EASA pilot licensing
EASA sets common pilot licensing standards across EU and EFTA states.
EASA pilot licensing refers to the system of pilot licences, ratings, and certificates regulated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for aviation in the European Union and the European Free Trade Association. EASA specifies common standards for licensing, though licences are issued by member states; because the same standards are used, EASA licences are recognised by all member states. Flight Crew Licensing is regulated by the document EU Part-FCL.
- Regulatory body
- European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
- Governing document
- EU Part-FCL
- Basic licence
- Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL)
- Commercial licence
- Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
- Airline licence
- Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)
- Theoretical exams for atpl
- 14
- Multi crew licence
- Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL)
Lore & Background
The most basic licence is the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL), issued separately for aeroplanes, helicopters, sailplanes, and balloons; it is not a standard ICAO licence. Private Pilot Licences are issued for aeroplanes (PPL(A)) and helicopters (PPL(H)), while the SPL is for sailplanes and the BPL for balloons. A Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) allows flying for remuneration and as co-pilot or pilot-in-command of single-pilot aircraft. An Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) requires fourteen theoretical exams with a mandatory ground-school course and permits pilot-in-command of multi-pilot aircraft in commercial operations. EASA also issues the Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL), which allows flying as co-pilot in multi-crew aircraft and can be upgraded to CPL or ATPL with further training.
Reader's Guide
EASA pilot licensing is significant because it harmonises standards across the European Union and European Free Trade Association, ensuring that licences issued by any member state are recognised by all others. The system includes a hierarchy of licences from the basic LAPL to the advanced ATPL, each with specific privileges and requirements. Ratings such as type or class ratings, instrument ratings (including competency-based and en-route variants), and night ratings add further qualifications. Certificates like multi-crew cooperation (MCC) and advanced upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) are required for certain advanced ratings. Conversion of third-country licences is possible but requires passing all fourteen EASA theoretical exams, a radiotelephony exam, an English language test, and for instrument ratings, acclimatisation flying and a skill test in EU airspace. Holders of a foreign CPL must take a theory course before exams, while ATPL holders are exempt from that requirement and may take a flight test immediately if experience requirements are met.
Did You Know?
- EASA does not issue licences; licences are issued by member states.
- The Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) is not a standard ICAO licence.
- To convert a third country instrument rating, the flight test must take place in EU airspace and be preceded by acclimatisation flying.
More in Drone Regulation, Part 3 1-24
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