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Many students inquire about the conversion of an FAA license to a JAR license. Often they are told that it is not possible. Through much communication on that subject, the following email to a student of mine from a JAR examiner should help clarify the situation.

As a JAA Flight Examiner, I have been asked to pass on some info about FAA to JAA conversions and a little advice about training toward JAA CPL(H) and Flight Instructor qualifications.

One of the best reasons to go to the USA for some or all of your training is quite simply the reduced cost. I am sure you have already done the arithmetic yourself. Unfortunately, the catch is the conversion to JAA licences and ratings, more of which below, but the first thing to remember is that the FAA Private Certificate is valid in the UK for flying UK registered aircraft as pilot in Command. This is allowed because of international agreement by nations to accept each other's private licences on face value, without further training or testing. The US authorities reciprocate, but insist that you have an FAA certificate issued on the basis of your foreign licence again with no further training or testing (complicated somewhat by security concerns after the 9/11 events, but the principle holds good.). Needless to say, you can expect a thorough checkout at any school or club on either side of the atlantic before you are allowed to self fly hire! However, some UK operators choose not to allow FAA certificate holders to SFH their aircraft for their own reasons.

The conversion to a UK JAA PPL(H) involves some ground exams a skill test and at least 100 hours of flight time! Since both the CPL and FI require more flight time than that, the conversion to JAA PPL is not necessary in the beginning, for the reasons stated above, since you can hour build on your FAA certificate.

There are two routes to the JAA CPL Integrated and Modular. the basic difference is that Integrated corses are long, full-time, intensive and can be very expensive, but are a great way to learn, whereas the Modular involves more 'project management' on your part to organise courses, training, tests and exams but requires fewer flight training hours and hence the cost is reduced. This route has the advantage you can spread the cost over a longer period, and is what used to be known as the 'self-improver' route! The FI(restricted) rating is a standalone course that can be completed after the integrated or modular courses. It has been possible in the past to gain some reduction in the course length if you hold an FAA FI rating.

Your main concern will be logbook hours. PPL training and hours building in the US to enable you to meet JAA minimums is likely to be the most cost effective route for you. You might like to investigate the schools in the US that offer JAA training and compare prices with their UK counterparts.

Finally, always remember that without the qualifications you are never going to be in a postion to be employed in the helicopter industry, so at some stage you have to, essentially, make a leap of faith! I have been in that position and it can be a tickler on a tight budget...( I was a self-improver, undertook training and hours building in the USA, and haven't regretted it! Yet.)


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Last modified: 08/24/10