Pilot licenses issued under the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) allow their holders to operate within and between member countries of the European Union. However, passing the exams that give access to these licenses is not the only way to obtain them; holders of a pilot license issued by air safety authorities in other regions can also obtain the EASA license through a conversion process. Let’s learn about each of the stages and requirements of this process.
The initial step for a license conversion process will be to contact the national aviation authority (AESA in the case of Spain) and present the pilot licence issued and converted by the United States FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) or the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Also, a valid class 1 or class 2 medical certificate (depending on the type of license to convert), a logbook or official Hague apostilled hour certificate documenting flight experience and an English proficiency certificate shall be provided in addition to completing an EASA country specific conversion form.
Subsequently, in some cases, a theoretical examination on the European aviation principles and regulations must be passed as well as a flight test with an EASA-approved examiner to demonstrate practical skills.
Finally, fees for both the application procedure itself and the exams administration should be paid. Once all these steps have been successfully completed, the EASA will grant the applicant the EASA licence to operate in the EU.
Each aviation safety authority establishes its own requirements for the revalidation and renewal of its pilot licences. Hence the importance of being up to date with the formalities set by EASA in order to keep them in force. These requirements include both in order to increase the adaptability of pilots to new aviation technologies and to raise safety levels according to emerging guidelines.
The conversion process is crucial to ensure that pilots operating in Europe do so according to the highest safety standards set by the EASA. This is why it requires so many steps and involves non-immediate time-frames. In this regard, and with the intention of expediting the process, it is advisable to start the procedure well in advance as well as consider hiring advisory services from specialized flight schools for license conversion so as to ensure everything is ok.
If you have an ICAO or FAA license, World Aviation can help you convert it to an EASA license, don’t hesitate to contact us! Our professionals will be happy to help you.
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