JAR ATPL conversion

[Biggles]

I heard somewhere out there that once you've accumilated X amount of hours on your ATPL, there are only 2 exams to do to get the conversion. Is this true? You know how rumours are...

Cheers,

B

[.80@410]

IF

You have 3000 hrs jet time over 40,000 kgs, airline ops, of which 1500must be PIC, then Yes.

You my get a UK only exemption to hold a JAA ATPL for UK registered aircraft only.


.80

[Speedbird Junior]

From Bristol Ground School (one of the UK's leading distance learning JAA ATPL theory training providers) http://www.bristol.gs

High Time Pilots

If you are very experienced you should you should apply to the CAA for a formal assessment using Form SRG 1103.

The qualifying criteria are

- more than 3000 hours total time on aircraft of more than 30,000kg AUW

- more than 1500 hours pilot in command on aircraft of more than 30,000kg AUW

- type rated on an aircraft of more than 30,000kg AUW

- more than 500 hours total time on the aircraft above

- able to complete a flight test on the same aircraft

When you have completed the assessment form you need to send it or take it to the CAA with your original licences and log books. The CAA will tell you that you need to pass two written exams, Human Performance and Aviation Law, and pass a flight test on the aircraft you are rated on. The flight test is referred to as a skills test, it is part handling check and part IR renewal check.

[Biggles]

thank you very much.

B

[gnat]

I've gone through the UK CAA skills test, it was quite a thorough ringing out, but fairly conducted by a pleasant CAA inspector. They can be difficult to book, from what I gathered, with up to a 3 months' wait. My UK based company hired Bristol G/Schools to conduct a 2 day course to prepare a bunch of us for the Air Law Exam; it made the exam a walk in the park. That gets you the UK validation which allows you to fly G-registered A/C for one year.
Next step is to do the full JAR Air Law and the Human Performance exams to obtain the UK National Licence. It allows one to fly UK registered aircraft but some companies (eg Ryanair) will accept the UK National Licence in lieu of a full JAR ATPL. My Question: With the Europeans converting to EASA rules in 2008, will a UK ATPL holder simply be handed an equivalent EASA ATPL, along with all the current JAA ATPL holders? I've made inquiries and even the CAA is not clear on this, but wondered if anyone on this forum might know anything. Basically, CAA shrugs and answers with a definite "Maybe".

[shower of sparks]

i thought if you had an icao atple (canada, us) you qualify for some sort of exemption. exempted from the 700hrs + of groundschool maybe? and if you have 500hrs on a 2 crew a/c, you're exempted from the MCC.

sos

[Speedbird Junior]

Here's what the boys at Bristol say:

If you have...

- more than 1500 hours on two-pilot aircraft,
- are type rated already and
- have more than 500 hours on type

you need to pass all 14 ground exams but don't need to attend a formal groundschool course. You will need to pass a skills test on the aircraft you are rated on.

HOWEVER....best of luck just reading the books and then going to sit the exams without any kind of structured ground school. Some of the 14 (e.g. General Nav, Instruments, Met etc) are real nasty son of a bitches. Then you also have to find a ground school who will just sell you the books without the course structure.

The irony is that if you are an ICAO licence holder, for example with a Canadian ATPL, there is no way you would have the theory fresh in your head to sit and write those exams. Back to square one in that case - approved ground school.........!

If you have more than 500hrs on an approved two crew (and this can be an AOC thing, so a Navajo would qualify if your AOC dictates that) then you are MCC exempt upon application to the Authority.

[shower of sparks]

here's a new tidbit of info regarding jaa ground school: if you have a ICAO CPL you only have to do 375 hrs of g/s rather than the whole 750 hrs. the 750 hrs is required for PPL holders.

so can anyone support this fact?

sos

[Phil Croucher]

Sounds about right, although my specialisation is helicopters. It really depends on what the school has written into its training manual.

There are training materials around for home study, but you would be well advised to do some consolidation before the exams - it's not so much the knowledge but dealing with the questions!

Phil