Licence Conversions

If you have a non-EASA licence and you would like to convert to an EASA LAPL or PPL, the process will depend on the type of licence you hold and your experience level. We have included some common conversion pathways below which will cover the majority of scenarios. Please note that if you wish to proceed with a licence conversion, each case will be assessed individually by the Head of Training to ensure it complies with the applicable legislation.

FAA Licence

The EASA-FAA Technical Implementation Procedures-Licensing (TIP-L) outlines the process of converting a US FAA Licence to an EASA PPL. A person who holds a valid FAA pilot certificate in the aeroplane category and wishes to apply for a Part-FCL private pilot license for aeroplanes must:

• Hold an EASA Class 2 medical
• Achieve an English Language Proficiency of Level 4 or higher
• Complete training to proficiency
• The applicant must demonstrate to the examiner before the skill test that he/she has acquired an adequate level of theoretical knowledge of ‘Air law’ and ‘Communication’ at the private pilot level
• Complete an EASA PPL Skill Test

The TIP-L process provides for the conversion of an Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine Rating which we cannot facilitate. You must meet the FAA currency requirements before starting this process.

ICAO Compliant Licence Conversion (e.g. UK CAA, South Africa, Australia etc.)

Most PPL’s issued in other states will be ICAO Compliant – you can check by looking for the following wording on the licence “Issued in Accordance with ICAO Annex 1” or “This Licence Complies with ICAO Standards”. In order to qualify for this ICAO transfer process, you need to have flown at least 100 hours on Aeroplanes and:

• Hold an EASA Class 2 medical
• Complete the Air Law and Human Performance & Limitations PPL Theory Exams
• Achieve an English Language Proficiency of Level 4 or higher
• Complete training to proficiency
• Complete an EASA PPL Skill Test

It’s important to understand that an ICAO transfer to an EASA Licence can only be completed once in an applicant’s lifetime. For most, this will not matter. However, if you subsequently achieve a CPL or ATPL in another ICAO State, you will not be able to convert that licence if you have used this process to convert your PPL.

Non-ICAO Licence Conversion (e.g. Irish PPL(M), UK NPPL(A) or (M), Sport Pilot Licences)

There are so many potential variations here that it’s important to understand that each scenario will be assessed individually. Many states opt to issue sporting certificates and not licences for some aircraft sub-categories (Ultralights, Microlights etc.). In some cases, it’s not possible to recognise these qualifications.

It’s not possible to convert a non-ICAO compliant licence to a PPL. The only option is to credit the experience towards a LAPL. FCL.110.A LAPL(A) – Experience requirements and crediting sets out the credits available:

In order to qualify for this process, you will need to:

• Hold a LAPL or Class 2 Medical
• Pass all nine LAPL/PPL Theory Exams [if not completed already e.g. for an Irish PPL(M)]
• Achieve an English Language Proficiency of Level 4 or higher
• Complete LAPL Training Course
  • As per the above text, up to 15 hours of credit may be given based on previous experience.
  • As part of the remaining 15 hours, 6 of those shall be flown solo under the supervision of an instructor, 3 of which shall be solo cross country including the qualifying cross country flight.
  • The 15 hour credit will be decided at the sole discretion of the FunFly HT following a pre-entry flight assessment and cannot exceed the total hours of PIC time. e.g. if you only have 7 hours PIC time, the maximum credit available is 7 hours.
• Complete an EASA Skill Test

Other Points

In all cases, when your application is submitted to the IAA, they will verify your licence details with the issuing Authority. Depending on the country, there may be a delay in this.

All hours need to be recorded in a suitable logbook. Hours provided via training records or not certified correctly may not be accepted.

While the process is generally referred to as a conversion, you don’t need to surrender your original licence and you can maintain that licence if you so wish.

This process should not be confused with the SOLI process – State of Licence Issue transfer. This is where you change the Competent Authority who issues your licence. This is a process completed between EASA Member States. E.g. if you hold an EASA Polish Licence and you would like to change it to an Irish-issued EASA Licence, you can do this as a paperwork exercise. Please contact us for more information about this process. You can only hold one EASA Flight Crew licence so in this example you would surrender your Polish issued licence.

In theory, we can transfer the above licences to any EASA Member State – your competent authority will be dictated by where your medical records are held (not necessarily the state where you complete your medical). For ease of administration, we would recommend that you use the IAA as your Competent Authority.