License conversion for UK flying

Hello,

I have lost the thread where John C I think, was asking about learning abroad and other members discussed the pros and cons. “License” conversion for UK flying was mentioned but perhaps I can give a few details having undergone the process not so long ago.

In my case, I have passed my PPL at Stellenbosch Flying club, 30km from Capetown, South Africa. I had not intended this nor did I intend to start flying at all actually… I had to live there for work for 2 years and as I was living 2 minutes away from the local club. I didn’t know much about aviation and in that respect didn’t really think of the consequences and what would happen when I finally leave etc… The thing is that I was living 2min away from an aeroclub and watching planes everyday flying over the house soon beckoned me to have a look and a few days later I had organised my first lesson 😉

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I got my PPL in 6 months, only flying at week-ends, thanks to the ever present (or almost) sun and believe it or not an hourly rate of £32on a C152 (£45 on a C177 brand new)! As I was paid in pounds it was great for me. But again, I didn’t think of what I would do until it was finally announced that my contract there was ending.

I was told that I could use my license without any special issue in the UK but I would need to learn a bit about the local laws.

So? Well I moved to England and signed with Thruxton airfield. I had a check ride, where my standards were found to be very much acceptable and I spent an hour with an instructor to learn about the UK flying rules. And so at 3 times my former hourly rate (ouch!) I could fly in the UK, weather permitting 😡

Great stuff!

Hum except that there was a catch…

I could not renew my license in the UK! South Africa is part of the ICAO organisation, which is why the license was accepted and recognised in the UK but the UK CAA didn’t know anything about me. So, to avoid a lapse, I had to go back to Capetown “specially” to renew the license. OK it was a good reason for a holiday but it was forced.

And I didn’t really want to go there every year simply for the purpose of renewing my license.

So? I had several options but the most sensible one financially was to go for a JAR conversion (for the NPPL I would have had to repass everything), with which at least I would be ok in any European countries (or so I’m told). However there are requirements as well, as you need at least 100 hours flying time (training included)… and that takes a few months here to say the least.

With these 100 hours +, I could finally “apply” but they would not recognise my radio license…. so all in all :

*I had to pass a UK radio license
*I had to pass the air law exam
*I had to pass the human performances (ok it’s easy but it’s not part of the ICAO syllabus so I hadn’t done it)
*I had to have a new medical
*Finally I had to pass a PPL exam…again!

Eventually, with less money in my pockets but I suppose a very uptodate knowledge, I received this much expected JAR license.

I am not sure how it would work having your PPL from the USA but practically that’s why I had to go through. Some of it made sense and as the laws and radio best practices are a bit different, I’m glad but it also means that it’s not just straightforward as to send your foreign license to the UK CAA to be sent back a UK one.

Hope that might help.

Cheers,