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Hi Capt Lim,
How are you doing? On enquiries that I have made so far, I would further like to seek your opinion, as I have heard a lot about your good self.
I have a few questions, maybe not that technical as the others, but I hope you could give me an advice or two.
I am interested in flying since my childhood but somehow, due to the some circumstances,
I couldn't do so. I am thinking of doing a PPL and the ATPL. Initially, I would like to do my PPL at a slower pace and then progress, hopefully, within the next 3 years, to become an airline pilot.
Little bit about me: I am an IT graduate with about 2 years experience, based in the United Kingdom. I believe that one has to be good at Maths and Physics, but I don't think mine is good enough at 'O' Levels.
I have been doing a lot of homework on flying by reading books, especially on aviation, and I fly the Flight Simulator. So I do understand the basic flying maneuvers (take off, landing, stalls, taxing, etc), navigation (VOR, GPS), how to read the compass, about flaps, airspeed, autopilot and radio communications.
My question is: Regarding the requirement in the UK or European Union, do I need either a JAA or the CAA equivalent licence if I wish to seek employment in the EU after completing my ATPL as an airline pilot?
Is it cheaper to do my PPL in South East Asia, for instance Malaysia (CAA, I presume) or do it anywhere else and convert it to JAA /CAA equivalent? I would like to keep the costs down.
If I were to do a PPL, can I progress to ATPL? Do I have to do a Night Rating, IR, Multi-Engine Rating, etc?
I am 25 this year. Do you think I am still young enough to become an airline pilot? I believe most airlines take pilots from an early age unless if they have some flying experience.
I would really appreciate if you could give me some advice.
Take care and thanks a lot.
Dave
Hi Dave,
Yes, it is cheaper to do your PPL in South East Asia or even in the USA as compared to getting it in the United Kingdom. However, you may have problems like converting the ICAO license to a JAA license in order for you to fly in the Europeon Union, and also incurring other hidden costs.
For your additional information, the JAA (Joint Aviation Authority of Europe, based in the Netherlands) is the Civil Aviation Government Authority for the Europeon Union. (The JAA member states include the following: Austria - Belgium - Czech Republic - Cyprus - Denmark - Finland - France - Germany - Greece - Hungary - Iceland - Ireland - Italy - Latvia - Luxembourg - Malta - Monaco - The Netherlands - Norway - Poland - Portugal - Romania - Slovak Republic - Slovenia - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - Turkey and the United Kingdom) The JAA was supposed to 'unite' the Civil Aviation Government Authority of Europe but that has not happened. Instead, there are different 'flavors' of each state, such as the UK CAA, French system, etc.
Assuming you are able to do a PPL cheaply outside the UK, you still have to convert the ICAO (CAA) PPL to a JAA PPL. The following requirements must still be satisfied:
If you have less then 100 hours total flight time:
1. Attain a Class 2 JAA Medical Certificate.
2. Pass ALL 7 JAA Private Pilots Theory examinations
3. Pass the Radio Telephony operators practical test
4. Pass the PPL Skills (flight) test (with training as required to learn the skills to do this)
If you have more than 100 hours total flight time:
1. Attain a Class 2 JAA Medical Certificate
2. Pass the Human Performance & limitations, Airlaw, and Radio Telephony JAA Private Pilots Theory examinations
3. Pass the Radio Telephony operators practical test
4. Pass the PPL Skills (flight) test (with training as required to learn the skills to do this)
I do not have sufficient information now to advise you on the requirement to progress from PPL to ATPL. Normally, you would need to go through a recognized course through approved schools. You should contact the appropriate European Civil Aviation Authority for further advice.
You are still young at 25 years old to commence a flying career in the airlines.
Wish you all the best!
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