vortex generator when the entertainment system powers up on a second sequential reboot?"

42khz.

[All hat and no cows]

I tried to convert a US ATP to CAA back in 2003.. I bought about $5000 dollars worth of books and started to study.. after about two months of study all day about things that have zero consequence in a cockpit and having sat the fist exam of 14 I think it was going to be.. I realized it was going to take about another 2 years and cost about 150k .. at that time.. the folks at Naples air center who sold me the book work , also let me know that if you had 3000 PIC in a wide body that you could just do the air law exam, and to a conversion check ride in that type.
IT ENDED UP BEING EASIER TO GET THE 3000 WIDEBODY PIC….

[Climb150]

I tried this recently and to get an exemption for the 750 hours ATPL ground school I had to have an ATP with 500 hours multi crew and a PC on that multi crew aircraft type in the last 12 months. I wasn't current so didn't bother.
Also to do the sim ride for licence issue (once a ATPL exams are passed and this will take 9-12 months) you must also have a PC on type in the last 12 months . So would need to pay for 2 PCs in the US.

[BAe 146-100]

Brits can’t work in the US , so we don’t need yanks working here. Stay put

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by BAe 146-100

Brits can’t work in the US...

Yes they can. They just have to jump the legal hurdles to live/work here. Just like Americans would have to jump hurdles to work in the UK.

[Test Monkey]

In my company and in many companies I’ve worked for in the past.. there are a lot of Brits.. I’m actually European , so put a sock in it.

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by Test Monkey

In my company and in many companies I’ve worked for in the past.. there are a lot of Brits.. I’m actually European , so put a sock in it.

Uh, ok. I thought I was agreeing that Brits could work in the US... because some do.

[houstoncfi]

Originally Posted by ahwalk01

No. Those licenses would need to be converted. A Commercial requires 13 written exams and a checkride for example.

For ATP it can be easier (type rating) but still requires UK medical and license. Where will you fly to? EASA will also be needed.

Not cheap not quick. Pointless.

Is this still the case? I looked in to UK CAA and from what I understood because of BREXIT it's only 3 or 4 test now.

[Climb150]

Originally Posted by houstoncfi

Is this still the case? I looked in to UK CAA and from what I understood because of BREXIT it's only 3 or 4 test now.

No you have to do all the exams no way around it.

[figaloprepod]

For flying within the UK, as you mentioned, a UK medical and license are necessary. If you plan to operate in European airspace, compliance with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations is also required. This process can be quite costly and time-consuming, and whether it’s worthwhile depends on one’s individual circumstances and career goals.

[kenparry]

"If you plan to operate in European airspace............."

Think you are wrong there. A UK CAA licence allows you to operate world wide. I suggest what you mean is "If you plan to be to be employed by a company based in an EASA state then you need a licence issued under EASA regulations"