Acceptance of pilot licence from FAA

Acceptance of pilot licences from FAA according to the bilateral aviation safety agreement (BASA) between the USA and the EU

F558-B_v1 BASA – PART-FCL Licence conversion application form

FAA licence at the private pilot grade or higher with privileges for the airplane category and/or instrument rating, may qualify to be licensed in accordance with EASA Part-FCL for a private pilot license, instrument rating and/or night rating for the airplane category, subject to the terms of the Agreement and Annex 3.

Type ratings cannot currently be converted. Therefore, if a pilot holds an FAA type rating, privilege or endorsement for which a type rating is required according to Part-FCL, a Part-FCL type rating will not be issued in accordance with this Agreement.

Holders of an FAA pilot certificate who would like to apply for EASA CPL(A) or ATPL(A) licence or for licence for other aircraft category (helicopter, sailplane or ballon) please folow procedure published here.

FAA ATPL(A) / CPL(A) / PPL(A)  → EASA PPL(A) only

Holders of an FAA pilot certificate have to meet requirements of section B of the TIP-L document.

The conversion process will require compliance with a variety of general and specific requirements.

General requirements:

1. The FAA airman needs to be current in accordance with applicable FAA regulations when the conversion process is initiated.
2. Applicant shall provide the proof of residence in an EU Member  State and copy of FAA pilot certificate. It must be clear whether the applicant is already residing in an EU Member State before or after the applicability of Annex 3. Holder of an  FAA pilot certificate  who is not eligible for conversion under Annex 3, must meet relevant  requirements of COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2020/723.
3. FAA pilot certificates that have been surrendered, suspended, or revoked shall not be accepted.
4. The applicant’s FAA medical certificate must be current, and a valid EU medical certificate is required. The applicant shall meet the EASA medical requirements as stipulated in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 applicable to the PPL(A).
5. The applicant for an EASA PPL(A) shall demonstrate to the examiner before the skill test that he/she has acquired an adequate level of required theoretical knowledge detailed in the TIP-L within the 24-calendar-month period preceding the month of application. For PPL(A) with IR privileges see theoretical knowledge examination requirements in TIP-L.
6. In some cases the additional training and/or acclimatization flying is required (for more information see section B of TIP-L).
7. The applicant must pass the skill test in accordance with the requirements of Regulation EU No 1178/2011 as written in FCL.235, and FCL.725 and/ or FCL.620 and the relevant Appendix, with an examiner qualified according to Part-FCL. The applicant must complete the skill test on the same class of airplane (i.e., SEP(land) or MEP(land)) for which he/she is seeking for a class rating.
8. Applicant must demonstrate or provide evidence that he/she has acquired language proficiency in accordance with FCL.055. There are two possibilities:
   1. Applicant will demonstrate english language skills to one of the approved language assessment bodies (LABs). The minimum acceptable proficiency level is the operational level (Level 4) . There is a list of LABs: http://letectvo.nsat.sk/letecky-personal-2/piloti/jazykova-sposobilost/ or
   2. English proficiency endorsement in FAA licence is deemed to be equal to level 4 according to Part-FCL. The validity period for English language proficiency level 4 will start from the date of the last documented flight review.
9. If the applicant already holds a Part-FCL license, he/she must submit the application to the Aviation Authority, which initially issued the pilot license, except when the pilot has requested a change of competent authority and a transfer of his/her licensing and medical records to that authority.

Specific requirements:

Language proficiency

The applicant must demonstrate or provide evidence that he/she has acquired language proficiency in accordance with FCL.055 or hold an ‘English proficient’ endorsement, equal to Part-FCL level 4.

The validity period will start from the date of the last documented flight review. If the applicant wishes to have English language proficiency level 5 or 6 endorsed on his/her license under Part-FCL, he/she needs to follow the method of language assessment in accordance with FCL.055.

Night Rating

A person who holds a valid FAA pilot certificate for airplanes without a limitation regarding night flying privileges and wishes to apply for the Part-FCL night rating for airplanes must meet the relevant requirements below:

Min 5 hours of flight time incl.

• Min. 3 hours dual instruction
• 1 hours cross- country navigation with at least 1 dual 50 km (27 nm) cross- country flight
• 5 solo take- offs and 5 solo full stop landings

The flight training and experience may be completed either in the FAA system or in the EU Part-FCL system, at a DTO or ATO, or in combination of both.

The applicant must provide a logbook copy signed by the instructor who provided the training and specify time, aircraft type, registration, pilot function, number of flights, total time under instruction.

MEP

The applicant must provide evidence that he/she meets the relevant requirements below:

• Min. 70 hours PIC
• Min. 6 hours flight training incl 2:30 hours dual flight instruction normal conditions and 3:30 dual flight instruction in engine failure procedures/asymmetric flight
• Min. 7 hours Theoretical instruction (Applicants who hold either a valid FAA flight instructor certificate with multi-engine privileges or a valid FAA multi-engine type rating may be deemed as having completed the theoretical knowledge portion.)

The flight training and experience may be completed either in the FAA system or in the EU Part-FCL system, at a DTO or ATO, or in combination of both.

The applicant must provide a logbook copy signed by the instructor who provided the training and specify time, aircraft type, registration, pilot function, number of flights, total time under instruction.

IR

The applicant must provide evidence that he/she meets the relevant requirements below:

• SEP – Min 50 hours instrument flight experience
• MEP – Min 55 hours instrument flight experience
• Completed acclimatization flying at ATO

Acclimatization flying is not required if the applicant has more than 50 hours of flight time under IFR as PIC on airplanes or 10 hours of flight time under IFR as PIC on airplanes in any of the EU Member States or any EASA Member States The flight training and experience may be completed either in the FAA system or in the EU Part-FCL system, at a DTO or ATO, or in combination of both. The applicant must provide a logbook copy signed by the instructor who provided the training and specify time, aircraft type, registration, pilot function, number of flights, total time under instruction.

Applicants who have completed a skill test for a multi-engine IR in a single-pilot multi-engine aeroplane for which a class rating is required shall also be issued with a single-engine IR for the single-engine aeroplane class or type ratings that they hold.

Demonstration of Theoretical Knowledge for the issue of PPL(A)

The examiner should use the syllabus of theoretical knowledge for the PPL(A) as stated in AMC1 FCL.210; FCL.215 to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 as a basis for the examination. The examination should last between 30 and 60 minutes. At least one question for each of the listed subjects shall be asked.

Appendix 1 to form F558-B shall be completed and included with the rest of the form.

If the candidate fails the oral theoretical exam prior to the skill test, the skill test must be cancelled and the skill test is failed. This failed skill test shall be written in the candidate’s logbook and the skill test report with the failed result shall be sent to the Transport Authority. If the applicant has failed to pass the demonstration of the theoretical knowledge after 2 attempts, he must be referred to an ATO/DTO approved in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 for further theoretical training. After the completion of such training, the written theoretical knowledge examination must be completed under the responsibility of the Transport Authority of the Slovak Republic. The ATO/DTO sends a recommendation for theoretical examination to the Transport Authority, while the applicant submits an application form for theoretical examination and registration for a theoretical examination sitting, both available at the Transport Authority website (letectvo.nsat.sk).

Demonstration of Theoretical Knowledge for the issue of IR

If the applicant has a minimum experience of at least 50 hours of flight time under IFR as PIC on airplanes, he/she will demonstrate to the examiner before the skill test that he/she has acquired an adequate level of the required theoretical knowledge. The examination should last between 30 and 60 minutes.

Appendix 2 to form F558-B shall be completed and included with the rest of the form, even if the examiner completed the examination of PPL theoretical knowledge associated with Appendix 1.

If the applicant has failed the demonstration of the theoretical knowledge, the flight will not be conducted and the skill test is failed. This failed skill test shall be written in the candidate’s logbook and the skill test report with the failed result shall be sent to the Transport Authority.

In all other cases, the written theoretical knowledge examination must be completed under the responsibility of the Transport Authority. The ATO sends a recommendation for theoretical examination to the Transport Authority, while the applicant submits an application form for theoretical examination and registration for a theoretical examination sitting, both available at the Transport Authority website (letectvo.nsat.sk).. If the applicant has failed to pass the examination within 4 attempts, he/she must undertake appropriate theoretical knowledge training at an ATO approved in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011. The extent and scope of the training needed will be determined by that ATO, based on the needs of the applicant.

For more information please contact letecky.personal@nsat.sk.

• Please provide us with all relevant information about your current licence and intention to use EASA licence (commercial air transport and other commercial activities, non-commercial activities with/without an instrument rating etc).

Conversion process is as follows:

1. Complete the F558-B_v1 BASA – PART-FCL Licence conversion application form and return the form with relevant documentation as listed in the submission instructions either:

• by post to the address:

Transport Authority

M.R. Stefanik Airport

823 05 Bratislava

Slovakia

• in paper form to the filing department of the Transport Authority (at the address above)
• via the central administration portal at www.slovensko.sk

Required attachments:

• Copy of FAA pilot licence (pending licence is not accepted);
• Copy of valid FAA medical certificate;
• Copy of EASA Part-MED medical certificate (must be held in the same country as Part-FCL licence);
• Copy of passport;
• Evidence of validity of class and instrument ratings as applicable (e.g. experience, last flight review, training performed to fulfil the requirements of BASA as applicable);
• Evidence of training and experience for all applicable parts of this application (e.g. evidence of min. 7 hours multi-engine operations);
• Applicable skill test form, available at the Transport Authority website (nsat.sk);
• Applicable theoretical knowledge examination results (Appendix 1 and/or 2), signed by examiner, or if applicable, theoretical knowledge examination certificate from the Transport Authority of the Slovak Republic or another EASA member state CAA.

2. Pay the application fee

• The current issue fee is 50 €.
• Information on administration charge payment are to be found here: http://nsat.sk/en/transport-authority-about-us/administrative-fees/
• Payment is taken once application is received, not when you collect the licence.

3. Once payment has cleared, the Transport Authority will then contact FAA seeking verification licence.

4. Once the Transport Authority has received all the required information, The Transport Authority will contact you informing you that your EASA licence is ready.

Note: The process of licence validation may take several months.