EASA's non-recognition of UK (EASA FCL compliant) theory exam passes and training done before 1/1/2021

“Get EASA PPL (two theory exams + skills test). … Complete CPL … under EASA.”

No need to hold an EASA PPL in order to pursue a CPL!

EASA FAQ n.125439

Question

I am a student pilot in an CPL/ATPL integrated course and I
successfully completed my ATPL theoretical exams in the UK by December
31, 2020. Can I complete, after that date, the flight training in an
ATO approved by an EASA Member State or EASA? Will my UK ATPL theory
certificate of completion be accepted by EASA Member States for the
licence issue after December 31, 2020?

Answer

EASA Member State competent authorities may continue to accept such
valid theoretical knowledge examination completion certificates for
the purpose of issuing Part-FCL licenses and ratings in accordance
with either Regulation (EU) 1178/2011 or Delegated Regulation (EU)
2020/723, provided that those examination completion certificates are
still within their validity period in accordance with FCL.025(c) in
Annex 1 to Regulation (EU) 1178/2011 and provided that they were
issued by the UK CAA before January 01, 2021 in full compliance with
Annex 1 (Part-FCL) to Regulation (EU) 1178/2011. In particular, in
accordance with FCL.025(a)(1) in Annex 1 (Part-FCL) to Regulation (EU)
1178/2011, the entire set of theoretical knowledge examinations for a
specific licence or rating must have been taken under the
responsibility of the UK CAA.

Please note that this does not mean that the student file can be
transferred to an EASA Member State training organisation, but only
that EASA Member State competent authorities may continue to accept
theoretical knowledge examination completion certificates which were
issued before January 01, 2021 by the UK CAA for the purpose of
issuing their own licenses or ratings.

After January 01, 2021, in order to continue relying on that ATPL
theoretical knowledge examination issued by the UK CAA for the purpose
of obtaining a Part-FCL license or rating the student should undergo
flight training at a training organisation under oversight of EASA or
an EASA Member State and apply for the issue of the license or rating
to one of the EASA Member States competent authorities within the
period of validity of the theoretical knowledge examination
certificate concerned.

In case the student transferred to an ATO approved by a EU 27
competent authority or EASA before the January 01, 2021, the student
should also have applied to the competent licensing authority of an
EASA Member State by that date for a formal assessment of the further
hours of training required. The new EU competent authority will be the
one to whom the student will apply for the licence issue.

http://easa.europa.eu/faq/125439

Peter wrote:

BTW I think point 1. is the “100hr route” so he/she needs 100hrs TT as well.

Sorry, missed that.

Unless that ATO had EASA approval

and the rest is true but completely ridiculous

BTW I think point 1. is the “100hr route” so he/she needs 100hrs TT as well.

I reckon most UK FTOs/ATOs must have got EASA approvals sometime mid-2020 or sooner, otherwise anybody depositing ~100k would probably send the hit squad round

ABCD wrote:

If a student pilot hold a uk ppl and have completed all ATPL exams (also uk CAA) prior to brexit. Can he or she enroll an EASA approved ATO in a different country than UK and completing cpl/me/ir?

Unless that ATO had EASA approval as well, then AFAIK student needs to:
1. Get EASA PPL (two theory exams + skills test).
2. Pass all ATPL exams again with some classroom time under EASA jurisdiction in EASA ATO.
3. Complete CPL/ME/IR under EASA.

And then get issued with a UK CPL/IR – yes

I have a question regarding licensing

If a student pilot hold a uk ppl and have completed all ATPL exams (also uk CAA) prior to brexit. Can he or she enroll an EASA approved ATO in a different country than UK and completing cpl/me/ir?

Thanks

[ @ABCD post moved to existing thread ]

@172driver Thanks for the suggestion, I was in contact with them before this latest update and they were unable to help any more than anywhere else, but I have sent a follow up to see if this changes anything.

Pirho wrote:

Once again, a gigantic mess of things that make little sense.

Totally agree, @Pirho, but have you tried Austro Control? IME they’re very pragmatic and efficient. They’re also used to dealing with (ex) UK licenses at ATP level, as a huge number have moved from CAA to them (think EZY). Perhaps worth an email or a call.

Alpha_Floor wrote:

EDIT: I believe the source of confusion here lies in the word “conversion”. What if you straight-out apply for the EASA licence, using your UK theory, without trying to “convert” anything?

Yea I understand what you mean – but I am copying the authority’s terminology. By already holding an ICAO licence, it is viewed as a third country conversion. There is no ‘apply from scratch’ option, since a third country conversion isn’t really a conversion in the true sense, as it just grants a licence and doesn’t remove the original one. I agree it seems very dodgy but unfortunately that is what the NAA’s have been briefed by EASA.

Alpha_Floor wrote:

Ah yes, I agree. But would the EASA authority only extend that validity if it’s an EASA IR? Or will a non-EASA ICAO (UK CAA) IR also extend the validity of those exams towards an application for an EASA CPL?

I didn’t consider this, but I think you are right. It all starts to get very messy as the UK had a derogation from EASA to allow ICAO compliant IR’s to count towards exam validity, but I am not sure if EASA ever adopted that body-wide or if it remained a UK only thing. Trying to find anything about it in current EASA docs only finds FCL.625:

(d) If the IR has not been revalidated or renewed in the preceding 7 years, applicants for the IR shall
pass again the IR theoretical knowledge examination and skill test.
(e) Holders of a valid IR on a pilot licence issued by a third country in accordance with Annex 1 to
the Chicago Convention shall be exempted from complying with the requirements in points
(c)(1) and (d) when renewing the IR privileges contained in licences issued in accordance with
this Annex.

Which get’s the gist of it but I am not sure if the stance would be that this is specifically referring to renewing an IR, as opposed to validity of exams specifically, although that’s what it infers.

Once again, a gigantic mess of things that make little sense.