On Thu, 07 Jul 2005 14:52:54 +0100, Peter wrote:


Ron Rosenfeld wrote:

Do you know if there is any method by which I can use my FAA CPL with
Instrument rating to obtain privileges to fly non-commercial flights in
Portugal IFR on a Portugese registered a/c?

The last time I checked (many years ago), I could only get an expensive 90
day license for day VFR flight (without sitting for a test in Lisbon).

Unfortunately Ron what I know is limited to what I need to know, plus
what I know 1st hand from other pilots I know personally. I have no
info on Portugal. You could look up their AIP. Some links are he

http://www.eurocontrol.int/ais/links/europe.htm

http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/ (very hard to get into this one due
to big Java objects)

Normally, an ICAO IR is valid (for full IFR privileges in Class A-G)
only if its state of issue matches the a/c reg. Which is why we have
the stampede to N-reg here in Europe, to get the IFR privileges of the
FAA IR throughout Europe.

I know of only one exception to this, and that was the Greek one where
they allow an FAA IR in a Greek-reg a/c. And on that one I don't know
if they allow the a/c to fly IFR outside Greece (but I have contacts
there and could find out easily enough).

In principle any State could (if they wished) validate an FAA IR for
full IFR privileges in its own reg a/c in its own airspace.

I know for sure that here in the UK an FAA IR does give you IFR
privileges in a G-reg but only outside CAS. This means Class G only
which makes it a relatively worthless privilege. (Especially as we
have the IMC Rating which gives you full IFR privileges outside Class
A).

I am also pretty sure that the same applies in France (flying an
F-reg) but due to their airspace structure (lots of Class E which *is*
CAS for IFR, and much stricter rules for IFR routes than the UK) this
is nearly useless. I'd *guess* Portugal would be the same - the FAA IR
would be OK for IFR in Class G and that is where I would start
checking it out. Can the flying you want to do be done in Class G?

In Portugal/Spain, you can fly VFR most of the time; the weather is
usually good, and when it's bad it's horrid


Peter.

Thanks for that information. I'd be flying in the Azores, and I'm not
certain of the airspace around the various fields. But there was also an
issue with night flight, at least there was in the past.

But I'll check the links you posted.

Best,
Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)