Short term „Holiday License“
According to COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2020/723 of 4 March 2020 laying down detailed rules with regard to the acceptance of third-country certification of pilots and amending Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 , Article 8, Member States may validate a licence which is equivalent to one of those referred to in paragraph 2 and issued in compliance with the requirements of Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention by a third country for a maximum of 28 days per calendar year for specific non-commercial tasks, provided that the applicant complies with all of the following requirements:
(a) holds an appropriate licence and medical certificate and associated ratings or qualifications issued in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention; and
(b) has completed at least one acclimatisation flight with a qualified instructor prior to carrying out the specific tasks of limited duration”
To obtain a „holiday license“, the foreign ICAO license and medical have to be valid. You need to send the application to the German CAA (Luftfahrtbundesamt) with the following attachments:
- Copy of the current foreign license, proof of identity, Verification of the foreign license by the Civil Aviation Authority that issued it (not older than 6 month)
- Copy of the current medical certificate (issued according to ICAO standards)
- If applicable, a fully completed power of attorney
- If applicable, a different shipping address for notification / fee payment
Please send the application by E-mail, fax or regular mail :
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt
Referat L 4
38144 Braunschweig
E-mail: Post-L4@LBA.de
Validation / Conversion of third country pilot licenses (pilot licenses of Non-EASA States)
The conversion of an FAA into an EASA license is carried out on the basis of a bilateral agreement between EASA and FAA (BASA) and the associated Technical Implementation Procedures-Licensing (TIP-L), which came into force on May 18, 2021. The mutual recognition of PPL, instrument rating and multi-engine rating is thus further simplified. You find the TIP-L with details for the license conversion here.
An application for the conversion of an FAA license can be found on the LBA website.
All other third country licenses:
The preconditions for the issue of a license based on a third country license and/or rating are in accordance with the provisions of COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2020/723 of 4 March 2020 laying down detailed rules with regard to the acceptance of third-country certification of pilots and amending Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011.
For validation of a third country license other than PPL, please contact the Luftfahrt- Bundesamt:
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt
Referat L 4
38144 Braunschweig
Information by telephone:
Tel: +49 531 2355 4480
E-Mail: RefL4@lba.de
Validation / Conversion of a third country PPL
It is no longer required to obtain a validation for the PPL as a first step before you can apply for a conversion. Now you can directly apply for the conversion (at your local aeronautical authority, „Landesluftfahrtbehörde“, depending on your place of residency). The aeronautical authorities in Germany are listed here.
The conversion allows you to fly aircraft registered in Germany and all other EASA countries worldwide. It is a standalone license (the foreign license must not be kept valid to fly European-registered aircraft).
Conditions for a license conversion:
- Valid foreign ICAO license (for FAA license: Biennial Flight Review) (copy)
- Verification of Authenticity of Foreign License and Rating (application available at the „Landesluftfahrtbehörde“)
- 100 hours total flight time (copies of logbook or informal confirmation by a BfL/controller, EASA flight instructor or examiner)
- Valid foreign medical (copy)
- Valid EASA medical (copy)
- German Flight Radiotelephone Operator’s Certificate (copy)
- Identity Card or passport (copy)
- Information from the Central Register of Traffic Offenders (not older than 3 month), www.kba.de (Verkehrszentralregister beim Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt)
- Background check (Zuverlässigkeitsüberprüfung/ZÜP) pursuant to § 7 LuftSiG (Aviation Security Act). Application forms are available at your local aeronautical authority (http://www.lba.de/DE/Presse/Landesluftfahrtbehoerden/Landesluftfahrtbehoerden_Uebersicht.html?nn=701672)
- Language proficiency endorsement in either English or the language used for radio communications according to FCL.055 (ICAO language proficiency requirement)
- Theoretical examination for Air Law and Human Performance
- Pratical PPL flight test with an examiner designated by the aviation authority
Uncertified copies are sufficient for the application.
The theoretical examination for Human Performance contains 25 questions, the test for air law includes 40 questions including
- Licenses and Ratings
- Airspace structure and VFR
- Airports / airfields
- Air Traffic Services and Search and Rescue
- Flight Preparation (AIP, NOTAMs, NfL, Charts, VFR Bulletin …)
- Flight Plan
- Altitudes, noise restrictions …
Preparation for theoretical exam: http://ecqb-ppl.aircademy.com/
In line with EASA’s Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC), Aviation Authorities in Germany are implementing a new theoretical testing system for the knowledge test. The tests are no longer carried out in accordance with the questionnaires published by the DaeC (also Petersen Software) but according to their own tests, which were developed on the basis of the ECQB („European Central Question Bank“) of EASA. Please contact your local aviation authority (Landesluftfahrtbehörde) to find out which testing system is currently in use.
To apply for a German Flight Radiotelephone Operator’s Certificate, please contact:
Bundesnetzagentur Außenstelle Köln / Standort Mülheim
Dienstleistungszentrum 10
Aktienstr. 1 – 7
45473 Mülheim
Tel +49 (0) 208 4507 – 283
Fax +49 (0) 208 4507 – 180
www.bundesnetzagentur.de
Applications and information:
http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/Flugfunkzeugnisse
http://bit.ly/1pfYRje (Application)
Revalidation of single-pilot single-engine class ratings
(1) Single-engine piston aeroplane class ratings and TMG (Touring Motor Glider) ratings. For revalidation of single-pilot single-engine piston aeroplane class ratings or TMG class ratings the applicant shall:
(i) within the 3 months preceding the expiry date of the rating, pass a proficiency check in the relevant class with an examiner; or
(ii) within the 12 months preceding the expiry date of the rating, complete 12 hours of flight time in the relevant class, including:
- 6 hours as PIC,
- 12 take-offs and 12 landings, and
- a training flight of at least 1 hour with a flight instructor (FI) or a class rating instructor (CRI). Applicants shall be exempted from this flight if they have passed a class or type rating proficiency check or skill test in any other class or type of aeroplane.
When applicants hold both a single-engine piston aeroplane-land class rating and a TMG rating, they may complete the requirements of (1) in either class, and achieve revalidation of both ratings.
Conversion of a third country Instrument Rating (Other than FAA)
Conditions for conversion of the instrument rating:
- 100 hours IFR time as PIC
- Practical IFR flight test with an examiner designated by the aviation authority
- Oral theoretical knowledge test
The IFR rating will be a standalone rating (not based on the foreign IFR rating) and will be valid for aircraft registered in Germany and all other EASA countries. The European IFR rating will be valid for one year and can be revalidated with a proficiency check with an EASA flight examiner.
Important note for pilots flying N-registered aircraft after 20th of June 2022:
Please note that both your FAA license and the FAA IFR rating must be current (according to FAA regulations), as well as the European license and the European IFR rating!