Converting a Military, Rotary or Foreign Licence

Requirements for the conversion of existing licenses and ratings can be complex with frequent changes of the rules. PAT can help by providing the most up-to-date information and the best advice on how to proceed.

Current Military Fast Jet and Transport Pilots

We suggest you should access the Training Group Defence Agency website giving details of the special licensing arrangements for fixed wing qualified service pilots at www.tgda.gov.uk.

In summary, we understand the arrangements to be as follows:

Theoretical Exams:

QSPs who meet the requisite experience criteria will be able to seek credits from specific JAR examinations, the extent of which will depend upon previous training and role experience. By virtue of the more relevant training and operational role experience, multi-engine pilots will generally gain more credits than fast jet pilots. To qualify for credits pilots must have a minimum 2000 total flying hours of which 1500 hours must be P1. If you do not have such experience you may qualify for a military bridging package. Contact ground school suppliers on this.

Conversion to JAR ATPL:

Pilots with more than 2000 total hours of which 1500 hours are P1 on multi-engine aircraft and who have access to a multi-pilot aircraft can do their IRT in that aircraft and can then get their ATPL issued. Contact the CAA directly to arrange this.

Conversion to JAR CPL/IR (frozen ATPL):

If you do not have the Multi-engine experience but you are in current flying practice (12 hours military or civilian experience in the last 12 months, including 6 hours P1, one flight with a flying instructor or military instructor pilot and 12 take-offs and landings) you are exempted the CPL test but have to do the Multi-Engine Piston Rating training/test and the IR training/test.

If you do not have the Multi-engine experience, and are not in current flying experience, you have do training for the CPL test, the Multi-engine Piston Rating and the IR test. Training for the CPL is on an 'as required' basis.

Training for the IR will depend upon whether your military IR is procedural or non-procedural. If it is procedural, training for the IR is on an 'as required' basis. If it is non-procedural, you are required to do a minimum 15 hour course including the 170A test (the mock test).

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Ex-military Pilots

Theory credits can be claimed by all pilots who meet the criteria, current or not, although at licence issue point a pilot must show that he is in current flying practice or has passed the ATPL/CPL skills test.

The picture is less clear on the flying side. We suggest you contact the CAA directly on one of the numbers given below for advice on this matter.

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Conversion of a non-JAA CPL/IR or ATPL

There have been significant changes in the CAA rules since the implementation of JAR. Pilots are advised to check the latest information on the CAA website at www.caa.co.uk.

However, we are able to offer guidelines as follows:

Medical:

A UK issued JAA Class One medical is required. For further information have a look at the CAA website

R/T Licence:

A UK JAA R/T licence is required. This can be done in-house by our resident R/T examiner.

Ground School:

Undertake a theoretical knowledge course (at ATPL level) by distance learning or by full-time ground school and pass 14 exams.

ATPL:

If you have more than 1500 hours including 500 hours multi-pilot time, and have access to a multi-pilot aircraft for which you hold a valid type rating you simply have to pass an ATPL skill test. For further information about this we suggest you contact the CAA on one of the numbers given below. If you do not have the above experience you have to do training for the CPL skills test and the IR test. This will give you a CPL/IR (a frozen ATPL) which you can convert to a full ATPL when you have the necessary experience.

CPL:

Flight training is as determined by a school (FTO) on a complex aircraft (s/e or m/e) and you have to pass a skills test with a CAA staff examiner or a CAA authorised examiner.

Multi-Engine Piston Class Rating:

You will need to convert your non-JAA multi rating to a JAA one. If you do your CPL skill test in a multi engined aircraft you will do the MEP class rating test at the same time. Otherwise you will have to do a separate in-house MEP class rating test.

IR:

The course requirements will depend upon whether you hold a s/e IR or a m/e IR.

S/e to m/e IR:

The course consists of 13 hours simulator (FNPT2) and 7 hours flight training including the 170A test, followed by the test with the CAA staff examiner.

M/e to m/e IR:

The course consists of 10 hours simulator (FNPT2) and 5 hours flight training including the 170A test, followed by the test with the CAA staff examiner.

Both these courses are intended for pilots with significant experience, e.g. greater than the 200 hour FAA CPL/IR holder. Our experience tells us that it is highly likely that the 200 hour CPL/IR holder will require more training than the minimum hours given above.

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Conversion of a Rotary Licence

You will need a JAA Class One Medical

You will need to do a theoretical ground studies course (either by distance learning or by full time attendance on a course) and pass all 14 ground examinations.

The flying training required is different depending upon whether you have an IR(H) and whether it is non-JAA or JAA IR.

If you do not have an IR(H) , you will be required to complete a full approved CPL course, a full approved Multi-Engine Piston Rating and a full approved IR course (see CPL(A) and IR(A) courses elsewhere on this website for further information).

If you have a non-JAA IR(H) you will get 5 hours dispensation from the CPL course, and you will have to complete a 25 hour IR course of which 5 hours can be logged in a FNPT1 simulator, or 10 hours in an FNPT2 simulator. The tests have to be with a CAA examiner.

If you have a JAA IR(H), you will get 5 hours dispensation from the CPL course and you will have to complete a minimum of 10 hours IR flight training. The tests have to be with a CAA examiner.

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CAA Contact Numbers

Tel: +44 (0) 1293 573700
Fax: +44 (0) 1293 573996
E-mail: fclweb@srg.caa.co.uk
Web: www.srg.caa.co.uk