Convert your ICAO CPL to an EASA CPL with ATPL Credit
This Guide is for Pilots who hold s an ICAO CPL and wish to convert to an EASA CPL with ATPL credit. When I converted my FAA CPL, I had 260 Total hours and couldn't find much information on how to convert mz license except for one highly recommendable Reddit Post about the conversion of an ATPL. Even if you only hold a CPL with less than 1500 hours, this guide might help clearing some fog on understanding the conversion. Read the Reddit Post here.
Phase 1: Preperation
The Conversion Process normally takes between 6-12 months and most of the time will be spend studying and taking the ATPL Exams. You have to choose with which EASA member you want to do your Exams, you decide that by taking your first exams. After finishing the first one, you cannot take the next Exams with a testing center of another member State, as this will not count together with the Exams taken before. It is somewhat common to take the UK CAA Exams simultaneously with your EASA Exams if you desire to obtain a UK license as well, as the UK Exam content is basically the same as that of the EASA Exams.
From the moment you took your first exam, you have 18 months to complete the rest of 14 exams in 6 Sittings. A sitting is 10 adjacent working days within which you can take as many exams as you wish.
It’s also helpful to already have an Idea on what EASA member State you want your License to be issued by. Their respective Aviation Authorities have fundamental differences between Rules and Handling of all kinds of things. The Austrian Aviation Authority “AustroControl GmbH” (short ACG) for example is a good choice when it comes to Conversions: They are efficient in handling Support Emails and issuing documents and certificates, they normally reply within hours or minutes to receiving your request. Prices can be a little bit higher compared to some other Authorities but the main Advantage is the official acceptance of conversion courses by AustroControl, even with expired Ratings. That means, that you’ll save flight hours and therefore money and time in your conversion.
Generally the most recommended EASA member states are Ireland and Austria.
I recommend to also get Documents from your Flight School to verify that you did your Flight Training with them, including PBN (Performance based Navigation) Training if applicable.
Phase 2: ATPL Theory Course
If you do not hold an ATP, you cannot book an exam without the signature of an ATO and a theory course is required. You can inquiry any ATO or attend an online school, where you will do distance learning, complete progress tests in their app or on their website and attend brush up courses. I attended CATS Aviation in Luton and went with the most cost efficient offer they had for distance learning: 1700 Euros for access to their online study program with question bank, progress tests, videos, study guides and Notes for the 4 day long Brush up courses of which they have one per month and always a different stage. For example in January they do Stage 1 Brush up, in February Stage 2, March Stage 3, April Stage 1 etc. Your school will recommend to split your Exams in three or even four Stages as to combine similar topics and save time on your studies. You do not have to follow the structure they recommend but favorable.
Gaining the necessary knowledge towards the Exams is one thing, putting yourself into the head of the Question Writer at the Authority is another. The Questions can be confusing and nerve wrecking and to effectively answer them you should definitely get a subscription to one of the EASA Exam Question banks. Do not study merely with the banks, but use them to gain and understanding of how the Exam will look like and prepare yourself mentally. I used Aviation Exam and Airhead ATPL to practice questions. Aviation Exam is very user friendly and more cost efficient compared to Airhead, but the latter combines the four main QB’s ATPL Questions, Bristol Ground School (BGS), AviationExam and ATPLGS. Keep in mind that the Aviation Authorities constantly update their official question banks and not all questions are known.
Another recommendable tool is the Bristol Ground schools Video Lectures subscription. Bristol Ground School is another Aviation Training School with distance learning options similar to CATS Aviation.
Phase 3: 13 Theory Exams
When you are ready for your first Sitting and finished the Brush up courses or required lessons, you need to fill out a form and get it signed by your School. You are able to book the Exam without the Form but need to hand it in normally 14 days prior to the sitting. Prices per Exam vary with each Authority and Testing Facility, AustroControl for example takes 45 Euros per Exam at their Testing Center in Vienna whereas outside of their own Facility you’ll have to pay 90 Euros each Exam. The Czech Authority totals 14 exams at around 200 Euros, so the difference can be significant.
The Authorities Testing Center is usually open on all working days and Sittings at “freelance” facilities are preplanned for the year and laid out on their accompanying website or only accessible by phone and Email.
By searching for “EASA ATPL Exam center” accompanied by your Authority of Choice, you should easily find a link to a PDF or table on their official website with a list of all accredited Places, contact information and sometimes even their Exam schedule.
For each of the 13 subject you have 4 attempts and a maximum of 6 sittings. To pass an exam you need to score 75% or higher. Should you fail a subject 4 times or don’t finish all exams in 6 sittings, you’ll have to start all over again.
If you are not able to attend your booked exam, it won’t count as an attempt but you will not receive a refund on your booking.
Photo: AustroControl Tower (center) in Vienna where you can attend your Exams.
Phase 4: Checks
Now that the Theory part is done, it’s time to prepare for your flight training. You need to get the following three things:
Medical
ICAO english test
Radio telephony license
The first time you obtain an EASA Medical class 1, the evaluation has to be done by an AeMC (Aeronautical Medical Center) of the issuing state authority. The medical information will be held in the States medical data base and can be moved between member states although the process can be expensive and time consuming.
Basically, if you Austria is your chosen state of issuance, you need to make an appointment at an AeMC in Austria. Unluckily Austrian AeMCs are expensive and none of the three accredited Centers quoted me less than 1500 Euros for a first time examination.
The flight school that i chose for my Flight training gave me the tip to book an appointment at a German AeMC and let them know to issue the Medical in the name of AustroControl. If you want to take the same path, check with your AeMC of choice in advance if they can do the same for you.
My examination took the whole day but the time was mainly spend listening and telling stories to other examinees in the waiting room. The cost totaled at 780 Euros.
Next on the list is the ICAO english test, which is easiest done online with one of the various providers. I can highly recommend Aviation eLearning (ilpt.net). Their pricing is very friendly and the program that walks you through the test is easy to use. 70% of the test is done without any direct communication and can therefore be paused and continued whenever you want. The last part consist of a chat with a friendly english evaluator.
Lastly the Radio telephony license. I received mine by emailing the german Bundesnetzagentur my FAA License, a filled out form and a receipt of payment. A few days later I received my AZF E (Radio telephony license in english) in the mail.
Phase 5: Flight School
The most expensive phase will be the fight training and there are significant differences in total cost between flight schools and training plans.
Finding the right flight school can be difficult as it has to be an ATO with a conversion course that is tailored to your needs and approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of the country you choose to hold your license.
It is favorable to choose a flight school that advertises Conversion courses as they will have more knowledge on what you actually need in your training plan to get approved by the Authority. Some flight schools straight up don’t know how exactly to convert licenses to EASA and therefore often tell you different cost and time estimates as they might not follow the most efficient path.
Looking back at my training, i got lucky with choosing my flight school. Aviators Group (flyaviators.com) in Hannover, Germany has for Germany typical prices and might not be the cheapest per hour, but are specialized on ICAO to EASA conversions as the CEO is also operating the Cranfield Aviation Training School that does ATPL Theory courses. Hourly rates might not be cheap in Germany but if you are doing your flight training with the purpose of flying commercially, you do not have to pay the 19% VAT.
Aviators Group has a training plan of around 15 flight hours split up between Simulator, Single Engine and if you desire a Multi Engine Rating, a Multi Engine Piston as well. The training cost will land somewhere at a minimum of 12000 Euros.
If you decide to do the Multi Engine IR Conversion and you also want a Singe Engine Rating, let them know beforehand as the Multi Engine Conversion only gives you a CPL ME IR. For the SE Rating, you will have to do around 30 minutes more in the 172.
Skill Test & License Application
To finally have the License in your Pocket, you need to Pass the Skill Test. Mine consisted of one hour VFR Flying including following a VFR Flight Plan by dead reckoning, basic maneuvers and Stall techniques, followed by another 1.5 hours of IFR Approaches and a departure.
Afterwards the Examiner is supposed to fill out the needed documentation and your Logbook for the License Application. When you want to go the AustroControl Route, you will fill out the following three documents:
In my case, the Authority finished my Paperwork within 24 hours and sent out the License 48 hours after my Application. Simultaneously I received an Email containing my Invoice: 1200 Euros. Not the cheapest Authority I guess but gets the Job done.
Last Phase for Airline Pilots: MCC and UPRT Course
If you are planning to join the airlines, you will have to do an Advanced Upset Recovery Course at an ATO that offers such a course. Upset Recovery is just a nice term for two days of acrobatic flying. Costs are normally at around 1500 Euro.
If you do not hold a type rating, the airlines also request an MCC course. Those courses feel like a mini type rating and start at 3000 Euro. The time effort lays at around 2-3 weeks, but can be done in 1 week as well.