If you are a foreign pilot who wants to fly for hire or reward in Canada, you must hold a valid Canadian Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot Licence. This process requires meeting medical fitness, knowledge, experience, and skill requirements set out in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) Part VI, Subpart 1 – Flight Crew Permits, Licences, and Ratings.
Moreover, each foreign licence conversion is unique, and applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. However, in general terms, below are the steps an applicant must complete for a Canadian ATPL conversion.
Eligibility for a Canadian ATPL Conversion
To begin with, to be eligible to convert your foreign pilot licence to a Canadian ATPL Flight Crew Licence, an applicant must:
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- Hold a medically valid foreign pilot licence.
- Possess a licence issued by a country that is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
- Meet the required knowledge, experience, and skill qualifications as per Transport Canada regulations.
Further, applicants may meet the ground school instruction requirement if they:
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- Hold a commercial or higher type of pilot licence in the aeroplane category issued by an ICAO contracting state.
- Meet applicable experience requirements.
Converting a Foreign Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) to a Canadian ATPL-A
To obtain a Canadian airline transport pilot licence – aeroplane (ATPL-A), foreign pilots must meet all requirements set out in CARs Standard 421, section 421.34. The following is a summary of the Canadian ATPL conversion requirements:
1. Medical Examination
Complete medical examination requirements and hold a Category 1 Medical Certificate.
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- Resource: Query approved Civil Aviation Medical Examiner’s (CAME) by Canadian city here.
2. Experience Requirement
Provide proof that you meet the experience requirement. Be prepared to present a logbook of your flight experience for review.
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- Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.34, para. (4) for more details.
3. Knowledge Requirements
Successfully complete the following Transport Canada written examinations:
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- Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.34, para. (3) for more details.
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Resource: You can schedule your Transport Canada written examination here.
4. Skill Requirement
Successfully complete a flight test in a multi-engine aeroplane (excluding centre-line thrust) suitably equipped for instrument flight rules (IFR) flight in controlled airspace.
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- Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.34, para. (5) for more details.
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Submitting Your ATPL-A Application
Once all requirements have been met, the following documents must be submitted to Transport Canada:
- Licence Application Forms: Apply for a pilot permit or licence via Canada.ca.
- Aviation Document Booklet Application Form: Download here: Aviation Document Form.
- Certified True Copy/Notarized Copy of Passport: Must show proof of name, age, and citizenship.
- Certified True Copy/Notarized Copy of Foreign Licence.
- Verified Copy or Original Logbook(s): For verification of experience.
- Proof of Foreign Citizenship and Age: Acceptable documents are listed in CARs Standard 421, section 421.06, para. (1) and (2).
- Lastly, Fee Payment: Payment must be made in accordance with Canadian Aviation Regulations 104.01, Schedule IV: CARs Regulations.
- Payment options include Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, or American Express, which can be processed online through Canada Payment Portal or via phone at +1 (877) 494-4744 during normal business hours.
Document Verification & Processing Time
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- A Transport Canada personnel can verify original documents. Contact your regional office to book an appointment for verification and drop-off.
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- Finally, processing times for a Flight Crew Rating or Licence is up to 40 business days after a complete application is received at the Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) Licensing Office.
To summarize, by following these steps, you can successfully convert your foreign airline transport pilot licence to a Canadian ATPL-A and begin flying in Canada for hire with any major Canadian airline.
