Getting A CPL(A) using foreign License

[iloveflying321]

hello ladies and gentlemen,

If anyone can provide his advice/experience it would be appreciated.

I have an EASA CPL(A) through an frozen atpl Integrated course a couple of years back and
I stopped flying since its issue.

Total actual flying time around 150 hours/ total time including sim around 205.

All ratings on it needs renewal.
EASA medical needs renewal.
English Proficiency needs renewal.


Now i am going to Canada soon and i want to get a Canadian cpl while i am there and later work towards a Canadian FI rating without having extra expenses and time consumption on travelling to the eu to get my previous license "valid".

I have been reading the Canadian Aviation regulations for days but i did not reach a conclusion.
I understand that i need 200 hours total and before everything get a Canadian class 1 medical and ALPT.

1: What would be credited in my case? Will my 150 hours experience be counted?

2: Can I get a PPL based on foreign license even with my expired foreign medical, so i can build solo hours?

3: Of my 150 hours, since i do not have a foreign PPL(Only CPL with EASA integrated ), What is considered post PPL so i can fulfill flying hours post ppl?

4: do i need to do the 80 hour cpl ground school?

4: what approximate training cost and duration can i expect?

Thanks for taking the time to read and thanks for your answer in advance!

[photofly]

Now i am going to Canada soon and i want to get a Canadian cpl while i am there and later work towards a Canadian FI rating without having extra expenses and time consumption on travelling to the eu to get my previous license "valid".

Not related to having a CPL, but do you have a work permit or permanent resident status in Canada? You'll need one to do any kind of paid work here.

I have been reading the Canadian Aviation regulations for days but i did not reach a conclusion.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the rules about flying in Canada. If you want to get a CPL here, you had better learn to get good at it.

CARs standard 421 has the requirements for different licences, and in each part the sections under "credit for foreign applicants" governs what your foreign training and licences gets you. The requirements are also summarized here:
https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/licens ... ign-pilots

I understand that i need 200 hours total and before everything get a Canadian class 1 medical and ALPT.

You need to meet exactly the requirements as any other applicant, excepting that you can use the credits listed for foreign applicants that apply to you.

1: What would be credited in my case? Will my 150 hours experience be counted?

Yes

2: Can I get a PPL based on foreign license even with my expired foreign medical, so i can build solo hours?

Yes. See 421.26(8).

3: Of my 150 hours, since i do not have a foreign PPL(Only CPL with EASA integrated ), What is considered post PPL so i can fulfill flying hours post ppl?

Strictly, none of it. These rules are very clearly written and the authority to override them is not held at the offices that conduct the administration of licences. There may be an existing policy note covering this situation that is not available on the TC website; TC licensing should be able to tell you, if you email a regional office. I believe the Pacific Region office is the one that has the most experience with foreign licences: email them via TC.PACCivilAviationMedicine-MedecineAviationCivile.TC@tc.gc.ca

4: do i need to do the 80 hour cpl ground school?

No

4: what approximate training cost and duration can i expect?

Depends how well you fly. The waiting time for a category 1 medical is (estimated) between 9 months and two years, and you need that to apply, so I'd get on that right away.

You can do a bunch of dual and solo training flights with a category 4 medical and a Student Pilot Permit, and take your CPL flight test.You could fix that up in a couple of months (again the delay is the medical certificate) but it doesn't help you with the 65 hours training required "following the issuance of a private pilot licence — aeroplane by Canada or another contracting state" because you don't have a PPL yet. Better hope TC has a specific policy about direct-to-CPL foreign applications...

[photofly]

To answer your question, I don't think your foreign medical needs to be renewed, but you do have to have one. If you want to avoid doubt, get it renewed before you arrive in Canada.

[khedrei]

Now i am going to Canada soon and i want to get a Canadian cpl while i am there and later work towards a Canadian FI rating without having extra expenses and time consumption on travelling to the eu to get my previous license "valid".

You can do a bunch of dual and solo training flights with a category 4 medical and a Student Pilot Permit, and take your CPL flight test.You could fix that up in a couple of months (again the delay is the medical certificate) but it doesn't help you with the 65 hours training required "following the issuance of a private pilot licence — aeroplane by Canada or another contracting state" because you don't have a PPL yet. Better hope TC has a specific policy about direct-to-CPL foreign applications...

AFAIK you cannot be admitted to a CPL flight test if you are not in possession of a Cat 1 medical so the Cat 4 can get you the SPP and solo, you need the Cat 1 for the CPL flight test.

Best answers to all your questions will come from TC regional office.

[photofly]

AFAIK you cannot be admitted to a CPL flight test if you are not in possession of a Cat 1 medical so the Cat 4 can get you the SPP and solo, you need the Cat 1 for the CPL flight test.

At the moment you can under a COVID19 exemption, and I think that rule change is being made permanent.

[photofly]

Here it is:
https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ ... x?id=12378

CAR 401.14(a) - NCR-037-2021: Allow candidates who hold a valid Category 4 medical
certificate or, whose Category 1 medical certificates issued or renewed by the Minister of
Transport no longer meets the validity period for a Commercial licence but that is still valid
for a Private licence, to attempt a flight test for the Private Pilot Licence, Commercial Pilot
Licence, Airline Transport Pilot Licence or Flight Instructor Rating.

Isn't it fun working out the rules??

[khedrei]

I stand corrected.

Funny. I thought we had a CPL candidate who was not allowed to attempt the flight test due to an expired medical during the covid stuff. Maybe the PE was wrong or maybe that exemption came later and wasn't part of the first round of circulars.

[iloveflying321]

From what i understand. The foreign license will only give me the credit of not having to do the 80 hour ground school.
I still have to do the written and skill tests and do some hour building to reach the proficiency needed.
So in case i dont want to use my foreign license or medical for anything, all i need is to provide a copy of my foreign signed logbook plus some flight hours in canada to reach the 200 hours and do an online ground school plus the written/flight tests. Can i ?
In this case what's the use of providing any foreign documents(except my certified logbook) if i do the 80 hours of ground school?

[photofly]

Saving 80 hours by not having to do ground school seems like a win to me.

It’s up to you what path you take to get a CPL - hopefully now you have a better understanding of the rules and options available to you, which is all we can help with.

[tuqi]

Better hope TC has a specific policy about direct-to-CPL foreign applications...

That's not a problem. A strict interpretation will not be applied. The OP will likely never have been issued with a PPL in any case.

The exemption NCR-006-2023 allows cat 4 med cert holders to attempt flight tests. Search at https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/refere ... tions-cars

Dr T Gillmore in Ontario can renew the EASA medical. He charges an exhorbitant C$1 000 for these. Dr M Rubin in Florida charges US$250 for EASA renewals. You should only need a valid EASA medical if you wish to act as PIC on a Canadian aeroplane using an FLVC, which isn't available to Canadian residents. The FLVC would also require renewing your EASA SEP class rating. You can find EASA examiners for this in Portland Oregon, San Diego California, and a bunch of places in Florida (Naples, St Augustine, Sebastian, Melbourne, Fort Pierce, etc). It will be more efficient to obtain a Canadian medical and a restricted or standard Canadian PPL to complete outstanding flight time. Or do it under a student pilot permit.

Someone on another forum mentioned in the recent week that they obtained a Canadian med cert within a fortnight after doing the exam in Paris.