ICAO Conversions

ICAO Conversions

Our school has years of experience in assisting foreign pilots obtain FAA licensing, and we are proud to call ourselves ICAO conversion specialists! Although the first step of any ICAO conversion is a thorough logbook review, we have set forth an outline of the necessary steps below.

Verifying the Authenticity of Your Foreign License

    1. First, visit the FAA website (www.faa.gov) and fill out the form, available here , to verify the authenticity of a foreign license, rating, or medical certification.
    2. The contents of the form can be filled out using your personal information and the information on your foreign pilot license. Be sure that all information you provide exactly matches the information on your private license and on your passport.
    3. Item 11 on the form asks for the location of the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) where you intend to apply for conversion. A specific FSDO locator is available here , but we have provided addresses for our school’s local FSDOs below.
      1. If you will be completing your conversion from our Florida location, enter the following address for Item 11:
        2895 SW 145 AVE
        Suite 120
        Miramar, Florida 33027
      2. If you will be completing your conversion from our Tennessee location, enter the following address for Item 11:
        2847 Business Park Drive, Bldg. J
        Memphis, Tennessee 38118
    4. Include legible copies of your valid foreign license and your medical license or endorsement with your application, front and back. If your license and/or endorsement are not in English, include copies of an English transcription.
    5. Sign the form using your full name as it appears on your foreign license.
    6. After making sure that the entire form is filled out and nothing is omitted, mail the form and the copies of your license and medical endorsement to:
      Department of Transportation
      Federal Aviation Administration
      Airmen Certification Branch, AFS-760
      PO Box 25082
      Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0082

Note: the FAA website also allows you to fax the application to (405) 954-9922 or scan and email it to foreign-verification4@faa.gov. Historically, we have experienced issues with legibility when submitting by fax or email, so we recommend faxing or emailing a copy and mailing the original. Always keep a copy for your records!

  1. Remember: the FAA advises that the processing of the Verification of Authenticity of Foreign License, Rating, and Medical Certification form takes approximately 45 to 90 days to complete. Do not schedule any travel and/or checkrides until a valid Verification Letter has been obtained.
  2. If you need any help with this portion of the process, contact us with specific questions at fly@ctipft.com.

**There are additional requirements for Applicants from Australia, Cyprus, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan and United Kingdom. Visit the FAA website for more details.

Obtaining a US Temporary Airman Certificate

  1. After you receive your verification letter from the FAA, the next step is to schedule a meeting with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) or other certifying official who is certified to offer license conversions (in our experience, most DPES are certified). You must locate this DPE at the same FSDO that you entered on your initial application for verification within six months of receiving your verification letter.
  2. The FAA advises that scheduling an appointment with a DPE can take around two weeks because of enhanced security measures.
  3. When you meet with the DPE, be sure to bring with you (1) your valid foreign pilot’s license, (2) your valid medical certificate, (3) your valid passport, and (4) your logbook.
    1. If your foreign license is dependent on a valid medical certificate, you must have a copy of the medical certificate from your foreign licensing country to qualify for license conversion.
    2. If your foreign license is not contingent upon a foreign medical certificate, a current medical license from your foreign medical examiner or a current FAA medical certificate will satisfy the medical requirement.
  4. Please visit FAA.gov and log into IACRA where you will fill out your application for your US Restricted Private License. Form 8710-1 can also be used but most Designated Pilot Examiners prefer using the internet based application process.
  5. Use the information on your foreign pilot license to complete the Form.
  6. In our experience, there is usually a $250 charge at the FSDO to issue the US Restricted Private Temporary Airman Certificate.

Logbook Reviews Overview

  1. Because the logbook reviewer may not be familiar with the airports included in your logbook, we recommend that you bring a sectional map of your home country with you to your review, so that the minimum distances can be confirmed.
  2. Logbook review is a very detailed process that requires experience and familiarity with FAA regulations. Don’t be surprised if your flight experience doesn’t get you the ratings you expect it to!

Qualifying for Instrument Rating

  1. Requirements for obtaining a US Instrument Rating include:
    1. 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of which 10 hours must have been in an airplane
    2. 40 hours of actual or simulated IFR time from an authorized instrument instructor, which includes:
      1. 3 hours in an instrument-rated plane within previous two months
      2. 250 nm minimum cross-country flight with an instructor that includes:
        1. An instrument approach at each airport
        2. Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems
  2. Once you have the appropriate experience, you will schedule a check ride with the Designated Pilot Examiner to receive your instrument rating.

Qualifying for Commercial Certificate – Single Engine

  1. Requirements for obtaining a US Commercial Certificate for single engine airplanes include:
    1. 250 hours total time
    2. 100 hours of pilot in command flight time, which includes at least:
      1. 50 hours in airplanes
      2. 50 hours in cross-country flight, at least 10 of which are in an airplane
      3. 10 hours of instrument training
      4. 10 hours in a complex single engine plane
      5. One 2 hour daytime cross country, where one leg is at least 100 nm straight line from the original point of departure
      6. One 2 hour nighttime cross country, where one leg is at least 100 nm straight line from the original point of departure
      7. 3 hours in a single engine airplane with an instructor in the last 2 months
      8. 10 hours solo flight time or pilot in command time in a single engine airplane
      9. One cross-country totaling at least 300 nautical miles, with at least three landings, one of which is at least straight line 250 nm from the original airport
      10. 5 hours in night VFR conditions, with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at an airport with an operating control tower

Qualifying for Commercial Certificate – Multi Engine

  1. Requirements for obtaining a US Commercial Certificate for multi engine airplanes include:
    1. 250 hours total time
    2. 100 hours of pilot in command flight time, which includes at least:
      1. 50 hours in airplanes
      2. 50 hours in cross-country flight, at least 10 of which are in an airplane
      3. 10 hours of instrument training
      4. 10 hours in a complex multi engine plane
      5. One 2 hour daytime cross country, where one leg is at least 100 nm straight line from the original point of departure
      6. One 2 hour nighttime cross country, where one leg is at least 100 nm straight line from the original point of departure
      7. 3 hours in a multi engine airplane with an instructor in the last 2 months
      8. 10 hours solo flight time or pilot in command time in a multi engine airplane
      9. One cross-country totaling at least 300 nautical miles, with at least three landings, one of which is at least straight line 250 nm from the original airport
      10. 5 hours in night VFR conditions, with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at an airport with an operating control tower.

We can conduct a logbook review for you, and help you get the experience needed for any certificate or rating. To get started, contact us at 954-938-3043 or fly@ctipft.com!