What is involved
The conversion process is quite simple to outline. For more information
than is provided here you can download the official guide to the
recognition of licences here.
To obtain a full Australian licence or rating you will be required
to:
- Pass an Australian medical examination.
- Pass a written examination (normally a conversion examination).
- Undertake training to reach the required standard.
- Pass the full licence/rating flight test.
In order to undertake the conversion - make sure you bring your
original licence, medical and logbook. If your logbook is not
in English, please also bring a certified translation into English.
Private Pilot Licence (PPL):
- You must pass an Australian Class Two (at least) Aviation
medical examination. Doctors are located in other countries
as well as Australia - you can find their contact details here.
- You must complete a conversion theory examination - PPL Overseas
Conversion examination. This is primarily flight rules and air
law. You can sit this examination any time at Basair.
- You must then undertake training to reach the PPL flight test
standard. Most people will take around 2 or 3 flights, each
one around 2.5 hours to reach the required standard. These will
normally be conducted over 3 or 4 days.
- You will then undertake the full Australian PPL flight test.
This flight is around 3 - 4 hours in length and will cover general
handling, as well as visual navigation. Please note - the navigation
component has only very limited radio navigation component -
it is almost all visual navigation.
For reference - you can download a copy of the PPL flight test
form here.
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL):
- You must pass an Australian Class One Aviation medical examination.
Doctors are located in other countries as well as Australia
- you can find their contact details here.
- You must complete a conversion examination - CPL Overseas
Conversion examination. You can sit this examination at a limited
number of sitting sessions only.
- You must then undertake training to reach the CPL flight test
standard. Most people will take around 3 to 5 flights, each
one around 3 hours to reach the required standard. These will
normally be conducted over 6 or 7 days.
- You will then undertake the full Australian CPL flight test.
This is a VFR flight simulation a charter exercise. The flight
is around 4- 5 hours in length and will cover general handling,
as well as visual navigation. Please note - the navigation component
has only very limited radio navigation component - it is almost
all visual navigation. This flight test must be conducted in
an aircraft with a constant speed propeller plus a cruise speed
of at least 120kt (i.e. Tobago or higher).
For reference - you can download a copy of the CPL flight test
form here.
Command Instrument Rating
- You must first convert your licence as above otherwise you
will not be able to use the Command Instrument Rating in Australia.
- You must complete the Instrument Rating theory examination
(IREX). You can sit this examination at a limited number of
sitting sessions only.
- You must then undertake training to reach the IFR flight test
standard. This is done in a single or a twin depending on which
rating you seek - the single engine rating only allows flight
in singles, whereas the multi engine rating allows flight in
singles & multi engine aircraft. Most people will take around
3 to 5 flights, each one around 3 hours to reach the required
standard. These will normally be conducted over 6 or 7 days.
- You will then undertake the full Australian Command Instrument
Rating flight test. The flight is around 3 - 4 hours in length
and will cover en-route flight, departures and instrument approaches.
You must be tested on all approaches that you would like your
rating valid for.
For reference - you can download a copy of the IFR flight test
form here.
Flight Instructor Rating
An overseas flight instructor rating is not recognised in Australia.
A requirement for the issue of an Australia instructor rating
is that you have completed an approved course of study in accordance
with the CASA syllabus.
You must undertake the full flight instructor rating course in
order to obtain an Australian rating. Details of the course can
be sent to you. Click here
for more information.
For reference - you can download a copy of the Instructor Rating
flight test form here.
Documentation
You will need to purchase documentation for your flights in Australia.
The minimum documentation includes:
- Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).
- En-route supplement.
- Civil Aviation Orders
- Civil Aviation Regulations (for CPL candidates)
- Maps and charts for the areas in which you want to fly.
If you wish to have these documents sent to you before you arrive
in Australia then you can order them at http://www.airservices.gov.au/publications/
Alternatively, you can purchase them at Bankstown Airport.
Key study areas
The main areas to study before arriving in Australia are:
 Flight rules and procedures - Australia
basically follows the ICAO airspace model, but we do have some
airspace that is unique to Australia (e.g. GAPP procedures).
Bankstown Airport follows GAAP procedures.- Navigation - radio navigation is not the preferred means of
VFR navigation in Australia since navaids are few and far between.
We do not have VORTACs, and the main emphasis is on NDBs rather
than VORs. The population centres of Australia are separated
by vast distances, and therefore so are the navaids.
- Meteorology - you may not be used to some of the typical weather
conditions in Australia. Almost all types of weather can be
experienced - and it may not be as you expect! Much of the coastal
strip is tropical or subtropical, so summers can be characterised
with rain in the afternoons - often from thunderstorms. The
middle arid regions can be very hot during the day (approaching
50°C during the day) and yet very cold at night during summer.
Snow does fall in Australia - but is generally limited to the
alpine regions. Despite this, snow often falls in Canberra during
winter, and can be experienced along the Great Dividing Range
as far north as southern Queensland. You can find out more at
the Bureau of Meteorology at http://www.bom.gov.au.
Basair instructors have helped pilots from the USA, New Zealand,
Britain, France, Austria, Germany, Argentina, Africa and Canada
convert their licences, so are well prepared to help you complete
the flight with confidence.
Reference
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
web site
Aircraft available for hire through Basair
Information about tourist areas around
Sydney
Information about tourist areas in Australia
|