Jonny's guide to becoming a helicopter pilot - Can you convert a foreign ICAO PPL(H) to an EASA licence? Jonny Greenall explains the requirements, examinations, medical, type ratings and practical steps involved.

Can I Convert My Foreign ICAO PPL Helicopter Licence to EASA?

Yes.

Or, for the long answer,

Technically, you aren't simply “converting” your ICAO licence. You are being issued an EASA licence based on your existing ICAO licence and experience.

If you simply want to use your ICAO licence within the EASA system, you may instead be looking at validation. That's a completely different process, with different requirements, limitations and validity periods.

Let’s start on with the first thing:

Your ICAO Licence and medical must be valid, current, and your logbook up to date.  If it is not, then it is a non-starter

Secondly:

Look at the regulations.

As with much of EASA documentation, the information is cunningly hidden in the regulations, and you need to do a fairly serious treasure hunt to find exactly what applies to you.

The magic section is Part-FCL, Annex III.

Even after reading it three or four times, you may still be completely confused.

Thirdly:

What are you looking for, a PPL(H), CPL(H) or ATPL(H)…?

EASA PPL(H) from ICAO PPL(H)/CPL(H)/ATPL(H)

This is relatively straight forward and laid out in PART FCL ANNEX III SECTION 3 Article 9:

Medical

Minimum required is a Class 2.

Jonny’s top tip…  Normally the EASA state where you do your medical is the state that issues your licence, known as State of Licence Issue (SOLI).

You can, in theory, do your EASA Class 2 anywhere in EASA and then transfer your medical records to a different state for the actual licence issue – but I highly recommend you do not.  You need to do what is know as a SOLI Transfer, where you do your medical, then apply to that state to transfer your records to another state, whilst at the same time apply to the other state requesting medical transfer form that state.  The two states then contact one another to transfer the records.  It can become mind-bogglingly complicated and, depending on the authorities and circumstances, can take months to resolve.

Theory Exams

EASA PPL Air Law and Human Performance. 

Must be passed +75%, note, you will need to be signed off by an EASA DTO or ATO to actually take the exams first, so you need to be enrolled with a DTO or ATO.  They have to be taken under the same EASA state – what that means is that you could not take, for example, the French Air Law and Italian Human Performance, both must be taken under the same EASA state.  However, it should be possible to take them both in a different state to the actual state of licence issue.  For example, you could do the theory exams under Austria, for the issue of a Spanish licence.

You can do online ground school, and there are plenty of Apps out there to practice the exams prior to test.

English Language Proficiency

Yes, you speak fluent English, yes, your current ICAO licence says you speak English, No Easa does not always recognise this…

You need to have an English Aviation Assessment by a qualified EASA ELP Examiner.

As with all things unified in EASA, it is as clear as mud..  Some recognise ICAO ELP, depending on country of ICAO Licence issue, some allow EASA ELP online, some insist on an actual real time ELP with an on site examiner…  Some EASA states also insist on a separate Radio Telephony Licence so you need to do a practical radiotelephony exam and some EASA states do not….

Logbook

100 hours – as a pilot, technically does not say “helicopter pilot” just as a pilot, so all hours can be counted.  But, make sure that the logbook is written correctly and also in accordance with EASA Part Fcl or they will not count the hours.  I also know of at least one EASA state that demands that you re-write ALL of your logbooks into their specific logbooks that they use – a massively time consuming and cumbersome task.

Type Rating

You need to demonstrate that you have completed the same requirements on that helicopter type as an EASA type Rating.  Having just “60 hours on that type” will not cut it…  A ICAO Type Rating is required with exercises and dual training completed.  If not, then you’ll need to do a type rating on that helicopter.

Jonny’s top tip….  Single engine helicopter, below 3175kg, If you have more than 100 hours on that type of helicopter, then you do not need a type rating.  You can add that type with just a Licence Skills Test (LST)

Some clarification on “types” of helicopter.

In EASA helicopters are “types”, so you have a type rating to fly each one.  For example, you can hold an EASA PPL(H) – valid for life, with type ratings on the R44, R66, H125 and G2 – each with a 12-month validity.  This means that if you want to fly more than one type you need to have each and every one added to your licence.

Licence Skills Test

A minimum of 1.5-hour flight skills test, on helicopter type.  It involves a skills test with an EASA Examiner, with an oral section, and flight including navigation, general handling and emergency procedures.

Once all items are completed

Everything is then submitted to your EASA State of Licence issue, along with the appropriate fees and then sit back and wait for your shiny new EASA licence to appear….

Does all this need to be done in Mallorca?  No, many things can be completed online, or through distance learning, or at locations around the world.  The training must be completed at an EASA approved DTO or ATO and the examiner must be EASA approved.

Where can the training be completed?

With careful planning Balearic Helicopters can find the most cost effective and efficient solution for you!

About Jonny

Jonny Greenall is the Head of Training and founder of Balearic Helicopters. With more than 25 years of helicopter flying and training experience and over 9000 hours, he has extensive experience across private, commercial and instructor training.

The views and advice in this article are based on Jonny's experience of helicopter flying and flight training.

Balearic Helicopters ICAO - EASA PPL(H) Conversion