conversion to Canadian ATPL
 

I am in the process of applying to some airlines in Canada. I would like to know if someone can put some input or share their experience who has converted their FAA ATPL TO Canadian ATPL to become eligible for hiring in Canada.

I converted to, or more accurately acquired - I still have my FAA, a Canadian ATPL a few years ago. I did it to have another ICAO ATPL in case of the off chance I upset Mr. FAA. I have a clean ICAO ATPL that I can use for expat contract work.

The process is very easy and surprisingly inexpensive. Get a TCCA first class medical - there are a few in the States. I was lucky in that my regular FAA AME in Phoenix was also a TCCA AME. After that fill out the conversion form which you can download from the Transport Canada site. It will include a form which authorizes the Canadian Authorities to get your FAA records. You will also get a TCCA File Number which will basically become your license number. When given the go-ahead from TCCA you can schedule the ATPL conversion written exam. There is a flight school in Winnepeg which has a study course. I bought that and spend two days studying. The test itself is short, about 25-30 questions, but it has to be done at a TCCA office. It took me about 5 minutes to complete and I only missed one question. When you go to take the exam, you also take your logbooks and a passport picture (meeting TCCA requirements). Hand all of that in and pay the fees when you take your exam. A few months later you will get your Canadian Aviation Document Book (looks like a passport)which contains your license and medical, as well as your logbooks.

I cannot remember all of the fees specifically, but for everything - medical, exams, fees, study course, I spent about $500-$600 total. For my exam and to turn in the final paperwork I jumpseated up to Vancouver for the day. The Vancouver office, on Burrard Street in downtown, is very easy to reach via the metro system right from the airport. Even though it was a long day, I was able to do everything in Canada without getting a hotel. Total process from start to receiving the ADB was about three months.

One thing to rememeber though is that Canada requires you to renew your instrument rating once every two years, and it can only be done with a TCCA approved examiner in Canada. When you initially get your Canadian license it will come with an IR valid from your last PC (if you are a 121 guy). They do this as part of the conversion agreement. After it expires you can renew through a TCCA examiner or you can wait another two years and then submit another FAR 121 PC to get it renewed through the FAA/TCCA conversion agreement. If you wait to go that route you will have a two year period without a valid IR. Of course if you are not actively using the TCCA license then who cares. And if you are actively using it in Canada, then your PCs will renew your IR.

Hope that helps.

This is so awesome. I appreciate it so much and I will look into all this information. Thank you once again. Fly Safe sir....

I am not sure about this, but I believe you need to have the right to work in Canada to be hired at any Canadian airline. So you need to be either a citizen, or naturalized. If anyone knows about this I would very much like to know. My GF is Canadian, and we've talked about moving up there...but that would involve a ring and a priest...

Thank you for this great report, NEDude. Can you give us a reference for the school in Winnipeg - I am having trouble finding any study info for this conversion exam. Thank you.

This should help you in your studies for your Canadian ATPL.

You will need to take two exams. The twenty question ATPL exam if seeking the ATPL licence, and the twenty question IFR exam if seeking the Instrument Rating (which is required for the ATPL licence.

They are located in Manitoba

PilotTraining.ca > Ground School Courses

I believe this is the place I used as well. Was very well prepared.

Also as a note for people who are interested in potentially working in Europe at some point - Ryanair is accepting ICAO compliant, non EASA licenses (of course you also need the unlimited right to live and work in the EU as well). The Irish CAA will not accept FAA licenses for validation, but they will accept TCCA licenses.

Does anybody know if a limitation on my foreign (from Canada) license (FAA or other) transfer to the TCCA license? I have a "Circle To Land - VMC Only" limitation - will that also transfer onto my TCCA license?

Canadian licence
 

Transport Canada will not accept a type rating with "VMC Only limitation". You would have to remove it from the FAA certificate for Transport Canada to add "that specific type rating", to your new Canadian licence. As Transport Canada requires the pilot applicants to complete a circle to land maneuver when conducting a Canadian type rating flight test in a simulator or aircraft.

Also note that...
If you have experience in any turbine aircraft that wouldn't qualify on an FAA certificate as a type rating (example...CE208 Caravan, BE-99, BE-200, etc. which is less than 12,500 lbs.
If you have training records from Flight Safety or Simulfite which documents training in a CE208 Caravan or Beech Kingair, or any other turbine aircraft, then you could have those aircraft placed on your Canadian licence as a type rating.

Canada requires type ratings in all turbine aircraft regardless of weight.

Queens English...licence.

Who did you go to in Phoenix to get the TCCA AME??