JAA/EASA Info

A word from Mike

Becker Helicopters does not issue a EASA license (previously known as JAA).

The Becker Helicopters 155 hour International EASA course meets the EASA requirements of training and syllabus that you can achieve outside Europe and UK. You still have to return to Europe or UK to complete your final few hours to gain a EASA license. The Exams and Medical are also needed, just like any pilot converting to another countries license.

The International 155 hour course is a specially developed syllabus that has been designed for pilots wanting to train to meet EASA requirements. The syllabus was especially written to make sure the pilots returning to Europe have all they need to be able to complete their final flying in a EASA country. Meticulous research and effort was taken in the development over the 7 months of finalizing the training, and verified at the EASA in Europe to make sure the conversion is a simple and straight forward process. Jan & I traveled to UK and Europe to meet the CAA and EASA, to ensure what we are teaching is right on track. No other Australian company has made that investment or commitment to the training of our next generation of pilots. Some students require additional endorsement and further training in some areas and less in others. We have the ability to dynamically change the modules you need to complete to ensure it’s tailored to your needs.
See you in the air

Get a EASA licence at a reasonable cost in a short time frame

At Becker Helicopters we concentrate on training students from all over the world to gain a Commercial Pilots Licence. We have researched what you have to do to meet International requirements here in Australia. You can do your training at a fraction of the cost due to a great exchange rate and in less time because of our consistent good weather and uncluttered airspace.

Some aviation training companies in Australia claim they can train international students but they legally are unable to because they are not Government accredited or audited and get students in on a tourist visa. This gets them a 'quick buck' but puts you and your money at risk. The point of this is to be very careful what you believe when dealing with flying schools and theory providers who claim to be able to provide training for international students. If they are not government accredited they are deceiving the authorities and putting your career at risk.

We are so serious about being able to offer a course to meet the EASA requirements that Jan and Mike recently flew to Europe, visited the UK CAA, the Norwegian CAA and visited the EASA in Holland. They met with some of the key decision makers and made some very good progress toward determining how you can go a long way to obtaining a EASA licence in Australia. They met with Fergus Woods, the head of licensing for the EASA. There is some confusion as to how to actually get a licence in Europe these days. Much of the confusion can be avoided by doing some solid reading and research of the JARs.

We have heard of loop holes and other ways of getting licences. We discovered that there is currently only one school outside of Europe who is able to offer a EASA licence (based in the USA) and we wanted to get the real story and see how we could fit in. We showed Fergus our syllabus and courses. Also discussed was the fact that there is currently very little training being conducted in Europe because of high costs, red tape, airspace restrictions and adverse weather. The end result of all this research has led to the following information.

How to get a EASA licence outside of Europe

There are two ways to get a Helicopter EASA CPL licence. You can do either an approved integrated course or you can do a modular course.

Integrated course

This is conducted at a flight school that has been approved by the EASA to offer an integrated course of training that includes theory and flying components. The school must be approved by a EASA Member State (and therefore is usually within a EASA Member State). This allows the total flight time to be reduced to 138 hours but you must do the course strictly as per the approved syllabus. Most students do not go down this path as it is expensive and locks you into a regimented course.

Integrated courses conducted by government approved schools in other countries (such as Becker Helicopters in Australia) are not yet accepted by the EASA syllabus, however we have a solution.

Modular course

The modular course is the path that enables us to train you for a EASA licence. This consists of a theory and flying couse in which you gain an Australian PPL or CPL with 155 hours. On completion of this you are eligible to do a 30-hour modular block (flying) at a EASA approved school (in Europe), then study the approved EASA ATPL theory subjects prior to sitting the flight test with a total of 185 hours. Please note that CPL and ATPL theory courses conducted outside of the EASA do not count toward this final theory requirement. To gain a EASA licence you must sit the EASA ATPL exams.

Currently there are no EASA approved CPL theory courses, most students study the PPL theory then the EASA ATPL (fixed wing). There is no EASA ATPL Helicopter course as yet. The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is in discussion with the EASA to have the Australian theory and training recognised but being a government agency, that could be some time away.

Becker Helicopters EASA course in Australia

We have put together a 155 hour international package that will give you an Australian CPL meeting all the EASA syllabus requirements with regards to instrument and night training. Following this we have a 30 hour modular course for you to follow back in Europe, the EASA ATPL theory subjects then a EASA flight test.

Course Information

GOOD LUCK, SAVE HARD!

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.