Easa to faa
Posted by Enough_Breakfast2595@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 13 comments
Just sending feelers out to see if anyone has experience or knowledge on the process to convert an easa cpl and meir to an faa one?
I would assume there's the usual create an online account. Submit medical and documents etc. However I'm more wondering on the exams, work and flight review phases.
The reason for asking is because I'm British however I have an easa cpl due to Britain's exit from the eu and the subsequent refusal of the United Kingdoms aviation authority to verify easa licenses for commercial purposes has left me in a tricky position where most jobs require me to move though without a European union passport this sadly severely limits opportunities.
My other option is to resit all 13 exams again of which would be the atpl ones, taking up to a year and a half. Having done surface level research it seems like the US commercial theory consists of only a single theoretical knowledge exam? As well as perhaps two more for multi engine and instrument if wanting those ratings too.
Can anyone advise as to steps, time length, cost and if you know anyone that has successfully moved over as visas could prove difficult. I understand the licensing works different as in europe a cpl pilot with atpl exams can fly for the airlines where as this may be different in the US as there doesn't seem to be such thing as a 'frozen' atpl.
Mostly curious as I've always had an interest in agriculture aviation and if possible, would like to work towards doing it. Though again knowledge on that subject matter would be welcome as I'd imagine there would need to be checks due to the use of chemicals on food supply by a foreign worker.
Many thanks.
ltcterry@reddit
Conversion to FAA is only at the Private level. Requires verification by the issuing country.
You then train for instrument and Commercial single and multi.
Enough_Breakfast2595@reddit (OP)
Is there a requirement on ground schooling for thr cpl theory exams?
I'd expect some hours on the flying side.
ltcterry@reddit
Exam. Singular. No mandated hours, but you must learn enough to pass.
Enough_Breakfast2595@reddit (OP)
Sounds Strange, what was your experience with the exam? Question bank size? Exam length? I could only find the info for atpl exam.
If its a single exam plus check flight then it may be worth having the license incase things go sideways in the uk politically
ltcterry@reddit
You need a flight training visa and TSA approval. Only at approved schools.
Study for the instrument written test. Pass.
Verify you meet the experience requirements under FAR 61.65.
15 hours required for the FAA instrument rating. Pass the practical test.
Study for the Commercial written test. Pass.
Verify you meet the experience requirements under FAR 61.129.
10-15 hours to learn the FAA ASEL Commercial maneuvers. Pass the practical test.
5-10 hours depending on your currency/proficiency for AMEL Commercial.
"MEIR" is not an FAA concept. You can have an instrument rating and/or an AMEL on your Commercial Pilot Certificate w/o the other.
None of the above is miserable. But it's not trivial, cheap, or fast.
Break
Can't you do a SOLI and move the deprecated UK EASA license elsewhere? Why didn't you convert in the immediate post-Brexit era when it was easy?
"in case" - two words. Just like "in time," in trouble," "in love." Etc.
N1BugUp@reddit
What about FAA to EASA out of curiosity?
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
Since you have an ATP (and assuming 500h on type), you don't need to do the ground school, but "just" the 13 exams. Class 1 medical, English proficiency test, jump into the sim for an ATPL skill test and you'll have an EASA ATPL with whatever type rating you did the test on.
If you want to transfer any other class/type ratings, you'll need to do a skill test for each of them.
ltcterry@reddit
Have to do everything a local would do except Private. Existing hours count.
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
Sitting UK ATPL exams and doing conversion from EASA to UK will be far, far, far easier than getting a visa to work as an inexperienced pilot in the USA.
Enough_Breakfast2595@reddit (OP)
There is no conversion currently, the hours count as does perhaps ratings but the theory doesn't count and you still have to do the skils tests
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
Well yeah, it's the standard conversion, same as from any other ICAO-compliant licence.
Still much easier than getting a visa to be a pilot in the USA.
Mountain-Captain-396@reddit
The license conversion is very simple, its getting the right to work that is difficult as US operators do not currently sponsor employment visas. If you are able to get the right to live and work in the US through some other method (green card), then you will be able to do the conversion easily.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Just sending feelers out to see if anyone has experience or knowledge on the process to convert an easa cpl and meir to an faa one?
I would assume there's the usual create an online account. Submit medical and documents etc. However I'm more wondering on the exams, work and flight review phases.
The reason for asking is because I'm British however I have an easa cpl due to Britain's exit from the eu and the subsequent refusal of the United Kingdoms aviation authority to verify easa licenses for commercial purposes has left me in a tricky position where most jobs require me to move though without a European union passport this sadly severely limits opportunities.
My other option is to resit all 13 exams again of which would be the atpl ones, taking up to a year and a half. Having done surface level research it seems like the US commercial theory consists of only a single theoretical knowledge exam? As well as perhaps two more for multi engine and instrument if wanting those ratings too.
Can anyone advise as to steps, time length, cost and if you know anyone that has successfully moved over as visas could prove difficult. I understand the licensing works different as in europe a cpl pilot with atpl exams can fly for the airlines where as this may be different in the US as there doesn't seem to be such thing as a 'frozen' atpl.
Mostly curious as I've always had an interest in agriculture aviation and if possible, would like to work towards doing it. Though again knowledge on that subject matter would be welcome as I'd imagine there would need to be checks due to the use of chemicals on food supply by a foreign worker.
Many thanks.
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