PPL downgrade to RPP, and later back to PPL

[bcsaltchucker]

I have a PPL, regular current pilot in our club, current medical etc. I might downgrade to RPP. Read somewhere if I write to TC to request being downgraded to RPP, that it does not negate my PPL entirely. Just downgrades me to RPP restrictions and reduces the medical requirement to Class 4. Later on if I wish to return it to re-activate my PPL, I can request that .. but not sure what they would require in this case other than Class 3 medical? Perhaps some remedial dual training and partial written/checkout exam also?

Can I downgrade my Private to a Rec Permit to go to a Class 4 medical?

Yes. Send a letter stating the request to your regional Transport Canada office.

The attraction here is the lower-level medical, the reduced medical frequency and the lower cost of permits. Note that you do not want to cancel your Private, just downgrade it, so there is no requirement to submit it to Transport Canada for cancellation. You may reactivate your Private at any time in the future.

http://www.challenger.ca/faq_regs_licen ... PPL_to_RPP

[AirFrame]

Why would you want to do this? Assuming you'll stay a regular current member in your flying club, you'd only save your medical fees once every two years...

[Meatservo]

If an Airline Transport pilot stops showing up for his/her medicals, their license automatically becomes a PPL, which it will be until the medical requirements for that run out as well.

Isn't it the same in your situation? Or does Transport Canada have to grant that permit separately? I wouldn't think you'd have to "do" anything to your PPL, just apply separately for the RPP. You've already met all the requirements for it. You'll still have your PPL which will be suspended until you decide to show up for your medical. Flying with the RPP will satisfy the recency requirements for the PPL even though it's not "active" because of the medical. I would just phone TC and ask directly. It's probably just a matter of not showing up for your next medical!

[photofly]

If an Airline Transport pilot stops showing up for his/her medicals, their license automatically becomes a PPL, which it will be until the medical requirements for that run out as well.

No, it doesn't. They still hold an ATPL. They can exercise the privileges of a PPL, but they're still an ATPL holder. Even if the medical expired completely 20 years ago - they still hold an ATPL.

You can choose to downgrade a licence, which you might want to do for various reasons. As far as I know, TC takes the position that if you want to upgrade again you must meet the requirements for the upgrade ab-initio. So for an RPP to PPL upgrade you'd need to take the flight test again.

Best check with TC licensing, they'll know the correct answer better than anyone here.

[Meatservo]

If an Airline Transport pilot stops showing up for his/her medicals, their license automatically becomes a PPL, which it will be until the medical requirements for that run out as well.

No, it doesn't. They still hold an ATPL. They can exercise the privileges of a PPL, but they're still an ATPL holder. Even if the medical expired completely 20 years ago - they still hold an ATPL.

Sorry that's what I meant- the privileges revert to the PPL. One does keep the license. That's what I was trying to get at- I don't see the need to surrender the PPL. You will always have it even if you choose not to use it. And you will have, during the course of your PPL training, already done the training necessary to hold an RPP. What I don't know is whether a medically invalid PPL will allow one to "revert" to the privileges of an RPP because strictly speaking, the RPP isn't a "lower" class of license- it isn't technically a license at all. It may have to be applied for separately.

[photofly]

The "PPL privileges using a CPL" thing is explicitly written into the CARs. There's no equivalent provision for a PPL to use RPP privileges, so I don't think it's possible.