To be eligible to convert an ICAO / FAA / UK CAA foreign Private Pilot Licence (PPL) to an EASA PPL, in order to be eligible to convert your foreign licence to EASA, you will need to:-
The following is a step-by-step guide how to convert your ICAO / FAA / UK CAA PPL licence to EASA
Note: the process to convert EASA to UK CAA is identical, except you sit exams and skill test with UK CAA examination authority
The very first thing you need to do is study for the two (2) PPL exams. You do NOT need to enroll into an approved ground school course. You only need to study the questions and answers and we can provide you with online access to the European Central Question Bank (ECQB) so you can study from home.
If you would like to access the European Central Question Bank, contact: CFI@flyEPTspain.com
You are free to sit the two (2) EASA PPL exams at any Austro-Control GmbH test centre.
Our partnered test centre is in Luton, UK where you can sit both UK CAA and EASA examinations.
The price to sit the PPL exam is Palma de Mallorca is €60 EUR per exam. In Luton, UK it is £45 GBP per exam.
You can check examination dates in Luton, UK at the bottom of this webpage.
You can check examination dates at every available test centre in the world in this document below.
In order to apply to sit EASA exams, you need to complete this registration form.
You will need to send this counter-signed form to your chosen test centre 21 days before the exam date.
You will need to take an ICAO English Language Proficiency (ELP), a test of aviation English, for the issue of your Radio-Telephony (RT) Operators Licence.
You can take the English Language Proficiency (ELP) test 'Online' using a webcam, so you can remain at home.
Full details concerning the ELP test here
If you want to book an ELP test, contact: CFI@flyEPTspain.com
You need to undertake a Class 2 Medical Examination with an Authorised Medical Examiner (AME).
You can search for an Aeromedical Examiner (AME) in the UK here, and in Spain here.
You only need to plan one (1) day with the Flight Examiner (FE) to complete a 2-hour PPL skill test.
EASA: We have EASA Flight Examiners at Son Bonet Airport (LESB) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain that can perform a the PPL skill test in a Tecnam P2002-JF or a Cessna. The Examiner fee is €250 EUR for the skill test, plus aircraft rental. Budget for 2 hours.
UK CAA: If you wish to perform a PPL skill test with a UK CAA Flight Examiner in a G-registered aircraft, contact: CFI@flyEPTspain.com
EASA: If you want to apply for an EASA Part-FCL PPL, you can choose any EASA country member state, and you will need to access that country's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website and download the appropriate form; Application for initial issue of a Part-FCL PPL(A)
UK CAA: To apply for the issue of a UK Part-FCL PPL, complete Online application form SRG1105
The process to convert an ICAO licence to an EASA license are governed by the guidelines as set out in EASA flight crew regulation Part-FCL of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 25 November 2011.
The process to follow will depend on the type of license(s) held (e.g., PPL/CPL/ATPL), the license you are trying to obtain, and the hours or types of aircraft you have experience on.
Here, we summarize each license conversion case: -
If you hold a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) obtained outside Europe, you can convert it to an EASA European one.
If you have less than 100 hours of flight time and wish to convert your ICAO Private Pilots License (PPL) to EASA, you must complete the full EASA-approved PPL course and 45 hours flight training.
If you have more than 100 hours of flying time as a pilot in the relevant aircraft category, and you wish to convert your ICAO/FAA/UK CAA Private Pilots License (PPL) to EASA, you are given a few exemptions at the discretion of the local authority, but you are still required to complete the following:
• Obtain an EASA class two (2) Medical certificate
• Pass two (2) of the EASA PPL theoretical examinations in Air Law and Human Performance & Limitations
• Pass the Radio-Telephony operators practical and theory test.
• Complete flight training as required with a Flying Instructor (FI) to prepare for the flight test
• Pass the PPL skills test with an EASA Flight Examiner (FE)
Fly EPT Spain provides all the necessary online training required to pass any PPL theory exams, the Radiotelephony exam, and can provide EASA approved flight training, as required, along with the EASA Flight Examiner for the PPL skill test. The flight training and skill test will be performed at Son Bonet airport (LESB), Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
All license conversions to EASA ATPL require you to obtain an EASA Class 1 Medical certificate for EASA license issue.
To convert an ICAO PPL to an EASA ATPL, the ICAO PPL licence holder will be required to complete an EASA-approved ATPL ground course. The ground school can be either a full‐time residential program or a distance learning program.
Fly EPT Spain provides full time residential (and virtual) ATPL ground course in Luton, UK. The virtual course allows you to remain at home, and tune into the classroom via webcam live TV. We also offer an 'online' ATPL theoretical ground course using our very modern distance learning platform, which allows you to study from home, in your own time, around your own schedule.
The ATPL course is divided into 3 modules, covering all 13 ATPL subjects.
The full time residential/virtual class will take six (6) months to complete.
Upon completion of passing all 13 ATPL theoretical exams, you will need to complete an EASA-approved CPL flying course for the commercial pilots license. This is a 25 flight hour program, followed by a skills test with an EASA flight examiner. Fly EPT Spain can arrange CPL flying training and testing in Spain or Portugal. Before commencing the EASA CPL flight training course, you must have at least 150 hours total flight time plus a Night rating. For license issue, you must have 200 hours total time, 100 hours PIC, including a 300NM cross‐country flight, and be in possession of an EASA Class 1 Medical certificate and a Radio-telephony license.
For ICAO CPL holders, you will need to enroll onto an EASA-approved ATPL theory course. On completion of passing all 13 ATPL theoretical exams, you will need to complete an EASA conversion course for the commercial pilots license (CPL). Before commencing the training, you must have at least 100 hours PIC. This training is “as required”, and once you have demonstrated a satisfactory proficiency to the chief flight instructor, you will then be able to complete the skills test with an EASA examiner. On completion of the CPL, you will need to pass the EASA multi-engine instrument rating. It is a 55 hour training course, however, if you hold an ICAO instrument rating, you are given a 40 hour exemption from the course, leaving you with a mandatory minimum 15 hour conversion course before taking the IR skill test.
For ICAO ATPL holders wanting an EASA ATPL.
You do NOT need to attend a formal ATPL course if you: -
And you meet the minimum flight time experience requirements for an ATPL, including: -
Plus, you hold an:
So if you have more than 1,500 hours, are type rated with more than 500 hours on multi‐pilot aircraft you will qualify for exemption from needing to attend a full formal ATPL course.
You are, however, still required to pass all of the 13 EASA ATPL theoretical exams under the direction of an Approved Training Organisation (ATO).
You can go straight to the exams. Before the exams, however, you need to access the European Central Question Bank (ECQB) and Fly EPT Spain can provide you with online access to the ECQB. Read the Q&A's and you will pass the exams first time.
On completion of passing the examinations, you may complete the training as required in the simulator on which you have more than 500 hours on type, and on which an ATPL skill test will be conducted by an EASA certified type rating examiner (TRE).
Fly EPT Spain, in partnership with Irish Flight Training (IFT) ATO, can provide Licence Proficiency Check (LPC) on Airbus A320/A330/A340 and Boeing B737-3/900NG/MAX at various EASA approved simulator centres in Europe, Asia and in the Middle East.
To confirm eligibility to enroll into a short course, you need to request written approval from Austro Control by emailing:
examinations@austrocontrol.at
Attach this form, electronically completing sections 1-4, and include any supporting documentation in 6
ATPL (A) Application Form (Conversion)