GCAA vs EASA PPL

Posted by Vast-Opinion9775@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 9 comments

hello guys, im currently a G10 high school student in dubai, planning to move to the UK after getting IB diploma. i wanted to know in general which type of PPL should i get, and how hard is it to convert GCAA to EASA and does it even worth to get a GCAA over waiting to just get the EASA in uk ?

there also few companies un dubai like jetliner aero that gives EASA but for them you have to do the exam and flight hours in Greece, so that doesn't worth it.

any suggestions i would appreciate it :)

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Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit

First of all, UK has left EASA framework a few years ago, so if you want to fly in the UK (or more specifically, G-reg aircraft), you will need a UK licence, not an EASA one.

If you're only planning to fly for fun (i.e. at a PPL level), than have a look at this UK CAA website (route 1 or route 2, depending on how much experience you would have at the time of conversion).

If you are planning to make a career out of it, make sure you have some sort of an unrestricted right to live and work in the UK. After that, it depends:

if you can/want to do the hour building in the UAE, you technically never need a UK PPL, as you can start the ATPL theoretical course and the modular CPL/IR/ME courses with any ICAO PPL, and you will get a UK Part-FCL CPL in the end
if you want to do the hour building in the UK, you just convert the PPL as described above, and then the process is the same as for everyone else who started with a UK PPL.

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Vast-Opinion9775@reddit (OP)

Thank you. So and if i get the UK license can i convert it to EASA for all over the eu ?

And no im not planning to make a career out of it

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Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit

Yes, with some administrative (medical, exams) and practical hoops (PPL skill test).

Note that licence is tied to the registration of the aircraft. If you have a UK licence, you can fly a G-reg aircraft in every European country (and pretty much every other country in the world), but you wouldn't be able to fly say a Swedish-registered aircraft in the UK.

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Vast-Opinion9775@reddit (OP)

Thank you. And.. what is G-reg actually? And if i find a school that can train me for both EASA and UK ppl right away will it be cheaper and less time consuming then converting ?

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Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit

Aircraft registered in the UK have a "G-" prefix with registration, e.g. G-ABCD or G-EDFG. Just like aircraft registered in UAE have an "A6-"prefix, e.g. A6-ABC or A6-DEF.

Yes, there are some dual qualified schools and you can do the training for both licences at the same time, even with one skill test, if the examiner is dual (UK+EASA) qualified.

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Vast-Opinion9775@reddit (OP)

So i probably do that :D

Thank you so much for the info and help really really appreciate it 🙏

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Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit

No worries.

Keep an eye on r/flyingeurope for more Europe-centric content as well.

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Vast-Opinion9775@reddit (OP)

Sure thank you :)