PPL Canada to US

[shuuy]

Hey there - was sent here from PPrune..

I just got my Canadian PPL, and I've got 18 months in the US where I'd love to keep my flying habit.

I'm looking for a succinct place on the FAA website that details what I need to do to convert my license to an FAA one... But I can't find anything. Apparently I have to mail in some paperwork, and there's a XX question test (study guide, anyone?). I tried a search here but the 3 letter characters (TC, FAA, PPL) just don't seem to yield much.

Can anyone help? Thanks so much

[kilocharliemike]

http://www.dauntless-soft.com/Products/ ... da_faa.asp

[shuuy]

Thanks... This looks like a great study guide.

I've been reading 14 CAR Section 61.75, but that looks like I'm getting a FAA license on the basis of my Canadian PPL, but I thought the new procedure gives me a full, unencumbered FAA license? Am I missing something?

[skywardbound]

Step 1 - Obtain US Medical
Step 2 - Submit Form AC Form 8060-71 http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificate ... y61-75.pdf
Step 3 - Take FAA PPL Written Exam, I believe it's only a conversion exam which tests you on the differences in Regulations, Airspace, etc.
Use this to study - http://www.gleim.com/products/productde ... proID=6822
Step 4 - Travel to FSDO and complete the paperwork, absolutely free, unlike Canada.

This route will give you a stand alone FAA PPL. If you do not want to write the simple conversion exam, you get an FAA PPL based on your Canadian PPL.

[PHaslam]

skywardbound is 100% correct. I did exactly that and it worked seamlessly. It's really quite easy to do once you get started and there exams are a lot easier than Transports, that's what I found anyways. Good Luck.

[Guzen]

It's actually quite easy and you don't need a U.S. medical. Just contact the local FSDO in the U.S. It's just a matter of making an appointment, bringing in your Canadian documents and filling out an application. Your U.S. licence (or "license" as they call it) will be based on your Canadian one, so as long as your Canadian one is in order, it's all good. Don't ask here, ask at the FSDO.

[jwarankie]

I've already done the Commercial Conversion.
Writing the Multi IFR next week.
It is very simple.
The gleim's On line conversion course is pretty much word for word on the LASER testing facility.
Have to call and book an appointment for testing
Also have to book an appointment with the nearest FSDO that you will be using. That is put on the foreign licence validation form.
Fax that in if you already haven't good for 6 months. Got mine back in 1 week from sending it.
Any other info contact FSDO, not sure about the medical requirement for PPL though. Commercial you need to have it before going to FSDO.
Test is 40 questions, did mine in 15 mins. The questions were word for word on the exam. TOO EASY
good luck

[PHaslam]

If you want a FAA PPL based on your foreign license you still have to download, complete and send away the Authentication Of Foreign License Form from the FAA website to Oklahoma and they with forward the paperwork to the FSDO office you designate. Make sure you phone the FSDO before you show up you have to make an appointment first, There is a complete list of FSDO's on the FAA Website, the Closest one to Vancouver is in Renton, WA ph 425-227-2813

[ywgflyboy]

This route will give you a stand alone FAA PPL. If you do not want to write the simple conversion exam, you get an FAA PPL based on your Canadian PPL.

Do I dare ask what the difference is? I was researching this a few months ago because of a family trip to Hawaii. I wanted to be able to rent an american plane and cruise the islands from above. I gave up because of all the work invovled. I figured I should just wait until I am a Commercial Pilot and do the exam then so I only have to do the process once. Not for my PPL then CPL later on. I found out today about that form that can be completed to be issued an FAA certificate based on my Canada PPL. I am going to call and see how fast I can get this done as I am making this trip to Hawaii in two weeks!

What is the difference in the above stated licenses? Are restrictions placed on your FAA license if you do not do the exam.

[skywardbound]

This route will give you a stand alone FAA PPL. If you do not want to write the simple conversion exam, you get an FAA PPL based on your Canadian PPL.

Do I dare ask what the difference is? I was researching this a few months ago because of a family trip to Hawaii. I wanted to be able to rent an american plane and cruise the islands from above. I gave up because of all the work invovled. I figured I should just wait until I am a Commercial Pilot and do the exam then so I only have to do the process once. Not for my PPL then CPL later on. I found out today about that form that can be completed to be issued an FAA certificate based on my Canada PPL. I am going to call and see how fast I can get this done as I am making this trip to Hawaii in two weeks!

What is the difference in the above stated licenses? Are restrictions placed on your FAA license if you do not do the exam.

When I was at the FSDO, the way it was explained was that I could receive a FAA PPL based on my Canada PPL with only a licence validation and a US Medical. The "catch" (if you want to call it that) is that your Canada PPL licence validation only lasts 6 months and you must get a new one in order to for your US PPL to be valid. Not really a big deal, in my eyes, I got 2 over the course of my training instead of writing the conversion exam.

If you write the short conversion exam, your FAA PPL will be standalone, meaning you have all the privileges and responsibilites of the FAA PPL and it has no connection to your Canada PPL.

The bad news is that there might not be enough time before you leave to receive the Licence Validation form back from the FAA, get a FAA medical, and make an appointment with the FSDO, even for the simple conversion.

[ywgflyboy]

Aw. Thats the catch I was not aware of. I was under the impression my Cat 1 medical would be good for down there too.

On antoher note. Am I correct when I mentioned I did not want to write the conversion exam for my PPL when I am only 5 hours short of my CPL therefore needing to write another conversion exam? Or if I do this exam and get a FAA PPL, can it be updated to a CPL or even an ATPL or would a different exam have to be written for each conversion?

[Nark]

Your Canadian Cat medial is valid down here, as long as it applies to the "certificate". Ie a Cat 3 for PPL, Cat 2 for CPL and Cat 1 for ATPL, but thats down the road.

You will be either issued a stand alone FAA cert or "based on foreign lic-all restrictions apply" or something to that effect.

I'd wait until you get the Cdn CPL and "take" (American for write) the 40 question test. It shouldn't take more than 20-30 minutes. Not to mention there are a plethora of places in which you can take it.

It is a truly seamless process, it just takes a bit of time, depending on the work load at Oklahoma City.


Jwarankie:
What do you mean your writing a multi IFR test? There isn't one down here. All you do is an instrument written. Then a practical test. However the multi test alone doesn't give you a single instrument privileges.

[shuuy]

Thanks all for the counsel

To be clear, if I want the 'without restriction' US FAA PPL, I don't need a US Medical, provided my medical category matches the level needed for the PPL?

[Louis]

No.

FAA PPL "Based on Canadian PPL #xxxxxxx" + Canadian PPL + Canadian medical = OK to fly N registered aircraft with the same privileges as your Canadian PPL. You have to carry your Canadian papers with you and they must be valid.

This is "the old method" so to speak, that's probably been around in some form or another since ICAO exists. Most countries should have a similar process if you're interested to fly with a PPL abroad for a limited period of time. This PPL "validation" is often used to acquire training in the other country and to pass flight tests to obtain other licences like an FAA CPL.

Now that we have the bilateral agreement, there's another path to get an FAA PPL, CPL or ATPL. This differs in that the certificates obtained that way are standalone and entirely independent of your relationship with TC once they've been issued.

This newer, slightly longer process gives you the exact same certificate someone would get after taking their entire PPL training in an US flight school. This certificate is bound by the American currency requirements instead of the Canadian ones as the validated PPL is. While this has some pros and cons for a PPL holder, this process becomes really interesting once you're looking at converting a CPL or an ATPL.

[shuuy]

I think you highlighted a key difference... Can you make sure I understand this right?

Method 1: Based on your Canadian papers
In practice:Your Canadian papers are used as the basis to gain privileges of flight from the FAA
Implication: Keep your Canadian papers up, and you can fly N-registered aircraft per the FAA level of your license... If I'm renting aircraft as a new-ish PPL (55TT), will they make it more difficult to rent aircraft?

Method 2: Get an equivalent FAA PPL
In practice: Get a US Medical and write a 25 question exam to get a seperate, standalone FAA license of the same level
Implication: do I then have to meet two different standards for currency? (i.e., maintain TC in C-registered planes, FAA in N-reg?) On an ongoing basis, need 2 medicals every 3 or 5 years.

As a result, Method #1 is quicker (no test, no medical), but may get push-back when renting planes?

Method 2 requires paperwork sent to Oklahoma, Method 1 is given at a FSDO on the spot?

[Aviatard]

Or if I do this exam and get a FAA PPL, can it be updated to a CPL or even an ATPL or would a different exam have to be written for each conversion?

I wasn't able to find any documentation for this, but was told by TC that you can only do the stand-alone license conversion once. The FSDO I went to had never done one of these under the bilateral agreement. I was their first, so they couldn't provide any insight on this either. If you're planning to get an ATPL and convert it, you might want to wait, unless you have a pressing need to get a U.S. license now.

[Louis]

Shuuy:

I have no idea if American renters dislike licence validations when it comes to renting their aircraft or not. Just make sure you read up on the different procedures in the FAA AIM and make sure you don't get milked on your checkout. Not having gone down the validation route myself I don't know if FSDOs issue it on the spot or not.

FAA AC 61-135 / TC AC 401-001 on the bilateral agreement says:

(2) It is possible, and likely, that the pilot may simultaneously hold an FAA pilot certificate and a TCCA pilot license, and will thus need to meet the recency and operational requirements of both the FAA and TCCA to exercise the privileges of the license or certificate in each respective country.

It also says:

(a) Section 61.56, Flight Review. The flight review must have been accomplished in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated, by an authorized (FAA-certificated) instructor. For the purposes of this IPL, pilots may also meet the requirements of § 61.56 if they passed a TCCA pilot license or rating skill test within the previous 24 calendar-months of exercising the privileges of the FAA pilot certificate.

Aviatard and Arictaylor: I don't recall ever seeing anything about doing the conversion only once, and it would be against the very basis of the agreement which is to facilitate conversions.

Be wary of usually well meaning but unaware civil servants who might send you down the wrong path. Example: my temporary FAA CPL paper the FSDO gave me stated "on the basis of Canadian CPL #" instead of being stand-alone. The inspector was filling in for the person usually in charge of this, I knew the licence was supposed to be stand-alone, and asked him to ensure that the card I'd be sent would be correct. I followed up some days later (I had not yet received my plastic card) and he confirmed I had been right and that the card was now on its way.

You could get the FAA PPL from the TC one, then either get your TC CPL in a Canadian flight school and convert that to an FAA CPL, or go to an American flight school, do your FAA CPL and convert it to a Canadian one afterwards. Then get one ATPL and convert to get the other.

Goodbye,

Louis

[kevinsky18]

Where's the nearest FSDO to Vancouver?

Where can I find a list of FSDO's?

[notthereyet]

google FSDO or go to http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/