Airline transport pilot licence for aeroplanes

The Military Aircrew Accreditation Scheme (MAAS) as detailed CAP2254: Military Aircrew Accreditation Scheme | Civil Aviation Authority (caa.co.uk) sets out the credits for UK Military Flight Crews, for the purpose of obtaining Part-FCL licences, ratings or certificates.

Changes to the MAAS now include credits available to QMP(A)s to gain a helicopter licence, and QMP(H)s to gain an aeroplane licence.  Instrument ratings are also now included.

All available credits can be found in CAP2254: Military Aircrew Accreditation Scheme | Civil Aviation Authority (caa.co.uk)

In all instances the SRG2133 should be submitted with the application to the CAA, along with the relevant supporting documentation.

Qualified Military Pilots (QMP)(A)s who hold or have held an Operational Category and Unrestricted Military Green IR (Aeroplanes) are credited the requirement to complete a theoretical knowledge instruction course as set out in FCL.515 and Appendix 3, paragraph B of Part FCL prior to attempting the theoretical knowledge examinations for the ATPL(A).

Qualified Military Pilots who hold or have held an operational category with a Military
Unrestricted Green Instrument Rating to operate military multi-pilot aeroplanes may
apply the credits below, towards satisfying the Part-FCL requirements.

The types that are considered to be multi-pilot aeroplanes for this purpose are listed in CAP 2254.

Certain types require differences training (additional knowledge and training at an ATO) to be completed prior to the LST.

Any types listed where the civil equivalents are certified single pilot cannot be used to open and ATPL(A), however, multi pilot experience gained on the type can be accepted towards the experience requirements for the ATPL issue.

Qualified Military Pilots are given full credit for the Multi Crew Cooperation (MCC) and the requirement to undergo a training course before taking the skill test for the issue of an ATPL(A).

You must hold or have held:

• An Operational Category and Unrestricted Military Green IR (Aeroplanes) to operate military multi-pilot aeroplanes.

You must also have met the experience requirements for an ATPL(A).

The skill test must be conducted by the holder of a UK CAA Type Rating Examiner (TRE) Certificate for the aeroplane type, authorised to conduct an ATPL skill test, issued under Part-FCL.

The skill test must be conducted in:

An appropriate multi-pilot type of military aeroplane on which you are or have been qualified to operate as a QMP, suitably equipped for the purpose, which has an UK civilian equivalent;
or
An appropriate multi-pilot type of civilian aeroplane provided you have completed the Part-FCL requirements for inclusion of that type with IR in a Part-FCL licence except the type rating skill test.

Application

You will need to include form SRG2133 with your application.

An applicant for an ATPL holding a valid ATPL in another category of aircraft needs to complete theoretical knowledge bridge instruction at an ATO according to the differences identified between the ATPL syllabi for different aircraft categories.

The applicant shall pass theoretical knowledge examinations as defined in this Part for the following subjects in the appropriate aircraft category:

• 021 - Aircraft General Knowledge: Airframe and Systems, Electrics, Powerplant, Emergency Equipment
• 022 - Aircraft General Knowledge: Instrumentation
• 032/034 - Performance Aeroplanes or Helicopters, as applicable,
• 070 - Operational Procedures,
  and
• 080 - Principles of Flight (aeroplanes)

The applicant is credited the remaining ATPL(A) examinations.

An applicant for an ATPL(A) having passed the relevant theoretical examination for a CPL(A) or CPL (H) is credited towards the theoretical knowledge requirements in subject VFR communications.

An applicant for an ATPL(A) having passed the relevant theoretical examination for an IR(A) or IR(H) is credited towards the theoretical knowledge requirements in subject IFR Communications.

When the applicant holds a current and valid pilot licence for other categories of aircraft they can be credited with flight time up to a maximum of:

• For TMG or sailplanes, 30 hours flown as PIC;
• For helicopters, 50% of all the flight time requirements for the issue of an ATPL(A).

Holders of a UK issued flight engineer licence may be credited with 50% of the flight engineer time up to a maximum of 250 hours. These 250 hours may be credited against the 1500 hours of total flight time listed above and the 500 hours multi-pilot operations requirement above, provided that the total credit given against any of these does not exceed 250 hours.

The experience requirement must be completed before the skill test for the ATPL(A) is taken.

There are two methods you can use to apply for an ATPL(A) issue;

• e-Licensing

or

• Online application.

If you have previously used e-Licensing, please apply using this method.

Accessibility

If you require accessibility assistance with submitting your application online, please do not hesitate to contact our support team on 0330 022 1972 (Monday – Friday 08:30 – 16:30.

The cost of a licence is set out in the Scheme of Charges document and depends on the nature of the application.

e-Licensing

If you choose to apply using e-Licensing, you will need to upload supporting documents as part of the application. Applicants will be asked for different supporting documentation depending on the selections they have made during the application. The table below lists the evidence you may be asked for and what you should upload in that section.

Document required

You should not upload an Online application form as e-Licensing replaces this form.

Online application form

You can submit your application using our online application form.

If you choose this method, you will need to upload the following supporting evidence: 

• Examiner report form SRG2199.
• A copy of the online hours confirmation for the issue of an ATPL completed by your UK AOC (CAA5013).
• PICUS letter on operating company headed paper (if applicable).
• A copy of your licence.
• Proof of your ID (This can be a certified copy of your valid passport/full UK photographic driving licence, or a close-up photo of you holding your ID in which your face and ID are clearly visible).
• A copy of your relevant logbook pages/UK AOC hours confirmation to confirm your hours and experience.
• If you do not have a UK issued RT licence.

UK military pilots need to additionally submit completed Military Accreditation Scheme (MAS) form SRG2133, with certified copies of relevant pages of the military logbook.

Pilots applying on the basis of holding a Third Country ICAO licence must read further information about licence conversion requirements from 1 January 2023.

File size limit

Please note that there is currently 200Mb size limit to files uploaded to our forms. If your attachments exceed 200Mb, you should send all supporting documentation to fclweb@caa.co.uk quoting your application reference number.

All documents should be uploaded with a different filename clearly stating the content of the file attachment (for example Passport, Licence copy and so on.)

Submitting documents with the same filename may result in the loss of information in the system and added delays to the application assessment.

There is further information available for questions relating to paperwork, such as how to obtain certified copies of documents.

Further Information

Full guidance on the privileges, training and hours requirements for an ATPL(A) can be found in Subpart F of Part-FCL.

Regulations

• UK Regulations
• UK ANO

Our service levels are 10 working days for the assessment all application types. Where an application is pended, the working days to process the application will be counted from the date of receipt of the requested additional information.

For a small number of applications, a licensing officer may require additional guidance which requires a referral to be made to a technical officer. The technical officer will review the case within five working days, however if further advice is needed this will be reviewed at a bi-weekly complex case review session. In such cases therefore, the application will take longer to process than our standard turnaround times.

Our complaints process offers further guidance if you are dissatisfied by the service provided to you by us and you wish to raise a complaint.

Your application will undergo a desk-based assessment from a Flight Crew Licensing Officer. Following an acceptable assessment your licence will be processed, signed, and despatched.

We will contact you in writing if we have any queries regarding your application and may keep your application pending while the additional requirements are met.

Please note that applications will only be pended for 30 days before cancellation, where no response is received.

An assessment and fee may be charged if we reject your application for not meeting all requirements. This will also be applied if you choose to cancel your application. This is to cover the work undertaken by us to assess or handle your application. All underpaid postage fees are recovered before your new licence can be issued.

The licence does not expire, the privileges within the licence are maintained by meeting the revalidation requirements, having the Certificate of Revalidation within the licence signed and maintaining medical fitness.