License conversion to EASA
#11
Yes, I just called his office about a week ago. I’m planning on doing my medical in January or so.
I don’t know why EASA feels they need to have an equivalent to an AS degree for every subject. They focus East too much on their theory.
Who cares how many micro seconds it takes for a DME signal to reach an aircraft at FL360 600nm away from the station. And I absolutely hated the polar stereographic chars.
I don’t know why EASA feels they need to have an equivalent to an AS degree for every subject. They focus East too much on their theory.
Who cares how many micro seconds it takes for a DME signal to reach an aircraft at FL360 600nm away from the station. And I absolutely hated the polar stereographic chars.
#12
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Joined APC: Mar 2020
Posts: 214
Right now there are very few jobs in Europe, and the ones that are open pay very poorly. Just an example, I was offered a job with SAS Connect as a direct entry A320 captain, based in Stockholm. Pay worked out to be about $6,000 per month (62,000 Swedish Kroner). Eurowings was also hiring for an ARN base, also A320 captain, and was paying slightly more, but not much.
I did the FAA to EASA conversion six years ago. A couple of additional things. First, the country where you do your initial medical exam will be the country that issues your license. Many of the countries require your initial medical be done with their national aviation medical center, not with a regular AME. You can do the theory exams through any country and transfer them to the country you will have your license issued. In theory it can be done with the medical records, but is often more involved and can be difficult. But it will be easiest to do it all through one country.
Speaking of the different countries, choose the country you will work with carefully, as they all have different quirks. It used to be easy when the UK was EASA, as they had the process well laid out. The Irish CAA does seem to be relatively easy to work with though, but I don't have any direct experience with them. The southern European countries can be a bureaucratic mess and take forever to get things done. Avoid Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. Also be wary of Germany as their medical privacy rights make it virtually impossible to transfer your license should the need arise. The Scandinavian countries are relatively easy to work with.
One thing that often does not get mentioned is in addition to the 14 exams, some authorities also require you to do an additional radiotelephony exam for your radio license. So that may surprise you as well. I went through Denmark, and they just wanted a standard aviation English test, so I got the level 6 English certification and the radio license with the one exam. But I have heard through others that some countries can have a far more in-depth test for the radio license.
EDIT- One more thing regarding medical exams. After the initial exam is done, and your license is issued, subsequent medical exams can be done through any EASA medical examiner, regardless of their country of affiliation or your State Of License Issue (aka "SOLI"). So you may have an Irish license, but a medical certificate issued through France.
I did the FAA to EASA conversion six years ago. A couple of additional things. First, the country where you do your initial medical exam will be the country that issues your license. Many of the countries require your initial medical be done with their national aviation medical center, not with a regular AME. You can do the theory exams through any country and transfer them to the country you will have your license issued. In theory it can be done with the medical records, but is often more involved and can be difficult. But it will be easiest to do it all through one country.
Speaking of the different countries, choose the country you will work with carefully, as they all have different quirks. It used to be easy when the UK was EASA, as they had the process well laid out. The Irish CAA does seem to be relatively easy to work with though, but I don't have any direct experience with them. The southern European countries can be a bureaucratic mess and take forever to get things done. Avoid Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. Also be wary of Germany as their medical privacy rights make it virtually impossible to transfer your license should the need arise. The Scandinavian countries are relatively easy to work with.
One thing that often does not get mentioned is in addition to the 14 exams, some authorities also require you to do an additional radiotelephony exam for your radio license. So that may surprise you as well. I went through Denmark, and they just wanted a standard aviation English test, so I got the level 6 English certification and the radio license with the one exam. But I have heard through others that some countries can have a far more in-depth test for the radio license.
EDIT- One more thing regarding medical exams. After the initial exam is done, and your license is issued, subsequent medical exams can be done through any EASA medical examiner, regardless of their country of affiliation or your State Of License Issue (aka "SOLI"). So you may have an Irish license, but a medical certificate issued through France.
#13
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Joined APC: Jul 2014
Position: B747 FO
Posts: 606
Right now there are very few jobs in Europe, and the ones that are open pay very poorly. Just an example, I was offered a job with SAS Connect as a direct entry A320 captain, based in Stockholm. Pay worked out to be about $6,000 per month (62,000 Swedish Kroner). Eurowings was also hiring for an ARN base, also A320 captain, and was paying slightly more, but not much.
I did the FAA to EASA conversion six years ago. A couple of additional things. First, the country where you do your initial medical exam will be the country that issues your license. Many of the countries require your initial medical be done with their national aviation medical center, not with a regular AME. You can do the theory exams through any country and transfer them to the country you will have your license issued. In theory it can be done with the medical records, but is often more involved and can be difficult. But it will be easiest to do it all through one country.
Speaking of the different countries, choose the country you will work with carefully, as they all have different quirks. It used to be easy when the UK was EASA, as they had the process well laid out. The Irish CAA does seem to be relatively easy to work with though, but I don't have any direct experience with them. The southern European countries can be a bureaucratic mess and take forever to get things done. Avoid Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. Also be wary of Germany as their medical privacy rights make it virtually impossible to transfer your license should the need arise. The Scandinavian countries are relatively easy to work with.
One thing that often does not get mentioned is in addition to the 14 exams, some authorities also require you to do an additional radiotelephony exam for your radio license. So that may surprise you as well. I went through Denmark, and they just wanted a standard aviation English test, so I got the level 6 English certification and the radio license with the one exam. But I have heard through others that some countries can have a far more in-depth test for the radio license.
EDIT- One more thing regarding medical exams. After the initial exam is done, and your license is issued, subsequent medical exams can be done through any EASA medical examiner, regardless of their country of affiliation or your State Of License Issue (aka "SOLI"). So you may have an Irish license, but a medical certificate issued through France.
I did the FAA to EASA conversion six years ago. A couple of additional things. First, the country where you do your initial medical exam will be the country that issues your license. Many of the countries require your initial medical be done with their national aviation medical center, not with a regular AME. You can do the theory exams through any country and transfer them to the country you will have your license issued. In theory it can be done with the medical records, but is often more involved and can be difficult. But it will be easiest to do it all through one country.
Speaking of the different countries, choose the country you will work with carefully, as they all have different quirks. It used to be easy when the UK was EASA, as they had the process well laid out. The Irish CAA does seem to be relatively easy to work with though, but I don't have any direct experience with them. The southern European countries can be a bureaucratic mess and take forever to get things done. Avoid Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. Also be wary of Germany as their medical privacy rights make it virtually impossible to transfer your license should the need arise. The Scandinavian countries are relatively easy to work with.
One thing that often does not get mentioned is in addition to the 14 exams, some authorities also require you to do an additional radiotelephony exam for your radio license. So that may surprise you as well. I went through Denmark, and they just wanted a standard aviation English test, so I got the level 6 English certification and the radio license with the one exam. But I have heard through others that some countries can have a far more in-depth test for the radio license.
EDIT- One more thing regarding medical exams. After the initial exam is done, and your license is issued, subsequent medical exams can be done through any EASA medical examiner, regardless of their country of affiliation or your State Of License Issue (aka "SOLI"). So you may have an Irish license, but a medical certificate issued through France.
Sweden charges a yearly license fee, I believe it’s about 250$ for frozen atpl and about 500$ for a full atp.
And secondly the English proficiency test is a requirement, you need at least a 4, which means you need to take the test again every 2 years. A level 5 will be every 5 years and a level 6 is unrestricted. You would be surprised how many native English speakers end up getting 5s instead of 6s.
#14
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Joined APC: Mar 2020
Posts: 214
You actually bring up some nice points. I’ll add to them.
Sweden charges a yearly license fee, I believe it’s about 250$ for frozen atpl and about 500$ for a full atp.
And secondly the English proficiency test is a requirement, you need at least a 4, which means you need to take the test again every 2 years. A level 5 will be every 5 years and a level 6 is unrestricted. You would be surprised how many native English speakers end up getting 5s instead of 6s.
Sweden charges a yearly license fee, I believe it’s about 250$ for frozen atpl and about 500$ for a full atp.
And secondly the English proficiency test is a requirement, you need at least a 4, which means you need to take the test again every 2 years. A level 5 will be every 5 years and a level 6 is unrestricted. You would be surprised how many native English speakers end up getting 5s instead of 6s.
#15
Very good topic ObadiahDogberry . It is true that aviation has changed through the years and everything is affected by global crisis,wars etc... 6000 monthly is not so much for Captain job, but this position maybe have it's benefits (close to home, day off's, good roster ) . This amount 10 years a go it was ok considering living cost. But still i think if you search for job-you will find . Even 6+ monthly is not bad but it certainly can be better. There is lot of people which move from one country to another converting license , going again for ATPL Theory exams even some of them have lot of in logbook ,just i cant understand for these people there is no some easy way for conversion without going for exams again... Regarding the Greece,i hear that there is so long waiting, but if EASA country many of them accept foreign medical class 1 (EASA) . To do conversion in scandinavian country is ok but it cost for sure more than in other EASA (south) country's . For now i know for Hungary its one of the best ways to do it under EASA and still the prices are very correct beside all this troubles around. Do you guys using some specific platform for searching the jobs in EU or just direct email to company ?
#16
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Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,886
#17
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Joined APC: Jul 2014
Position: B747 FO
Posts: 606
I was quoted almost 3000$ today to renew my medical…. EASA has gone nuts. They claim that because my EASA medical lapsed more than 2 years ago I have to get another initial medical and that one due to the new regulations require multiple days of testing therefore the cost.
#18
There is a lot on offer, and besides, I believe that if you make an effort, you can find a job, provided that the origin of the license (ICAO or FAA) does not hold you back. Fortunately, there are a lot of good forums where you can ask questions and see the situation by company. As far as Europe is concerned, I think the EASA license has much greater advantages...