Validating an ICAO licence for non-commercial activities allows you to fly in non-commercial activities (the pilot is not remunerated) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) only in UK airspace using your ICAO licence.
Who needs to apply
Holders of an ICAO licence who wish to fly privately, in non-commercial activities, for more than 28 calendar days a year in UK airspace.
Pre-requisites
You must hold:
- A valid and ICAO licence and medical (this means a valid licence, with a valid rating with a valid ICAO compliant medical certificate).
- Any class or type ratings you intend to fly with this validation must also be current and valid.
- A minimum experience of at least 100 hours as pilot in the relevant category of aircraft.
The following must be met:
- the aircraft you intend to fly is registered in the UK,
or - the operator’s Principal Place of Business is in the UK,
or - the aircraft is based/maintained in the UK.
Skill test
You must complete a licence skill test with an authorised Part-FCL UK examiner.
Language proficiency
You will need to demonstrate language proficiency, and this must be tested by a UK examiner. If you don’t pass your language proficiency test, you will need to attend a UK Training Organisation.
Medical
You will need to obtain a UK Part MED Class Two Medical Certificate if you do not hold a full ICAO class II medical certificate.
FAA Class II medicals are not ICAO compliant.
Costs
There are costs to validate an ICAO licence for non-commercial activities.
Validity period
The certificate is valid up to one year.
You must enter a course in order to obtain a UK licence before the validation expires, if the validation is to be extended.
The validation can only be extended once and before it expires.
What else do I need to know?
Article 6 or 7 of Section 2 (UK (EU) 2020/723) provides further information.
What to include with your application
You will need to include the following information with your application:
- application form SRG2139 with supporting documentation
- appropriate examiner report following completion of skill test
- 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)
- letter of verification from the issuing authority of the pilot’s licence
- logbook evidence, which must be sent either as: original logbooks (preferred), or copies of your logbook pages
Please make sure all attachments are in PDF format. Any evidence deemed unsuitable will delay your application being processed.
How to apply
Once all the requirements above have been met, the application should be submitted by email to the address pilotvalidation@caa.co.uk.
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