EASA licence and insurance

[Andrew Ainslie]

Hi all,

I'm lending my glider to a British pilot who has an EASA licence. I just called Costello up and asked what I needed to add him to my insurance, and they said that he needed a "USA add-on". Anyone know what they're talking about? I thought an EASA licence was internationally accepted. Anyone been through this with a friend or competitive pilot? Thanks in advance!

[[email protected]]

On Monday, February 27, 2017 at 3:16:55 PM UTC-6, Andrew Ainslie wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm lending my glider to a British pilot who has an EASA licence. I just called Costello up and asked what I needed to add him to my insurance, and they said that he needed a "USA add-on". Anyone know what they're talking about? I thought an EASA licence was internationally accepted. Anyone been through this with a friend or competitive pilot? Thanks in advance!

Call your local FSDO. In my case they issued a US license based on my German glider license. Valid as long as the German license is maintained/extended. It was quick and easy.

[Andrew Ainslie]

Is it a walk in thing or does it require time? He is intending to compete in Florida and has limited time, so this is a setback. We both assumed that the EASA license was sufficient to be legal in the US for contest flying.

[2KA]

You can't fly a glider of US registry with just an EASA license. You could fly a glider of European registry in the US with one, but to fly a glider of US registry you need a US license.

FSDOs vary on how much of a pain this can be. Call your local FSDO in advance to make arrangements.

[C-FFKQ (42)]

When I wanted to get my US courtesy licence based on my Canadian licence, I had to first submit all of my documentation to the FAA in Oklahoma City. They verified the documents and then told me to get an appointment with a FSDO.

Orlando FSDO was very good to me.

Total process took about 3 months.

[Citrus Soaring]

He can apply for a US based on foreign certificate that would allow him to fly. FAA DPE with administrative authority can issue this in person. Have him look up the requirements for the US based on foreign and as long as he supplies the appropriate information it can be completed in a very short time.

If I can assist with this I will be happy to help.

Franklin Burbank
FAA DPE

[[email protected]]

On Monday, February 27, 2017 at 9:23:22 PM UTC-5, Citrus Soaring wrote:
> He can apply for a US based on foreign certificate that would allow him to fly. FAA DPE with administrative authority can issue this in person. Have him look up the requirements for the US based on foreign and as long as he supplies the appropriate information it can be completed in a very short time.
>
> If I can assist with this I will be happy to help.
>
> Franklin Burbank
> FAA DPE

Getting a reciprocal certificate should be not all that hard, as long as he does his homework and is prepared.
He will also have to accomplish a flight review prior to using the the certificate.
UH

[Ross[_3_]]

The EASA say that the glider licence is valid worldwide, but the US say it is not. NZ is the same.

So why did we all go to the hassel of getting EASA licences? It does make you wonder...

[Andrew Ainslie]

Thank you everyone for the help! We have tight deadlines but may be able to get this done. the key issue is, where is the glider registered? If the glider is US registered, they need the FAA document no matter what other licence they have. If hey arrivewith their own glider, then they can use the EASA route... or at least that's as I now understand it.

Unfotunately that subtlety was lost on the BGA representative that Jon, the affected pilot, spoke to, so that he was misled into thinking that everything was hunky dory with his EASA licence. It was only when I called Costello to add him to my insurance that we realized we had a problem!

[[email protected]]

Le mardi 28 février 2017 16:18:05 UTC+1, Ross a écritÂ*:
> The EASA say that the glider licence is valid worldwide, but the US say it is not. NZ is the same.
>
> So why did we all go to the hassel of getting EASA licences? It does make you wonder...

First, there are two EASA gliding licences: the SPL that is ICAO-conform and is thus "valid" wordlwide; or the LAPL(S) that is non-conform and is only valid in EASA countries.

But "valid" doesn't mean you can use it exactly like at home. You have to adjust to local regulations. It's the same the other way round: you'll need a validation for an American licence in Europe. This is what EASA says:

ANNEX III
CONDITIONS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF LICENCES ISSUED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THIRD COUNTRIES
A. VALIDATION OF LICENCES
General
1. A pilot licence issued in compliance with the requirements of Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention by a third country may be validated by the competent authority of a Member State. Pilots shall apply to the competent authority of the Member State where they reside or are established, or, if they are not residing in the territory of the Member States, where the operator for which they are flying or intend to fly has its principal place of business..
2. The period of validation of a licence shall not exceed 1 year, provided that the basic licence remains valid.

[Dave Nadler]

On Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 3:25:22 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> ... Pilots shall apply to the competent authority of the Member State
> where they reside...

Bummer, we don't have one of those.

[Peter Purdie[_3_]]

Two countries divided by a common language, Dave. Actually, in thgis
context 'competent' doesn't mean they know what they are doing, it's Euro
bureaucrat speak for an official body - not one that knows what they are
talking about.

At 21:43 28 February 2017, Dave Nadler wrote:
>On Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 3:25:22 PM UTC-5,
>wrote:
>> ... Pilots shall apply to the competent authority of the Member State
>> where they reside...
>
>Bummer, we don't have one of those.
>

[Dave Nadler]

On Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 5:00:05 PM UTC-5, pete purdie wrote:
> Two countries divided by a common language, Dave. Actually, in thgis
> context 'competent' doesn't mean they know what they are doing, it's Euro
> bureaucrat speak for an official body - not one that knows what they are
> talking about.

I'm well aware...

[Dan Marotta]

My experience has been as follows:

In Australia, my US license was not valid to fly an Australian
registered powered aircraft. I was told that I could fly a US
registered aircraft (if I could find one) or take a written test on
Australian rules and a check ride to get an Australian license. No
license was required to fly a glider. After being signed off by a GFA
instructor, I was allowed to carry passengers in an Australian
registered glider.

When I bought my Stemme in Mexico, I was not allowed to fly it as pilot
in command within Mexico with my US license and had to hire a Mexican
pilot to get me across the border. After that, I was legal in the US to
fly the Mexican registered aircraft until I was able to get it
registered in the US.

On 2/28/2017 3:16 PM, Dave Nadler wrote:
> On Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 5:00:05 PM UTC-5, pete purdie wrote:
>> Two countries divided by a common language, Dave. Actually, in thgis
>> context 'competent' doesn't mean they know what they are doing, it's Euro
>> bureaucrat speak for an official body - not one that knows what they are
>> talking about.
> I'm well aware...

--
Dan, 5J

[JS]

On Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 7:47:32 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
> My experience has been as follows:
>
> In Australia, my US license was not valid to fly an Australian
> registered powered aircraft. I was told that I could fly a US
> registered aircraft (if I could find one) or take a written test on
> Australian rules and a check ride to get an Australian license. No
> license was required to fly a glider. After being signed off by a GFA
> instructor, I was allowed to carry passengers in an Australian
> registered glider.
>
> When I bought my Stemme in Mexico, I was not allowed to fly it as pilot
> in command within Mexico with my US license and had to hire a Mexican
> pilot to get me across the border. After that, I was legal in the US to
> fly the Mexican registered aircraft until I was able to get it
> registered in the US.
>
> On 2/28/2017 3:16 PM, Dave Nadler wrote:
> > On Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 5:00:05 PM UTC-5, pete purdie wrote:
> >> Two countries divided by a common language, Dave. Actually, in thgis
> >> context 'competent' doesn't mean they know what they are doing, it's Euro
> >> bureaucrat speak for an official body - not one that knows what they are
> >> talking about.
> > I'm well aware...
>
> --
> Dan, 5J

All over the World, this has "results may vary" written on it.
Heard of others having a similar time with CASA. Mostly it is due to security checks.
Have witnessed the same with CAA in South Africa.
But it took me two days from application to being handed a printed CASA (Australian) PPL-A based on FAA stuff. For gliders, it is even easier.
Imagine the EASA to FAA route would have similarly varied sets of results.
Jim

[Jon Gatfield]

After some superb help from the folk on this and the UK uras forum, plus a
load of help off-forum, I've followed the British Gliding Association (BGA)
verification route instead of the EASA licence and it all seems to be
coming together. I do struggle to understand the value of holding an EASA
SPL, but the value of these forums (when used for good) is huge.

The FAA have been truly awesome. Their compliance specialists and
foreign-verification team have been responsive, speedy, helpful and patient
with my phonecalls. Would that I could say the same about the UK CAA!
Hopefully I'll have the right papers early next week (thanks also to a
quick turnaround from Lizzie at the BGA).

I'm grateful to everyone who's chipped in on the topic. The list is long
but particularly Paul Jessop in the UK (Charlie's Dad), Uncle Hank,
Franklin Burbank at Citrus Soaring, and most especially Andrew Ainslie. All
very, very much appreciated. Anyone who wants some advice and tips on the
path I've followed please feel free to send me a private message and I'll
be delighted to explain/help.

Jon

[Citrus Soaring]

Excellent news!

Hope to meet you soon!

Franklin