Not sure if this is the right forum for this thread...but I recently was offered a potential position to fly for corporate air taxi service over in Europe, and i was wondering if anybody knew how hard or complicated it is transfer your FAA ratings to JAA standards.

 

If you have less than 3,000 hours in large transport category aircraft, it is very hard and expensive.

Firstly, your initial JAA Medical must be completed in Europe. (Incidentally, the JAA Medical is must more difficult to obtain/maintain than the equivalent FAA Medical.) For lower time pilots, fourteen exams will be necessary. Each exam is incredibly thorough (so I hear.) You will also, if not meeting certain criteria regarding flying time, have to obtain a JAA IR. The average cost for said rating is about $30,000.

There are a ton more hoops to jump through. Just do a Google search "Convert FAA to JAA", or go to the JAA website (which I do not have handy at the moment and look up the conversion requirements.

 

Oh, it also takes time. Your potential employer (if you are a lesser experienced pilot) will find it much more economical to hire an already JAA license pilot. The pilot market in Europe is highly competitive. Your best bet, if you are wanting to fly in Europe, would be to find an operation that flies N-registered aircraft like Gemini Air Cargo. Ryan Air also hires FAA pilots.

I found this tidbit for you:


Convert to JAA

PPL to JAA

In order to convert to a JAA Private Pilots Licence you will need to complete the following.

If you have less then 100 hrs total flight time:

1. Attain a Class 2 JAA Medical Certificate (can be completed in the USA)

2. Pass ALL 7 JAA Private Pilots Theory exams

3. Pass the Radio Telephony operators practical test

4. Pass the PPL Skills test (with training as required to learn the skills to do this)

If you have more than 100 hrs total flight time:

1. Attain a Class 2 JAA Medical Certificate (can be completed in the USA)

2. Pass the Human Performance & limitations, Air Law, and Radio Telephony JAA Private Pilots Theory exams

3. Pass the Radio Telephony operators practical test

4. Pass the PPL Skills test (with training as required to learn the skills to do this)


CPL to JAA CPL

To convert to a JAA Commercial Pilots Licence you need to:

1. Attain a Class 1 JAA Medical examination (needed for flight test, attainable only in Europe); PLUS

2. Undertake a course of tuition as determined by the Head of Training of an approved JAA Ground School and sit all 9 commercial level examinations (plus 7 Instrument rating exams should you wish to attain a Instrument rating); OR

3. Undertake an approved groundschool course of tuition for the ATPL theoretical knowledge exams (14 of them and they cover, CPL, IR and ATPL) and Undertake flight training as required and determined by a Head of Training of an Approved CPL school; PLUS

4. Attain a Flight radio telephony operators certificate


ATP to JAA ATPL


Option 1

Hold 1500hrs of which 500hrs is in FAR25 or FAR23 certified multi crew aircraft, of which you need 250hrs in any aircraft type as PIC or 100 PIC under supervision

Hold a medical class 1 JAA

Pass ALL 14 ATPL exams

Undertake training as recommended by an Approved School's Chief Ground Instructor (in other words you can do it quickly or over a long time, you have no requirement to sit through the 770 hr long course)

Undertake a type rating course at a JAA approved training provider

Complete a ATPL skills test with a United Kingdom CAA examiner

So in summary you can do it this way to get rid of the 770hr classroom requirement if you have the experience and do the type rating and flight test on a FAR25 or 23 type aircraft.



Option 2



If you hold 500 hrs multi crew experience on a FAR 25 /23 type, hold a type rating on that type, and will be doing your ATPL skills test on that type you are exempt from the Type rating course and doing any type of training for the ground examinations, you can simply just enter and sit them without any help, then go and do the skills test.



Option 3



Special terms for Pilots meeting the experience criteria below * have been agreed as an interim measure for the grant of the above licence until the Joint Aviation Authority have agreed appropriate new conversion terms.



*A minimum of 3,000 hours as pilot of public transport aircraft over 30,000 kgs MTWA on scheduled international or similar routes, a minimum of 1,500 hours of which must have been as Pilot-in-Command.



The restriction to fly UK registered aircraft only, may be removed when the final terms have been agreed, subject to any additional requirements being completed.



To apply for a written assessment you will require a JAR-FCL 680 pack. The form enclosed in this pack should be fully completed and returned to this office together with a fee (Danzig Note: I believe this is around $140), your actual logbooks and your non-UK license with the validating medical certificate. This form may be downloaded from the web in the near future.

*This information was taken from the website of Naples Air Center

 

Wow..... there goes my plan to ditch flying in the northeast and fly twin otters on floats in the Maldives....

 

Thanks Danzig...i now know how big of a pain in the ass it coule potentially be.

I heard it was pretty difficult, but i also heard they're short on pilots there also

 

It's not that hard guys, just takes some time. Bout it.

14 exams, 15 hours to complete CPL/IR.

 

How long (months) would it take an average candidate? I have everything through my CMEL, however no previous 121 or 135 experience

 

The FAA to JAA conversion took me app. 7 months

 

That's not as bad as I thought.... I figured it would take a year or two... Man... I really want to fly floats in the Maldives... probably the best flying you could ever do.

 

Is the FAA to JAA conversion more or less the same as converting to Canadian licenses? I moved to Texas from Canada a few months ago , and I'm strongly considering moving back and pursuing a job with Canadian Airways after I graduate from college.

BTW, Danzig I love "Mother" and "Am I Demon?"