Trying to convert Canadian Commercial AMEL to FAA, confused on multi transfer

[TCAS RA]

Hello all,

I’m trying to convert my Transport Canada CPL multi-IFR to FAA. With the bilateral agreement, things are somewhat pretty straightforward, however I’m stuck on this one nuance for multi conversion.

Both FAA’s AC 61-135 and Transport Canada’s own circular talks about requiring evidence of PIC time on aircraft category and class that you are trying to convert. Canada’s circular says point blank that you require PIC time on multi aircraft to receive FAA multi engine rating.

The problem is… this makes no sense from a Canadians perspective. I have my full AMEL, having completed my multi-engine rating here in Canada with a flight test at the end. But I do not have any PIC time as that’s not required for the rating. In my FAA verification letter, TC states I am endorsed to fly all single and multi engine land aeroplanes.

So my question for you guys, especially those of you that have gone through this process - if I currently have 0 multi engine PIC time, am I shit out of luck and need to figure out a multi rental? Or am I able to transfer my multi just fine with the rating on my TC licence and without any PIC time?

Thank you

TC circular describing PIC requirement

Screenshot 2026-02-08 at 13.21.32.png (123.87 KiB) Viewed 723 times

[timothyferriss]

I’m trying to convert my Transport Canada CPL multi-IFR to FAA. With the bilateral agreement, things are somewhat pretty straightforward, however I’m stuck on this one nuance for multi conversion.
Golf Hit
Both FAA’s AC 61-135 and Transport Canada’s own circular talks about requiring evidence of PIC time on aircraft category and class that you are trying to convert. Canada’s circular says point blank that you require PIC time on multi aircraft to receive FAA multi engine rating.

Make sure you check current FAA rules, as they can change and sometimes have specific requirements for flight time, knowledge tests, and possible training hours.

[OneYonge]

Those are FAA rules. The “Canadian perspective” isn’t relevant to them regarding that. I’ve spoken with a few DPEs and they all say the same.

[SamuelTheKitty]

IIRC, your multi-engine flight test should have been completed as the PIC. This will be sufficient for the conversion. I've gone through this process four times and over the course of these visits I've accumulated ATP Airplane Single & Multi-Engine Land, Rotorcraft-Helicopter, and Commercial privileges of Airplane Single Engine Sea on my FAA certificate.

In my experience, all the inspector will want to see at least one line of PIC in your logbook for the category/class flown - that's it. By way of example in my case, Commercial Single Engine Sea privileges are on my ATP certificate on the basis of a single logbook entry of representing my solo on floats back in college. The flight was less than an hour of flight time.

If you can, do your conversion at a FSDO by an FAA employee instead of with a DPE who will charge you (usually something exorbitant) for their services. I did all my conversions at a local FSDO and it cost me nothing other than the price of the exams (and ATP-CTP of course).

[philaviate]

IIRC, your multi-engine flight test should have been completed as the PIC. This will be sufficient for the conversion. I've gone through this process four times and over the course of these visits I've accumulated ATP Airplane Single & Multi-Engine Land, Rotorcraft-Helicopter, and Commercial privileges of Airplane Single Engine Sea on my FAA certificate.

In my experience, all the inspector will want to see at least one line of PIC in your logbook for the category/class flown - that's it. By way of example in my case, Commercial Single Engine Sea privileges are on my ATP certificate on the basis of a single logbook entry of representing my solo on floats back in college. The flight was less than an hour of flight time.

If you can, do your conversion at a FSDO by an FAA employee instead of with a DPE who will charge you (usually something exorbitant) for their services. I did all my conversions at a local FSDO and it cost me nothing other than the price of the exams (and ATP-CTP of course).

ME and ME IFR initial flight tests are not PIC.

[ruffdeezy]

in Canada all flight tests are dual and all time with an instructor
but in the states you can log PIC if you are the sole manipulator of the controls and the instructor or examiner logs PIC at the same time as well as they have responsibility for the flight

[philaviate]

in Canada all flight tests are dual and all time with an instructor
but in the states you can log PIC if you are the sole manipulator of the controls and the instructor or examiner logs PIC at the same time as well as they have responsibility for the flight

You cannot log them as PIC under FAA rules even if they were dual flights, you weren't in a N registered plane. The sole manipulator thing only applies when in N reg planes.

I have both TC and FAA licences and I have previously sent the OP of this the exact TC documents outlining this.


That said, when I got my FAA, the guy at the FSDO didn't care I had no real multi PIC.