Kind of a different FAA-JAA question

[Howard]

Hello gents!

Well my first post here, hurray, glad to have found such a cool website. Thanks Doug!! Ok to the point...

I am half american and half spanish so to speak and I have therefore the immense benefit of being able to work, live and reproduce on either side of the pond without restrictions. Im one of those that knew I wanted to be a pilot before I knew my own name and I have decided that I want to go to the US to become an airline pilot (for a number of reasons, manly I have a better chance in the US). I plan to work there for a long time, anwhere between 5 to 10 years and then, possibly, go back to Europe. I was just wondering if you guys out there can give me a general view of how hard and expensive it can be to convert from FAA to JAA having in mind my personal and profesional situation in say, 10 years time.

Thanx in advance!

[typhoonpilot]

It would be far easier to do the JAA first then convert to an FAA certificate. Look at the threads below on the schools in Florida that offer JAA ratings.

Typhoonpilot

[Welsh Chris]

I second that.. I'd definately have done it the other way around.. the JAA exams are horrendous.. get them out of the way if you can.

then.. there are plenty of good and semi-affordable schools down in Spain (Mallaga, Mallorca etc)... If your staying in the US, do the US system, but if you want the opportunity of going home, I'd do the JAA stuff now. There is some sort of cross-over system being developed, but I think you basically still need to sit all 14 JAA papers... the JAA.nl site is pretty good. hope this helps

[MAS]

Do the FAA first, if you return to JAR-land with 500hrs on JAR-25 aircrafts (2P) the conversion is merely a checkride and an airlaw exam.

[VFT01]

Originally Posted by MAS

Do the FAA first, if you return to JAR-land with 500hrs on JAR-25 aircrafts (2P) the conversion is merely a checkride and an airlaw exam.

I don't believe that is the case unfortunately, please post some evidence if it is.


Converting to a JAA ATPL licence

Option 1

Hold 1500hrs of which 500hrs is in FAR25 or FAR23 certified multi crew aircraft, of which you need 250hrs in any aircraft type as PIC or 100 PIC under supervision

Hold a medical class 1 JAA

Pass ALL 14 ATPL exams

Undertake training as recommended by a Approved schools Chief Ground Instructor (in other words you can do it quickly or over a long time, you have no requirement to sit through the 770 hr long course)

Undertake a type rating course at a JAA approved training provider

Complete a ATPL skills test with a United Kingdom CAA examiner

So in summary you can do it this way to get rid of the 770hr classroom requirement if you have the experience and do the type rating and flight test on a FAR25 or 23 type aircraft.

Option 2

If you hold 500 hrs multi crew experience on a FAR 25 /23 type, hold a type rating on that type, and will be doing your ATPL skills test on that type you are exempt from the Type rating course and doing any type of training for the ground examinations, you can simply just enter and sit them without any help, then go and do the skills test.

Option 3

Special terms for Pilots meeting the experience criteria below * have been agreed as an interim measure for the grant of the above licence until the Joint Aviation Authority have agreed appropriate new conversion terms.

*A minimum of 3,000 hours as pilot of public transport aircraft over 30,000 kgs MTWA on scheduled international or similar routes, a minimum of 1,500 hours of which must have been as Pilot-in-Command.

The restriction to fly UK registered aircraft only, may be removed when the final terms have been agreed, subject to any additional requirements being completed.

Option 3 is rarely used.

Option 4

Now of course you may not have any of the above requirements, then you will need to complete a Ground school course, undertake the examinations, and then complete the Commercial Skills test and complete a 15hr conversion course for a Instrument rating following by the Instrument rating skills test

[skyrunner1500]

Originally Posted by VFT01

...
Option 2

If you hold 500 hrs multi crew experience on a FAR 25 /23 type, hold a type rating on that type, and will be doing your ATPL skills test on that type you are exempt from the Type rating course and doing any type of training for the ground examinations, you can simply just enter and sit them without any help, then go and do the skills test.

That is the most common way to 'convert' FAA to JAA, except that the 500h have to be on FAR/JAR 25 aircraft, not 23. And you don't have to take all 15 exams, you just need to do a "differences training", what is more or less a one or two day course followed by three or four subjects(one of them being performance). And of course you have to hold a full type rating without restrictions that can be entered into your license.

Just go to your Licensing Authority and talk to them in person. Don't rely only on the written rules. They usually decide conversions on a case-by-case situation, so for some persons it might be easier than for others...

But always consider that the JAA is an Organization with an expiry date and will probably not exist after 2007 or 2008, when the EASA overtakes the whole Flight Crew training and licensing process in Europe, by regulating it in the EU by law. The JAR's still need to be integrated into every country's own law system and are only considered as recommendations. So there are still differences in all JAA-member countries. The EASA stuff will be mandatory for all member countries of the EU...

[VFT01]

Originally Posted by skyrunner1500

That is the most common way to 'convert' FAA to JAA, except that the 500h have to be on FAR/JAR 25 aircraft, not 23. And you don't have to take all 15 exams, you just need to do a "differences training", what is more or less a one or two day course followed by three or four subjects(one of them being performance). And of course you have to hold a full type rating without restrictions that can be entered into your license.

Just go to your Licensing Authority and talk to them in person. Don't rely only on the written rules. They usually decide conversions on a case-by-case situation, so for some persons it might be easier than for others...

But always consider that the JAA is an Organization with an expiry date and will probably not exist after 2007 or 2008, when the EASA overtakes the whole Flight Crew training and licensing process in Europe, by regulating it in the EU by law. The JAR's still need to be integrated into every country's own law system and are only considered as recommendations. So there are still differences in all JAA-member countries. The EASA stuff will be mandatory for all member countries of the EU...

Thanks...good reply. I'll probably get my 500 hrs + a type rating and then go and speak to the CAA.