PHI Rating Conversion

[elitehelipilot]

I've got a question I'm hoping someone here will be able to answer. I'm looking into opportunities overseas in the Philippines and as I understand it the CAAP is essentially cloned off of the FAA. That said, when it comes to converting ratings from FAA to CAAP do any of you have experience with this?

Is it a matter or a written exam and a check ride, or is there more/less to it than that? The information I'm getting from the magical-google-box is spotty at best. Some reference just a written, others mention actual course(flight) work needing to be done in country.

Currently I'm a FAA/CPL rated helicopter pilot with <300 hours.

 

[Rotor2Wing]

I'm afraid you are going to have a really hard time finding work anywhere with 300hrs helicopter. There are plenty of countries with people working with a wet FAA commercial cert but they are citizens of the country they are working in. Places that are hiring Expats are looking for experienced pilots 99% of the time. With time that low you really only have 2 options:

-Become a CFI-H and teach until you have more PIC helicopter time.

-Find a place that will let you work your way into a pilot slot. You will have to do grunt work for a year or two to prove how bad you want it.

Being low time looking for helicopter jobs is about 10 times harder to find work than a low time airplane pilot. I hope you get lucky and find something but prepare yourself for the worst. GOOD LUCK!

 

[elitehelipilot]

Thanks for the post. I know low time pilot jobs are hard to come by, the reason I asked about experience converting FAA to CAAP is because I may actually be going there to work.

 

[swisspilot]

I've got a question I'm hoping someone here will be able to answer. I'm looking into opportunities overseas in the Philippines and as I understand it the CAAP is essentially cloned off of the FAA. That said, when it comes to converting ratings from FAA to CAAP do any of you have experience with this?

Is it a matter or a written exam and a check ride, or is there more/less to it than that? The information I'm getting from the magical-google-box is spotty at best. Some reference just a written, others mention actual course(flight) work needing to be done in country.

Currently I'm a FAA/CPL rated helicopter pilot with <300 hours.

From the CAAP website:

SECTION 2 METHODS OF AIRMAN LICENSE VALIDATIONS
A. There are three methods of validation of the licenses of other countries for the issuance of a
license of the Philippine—
1) Conversion for a citizen of the Philippines
2) Validation of a non-citizen for private pilot privileges only; and
3) Validation of a non-citizen, with work permit for—
 Commercial Pilots
 Multi-Crew Pilots
 Airline Transport Pilots;
 Flight Engineers
 Flight Instructor
 Flight Dispatchers
 Aircraft Maintenance Technician
B. All of these methods will lead to the issuance of a PEL license by the Inspectorate.
SECTION 3 SUMMARY OF PROCESS FOR ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE
A. The following steps are guidance for the accomplishment of this process—
1) Determine the requirements for the particular license or rating—
 Review PCAR Part 2 for the eligibility for the particular license or rating;
 Review PCAR Part 2, requirements regarding validation or conversion of foreign licenses
2) If required, complete and sign the front side of the medical form, and
3) If required, provide the medical form to the medical examiner at time of the medical
evaluation.
Copies may be obtained from Document Sales
Unit, ICAO, 999 University Street, Montreal,
Quebec, Canada H3C 5H7.
AC 02-001: PEL LICENSE VALIDATION OR CONVERSION 3
4) If required, receive the required language proficiency evaluation;
5) Complete the front side of the PEL
License application form;
6) Attach a copy of the items required to
be submitted with the application
7) Contact the CAAP-FSISS to arrange an appointment for the application processing;
8) A technical inspector will conduct an interview for the purpose of—
 Assessing language proficiency and
 Confirming the required technical experience.
9) The CAAP-FSIS swill contact the Licensing Authority that issued the foreign license to
confirm the current status of the PEL certificate.
10) Following the confirmation, the CAAP-FSIS will make a decision regarding the
acceptability of the license—.
 If acceptable, the applicant will be contacted to sign and pick up license.
 If rejected, the applicant will be contacted to discuss.
SECTION 4 GENERAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
4.1 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The minimum qualifications for issuance of a PEL license must be met—
4.1.1 MINIMUM AGE
There is a minimum age for the issuance of all licenses—
 16 = Student Pilots
 17 = Private Pilots
 18 = Commercial Pilots; Flight Engineers; Flight Instructors; Ground Instructors; Aircraft
Maintenance Technician, Aircraft Repair Specialists; Multi-Crew Pilots
 21 = Air Traffic Controllers; Flight Dispatchers
 23 = Airline Transport Pilots
4.1.2 MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
Some PEL licenses require a medical evaluation as evidenced by a medical certificate—
 Class 1 Certificate = Airline Transport Pilots; Commercial Pilots; Multi-Crew Pilots.
 Class 2 Certificate = Private Pilots; Cabin Crew Members; Flight Engineers; Flight Instructors
 Class 3 Certificate = Air Traffic Controllers
4.1.3 ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Some PEL licenses require that the applicant satisfactorily complete a language proficiency
evaluation—
 All Pilots, Flight Engineers, Air Traffic Controllers
4.1.4 EVIDENCE OF MINIMUM EXPERIENCE/FLIGHT QUALIFICATION
There are minimum experience or prior qualfication requirements for most PEL licenses—
 Experience based on years: Flight Dispatchers & Aircraft Maintenance Technicians
 Experience based on work functions: Aircraft Maintenance Technicains & Parachute Riggers;
 Experience based on flight hours: Private Pilots, Commercial Pilots & Airline Transport Pilot
 Experience based on completed qualification: Air Traffic Controllers & Cabin Crew Members

Read PART 2 http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...j9jegldzq34l0PkZQ&sig2=6E2KHni_Y1xr1sxPhCh0vQ

 

[swisspilot]

You have to improve your skills in gathering info from online CAA websites, flying outside the US is a lot different and sometimes most of the peoples when asked won`t have a clue or give you the wrong info, this days even the most undeveloped CAA will have some sort of website with free access to their CARs.

 

[elitehelipilot]

You have to improve your skills in gathering info from online CAA websites, flying outside the US is a lot different and sometimes most of the peoples when asked won`t have a clue or give you the wrong info, this days even the most undeveloped CAA will have some sort of website with free access to their CARs.

Thanks for the reply but I already found the answer I was looking for. The CAAP website actually links to a digital (PDF) copy of their CARs from 2011, and the info I needed was on page 2-17 which outlines conversion hour minimums and limitations. Those few pages were the key.