Non-JAA Licence Conversion  
 

A professional pilot licence issued by a non-JAA State may be converted to a JAA licence provided that an arrangement exists between the JAA and the Non-JAA State. Until such arrangements exist, the following requirements have been agreed by the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA).

The following requirements assume that you wish to convert your ICAO licence into a JAA licence issued by the UK CAA. If you wish to have your JAA licence issued by another JAA state then the following requirements may need modification.

Requirements for the conversion of a Non-JAA ATPL (A) to JAA ATPL (A)

An applicant holding a current and valid ATPL (A) issued in accordance with ICAO Annex 1 by a non-JAA State may be issued with a JAR ATPL (A) providing the applicant meets the following criteria:

  • Undertake ATPL (A) theoretical knowledge training and pass the ATPL (A) theoretical knowledge examinations
  • Hold a valid JAA Class 1 medical
  • Qualify for the issue of a Flight Radio Telephony Operators Licence (FRTOL)
  • Undertake a Multi-Pilot Aeroplane (MPA) type rating course at an approved Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO)
  • Pass the ATPL (A) Skill Test with or observed by a CAA Flight Operations Inspector (FOI)

Exemptions:

Applicants with 1500 hours minimum (PIC or Co-pilot) on Multi-Pilot Aeroplane (MPA) and hold a valid MPA type rating on the aeroplane used for the Skill Test and have 500 hours minimum experience as pilot on that type will be exempt any ground or flight training prior to taking the theoretical knowledge exams or the Skill Tes.t

Applicants with 1500 hours minimum (PIC or Co-pilot) on MPA and hold a valid MPA type rating on the aeroplane used for the Skill Test and have less than 500 hours experience as pilot on that type will be exempt any ground training prior to taking the theoretical knowledge exams. They still are required to undertake a multi-pilot aeroplane (MPA) type rating course at an approved Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO). However this course may be reduced to take into account of previous experience on the same type.

Applicants with a minimum of 3000 hours flying experience as pilot of public transport aircraft over 30,000 kgs MTWA on schedule international or similar routes including a minimum of 1500 hours as PIC (Captain) are treated differently and should apply to UK CAA for a formal written assessment in the first instance.

Applicants who do not meet the ATPL (A) experience requirements for grant of a JAA ATPL (A) can still apply for a JAA CPL (A) / IR see below.

Requirements for the conversion of a Non-JAA CPL (A) to JAA CPL (A)

An applicant holding a current and valid CPL (A) issued in accordance with ICAO Annex 1 by a non-JAA State may be issued with a JAA CPL (A) providing the applicant meets the Licence Issue Requirements (see below) and completes the following criteria:

  • Undertake the full 650 hour ATPL (A) theoretical knowledge training course and pass the ATPL (A) theoretical knowledge examinations

or

  • Undertake CPL (A) theoretical knowledge training and pass the CPL (A) theoretical knowledge examinations

and

  • Hold a valid JAA Class 1 medical
  • Qualify for the issue of a Flight Radio Telephony Operators Licence (FRTOL)
  • Undertake CPL (A) flying training as required (including 5 hours on a complex aeroplane type if not already achieved) at an approved Flying Training Organisation (FTO) to obtain a 170A
  • Pass the CPL (A) Skill Test with a CAA Flight Examiner (FE)

Licence Issue Requirements

An applicant for a JAA CPL (A) must have completed:

(a) 200 hours of flight time (PIC or Dual)

(b) 100 hours as PIC

(c) 20 hours of VFR cross-country flight time as PIC including a cross-country flight totalling at least 540 km (300 nm) in the course of which full-stop landings at two aerodromes different from the aerodromes of departure shall be made

(d) 10 hours of instrument dual instruction time of which not more than 5 hours is to be in an FNPT I / II or Flight Simulator

(c) 5 hours night flying comprising at least 3 hours dual instruction including 1 hour cross-country navigation and 5 solo tak-offs and landings

Requirements for the conversion of a Non-JAA IR (A) to a JAA IR (A)

An applicant holding a current and valid IR (A) issued in accordance with ICAO Annex 1 by a non-JAA State may be issued with a JAA IR (A) providing the applicant meets the following criteria:

  • Undertake IR (A) theoretical knowledge training and pass the IR (A) theoretical knowledge examinations
  • Complete a minimum of 15 hours instrument flying instruction of which 5 hours may be in a Flight Navigation Procedures Trainer (FNPT) I or 10 hours in a FNPT II or flight simulator
  • Pass the 170A flight test
  • Pass the the IR (A) Skill Test with a CAA FE

Note: Non-JAA CPL/ IR holders converting to JAA CPL/IR must complete both CPL and IR requirements except that if the applicant completes the ATPL theoretical knowledge training and ATPL exams the requirement to complete the IR theoretical knowledge training and exams is not required.

Requirements for the conversion of a Non-JAA ATPL (A) to a JAA CPL (A) / IR (applicant does not meet ATPL (A) experience requirements)

The holder of a Non-JAA ATPL (A) who does not meet the experience requirements for the grant of a JAA ATPL (A) can still apply for a CPL (A) / IR provided they meet the following criteria:

  • Undertake the full 650 hour ATPL (A) theoretical knowledge training course and pass the ATPL (A) theoretical knowledge examinations

or

  • Undertake CPL (A) and IR (A) theoretical knowledge training and pass the CPL (A) and IR (A) theoretical knowledge examinations

and

  • Hold a valid JAA Class 1 medical
  • Qualify for the issue of a Flight Radio Telephony Operators Licence (FRTOL)
  • Undertake a modular CPL (A) flying training course (including 5 hours on a complex aeroplane type if not already achieved) at an approved Flying Training Organisation (FTO) and obtain a 170A
  • Pass the CPL (A) Skill Test with a Flight Examiner (FE)
  • Complete a minimum of 15 hours instrument flying instruction of which 5 hours may be in a FNPT I or 10 hours in a FNPT II or flight simulator
  • Pass the 170A flight test
  • Pass the the IR (A) Skill Test with a FE

Requirements for the conversion of a Non-JAA PPL (A) to a JAA PPL (A)

An applicant holding a current and valid PPL (A) issued in accordance with ICAO Annex 1 by a Non-JAA State may be issued with a JAA PPL (A) providing the applicant meets the following criteria:

  • Hold at least a JAA Class 2 medical certificate
  • Pass the JAA Air Law examination
  • Pass the JAA Human Performance and Limitations examination
  • Have completed a minimum of 100 hours flight time as pilot of aeroplanes
  • Pass the JAA PPL (A) Skill Test

If the applicant has flown less than 100 hours flight time as pilot of aeroplanes:

  • Pass all JAA PPL (A) theoretical knowledge examinations
  • Hold at least a JAA Class 2 medical certificate
  • Pass the JAA PPL (A) Skill Test
  • Will be credited the flying training if they meet the JAA PPL (A) flying experience requirements (see below)
    • 25 hours dual instruction in aeroplanes
    • 10 hours supervised solo including:
      • 5 hours cross country
      • 1 cross country of at least 270 km during which landings at 2 different aerodromes was made
    • 45 hours flight time as a pilot of aeroplanes

If no valid aeroplane rating has been held in the 5 years preceding application then all JAA PPL (A) theoretical knowledge examinations would need to be passed. If no valid aeroplane rating has been held for a period exceeding 5 years preceding application then an assessment of your flying experience will be necessary for which a fee will be charged.

Requirements for the conversion of a Non-JAA Instructor Rating to a JAA Instructor Rating

  • Hold a JAA licence which is current and valid in all respects
  • Hold at least a JAA Class 1 medical certificate
  • Passed at least the JAA CPL (A) theoretical knowledge examinations
  • Non-JAA Instructors Rating is current and valid in all respects

Normally the applicant will be assessed by the UK CAA, however we have found that the average requirements are:

  • Complete 15 hours flight training at an FTO approved for Flight Instructor (FI) courses
  • Enough groundschool to pass the theoretical part of the Instructor Skill Test
  • Pass an Instructor Skill Test

Useful Information

Groundschool - For professional ground training at ATPL / CPL level we recommend the following FTO's
Flying Training - For CPL flight training on SE / ME aeroplanes we recommend the following FTO's

Instrument Rating (IR) - For IR training on SE / ME aeroplanes we recommend the following FTO's

Flight Radiotelephony Operators Licence (FRTOL) - For radio training we recommend the following FTO's

**These FTO's are also VHF / HF Radiotelephony Test Centres

UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) www.caa.co.uk
UK CAA Medical - medicalweb@srg.caa.co.uk
UK CAA Personnel Licensing Department - fclweb@srg.caa.co.uk