Pilots Visiting Australia
Australia has one of the best aviation environments in the world, but to enjoy it from the cockpit, you’ll need a valid licence.
Whether you want to go on a flying holiday or build your flying hours, the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia in Perth can help you earn a valid temporary or permanent pilot licence.
Short-term Licence Validation
If you plan to fly in Australia for three months or less, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will normally issue you with a Certificate of Validation. This will typically depend on whether you hold a Flight Crew Licence from an ICAO member country.
A medical examination is generally not necessary, but you will require a check flight prior to flying in Australia.
You should begin the process of validating your overseas-based licence before you arrive in Australia, as it generally takes between one and two months to process (this is, in part, due to the anti-terrorism checks introduced in recent years).
CASA will be able to provide you with information about the documentation you’ll need to apply for a Certificate of Validation.
Upon arrival in Australia, a qualified instructor will brief you on local procedures and fly with you to ensure you meet the required standard to safely operate in Australian airspace.
Full Licence Conversion
To convert your overseas-based pilot licence to an Australian one, you will need to supply your original licence, a medical certificate, and your logbook. For logbooks in languages other than English you will need to bring a certified translation.
In summary, here’s what the process looks like for each class of licence (these are indicative only, we recommend you contact CASA for specific requirements that meet your needs):
Private Pilot Licence
- You must pass an Australian medical examination
- You must pass a written (theory) conversion examination
- You must train to reach the PPL flight test standard
- You must pass the full Australian PPL flight test
Commercial Pilot Licence
- You must pass an Australian medical examination
- You must pass a written (theory) conversion examination
- You must train to reach the CPL flight test standard
- You must pass the full Australian CPL flight test
Command Instrument Rating
- You must first convert your licence to an Australian licence
- You must pass the written Instrument Rating examination
- You must train to reach the IFR flight test standard
- You must pass the full Australian CIR flight test
For more information, call our friendly operations team at Jandakot Airport, Perth, on (08) 9417 0000, and speak to one of our knowledgeable flight instructors.