How to Convert a TCCA (Canadian) PPL to an FAA (U.S.) PPL?

For many international students, Canada serves as an attractive destination for professional flight training and TCCA licensing. The combination of high training standards, diverse weather conditions, and robust aviation infrastructure makes Canada a fun place to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL) under Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA). However, some of these students eventually seek to further their aviation careers in the United States, perhaps for the purpose of speeding up their training, and that’s a move that necessitates the transfer of their Canadian PPL to an FAA PPL.

The United States and Canada have established a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) to streamline the acceptance of each country’s aviation safety oversight systems. This agreement fosters cooperation between the FAA and TCCA, allowing them to evaluate and recognize each other’s systems and standards for issuing certificates and licenses. Once both authorities are satisfied with the compatibility of these systems, the agreement facilitates the conversion of pilot certificates and licenses, making the process more efficient for users in both countries.

One of the most critical aspects of this process is understanding that converting a TCCA PPL to an FAA PPL is not a really a “conversion” in the traditional sense. Instead, it is more accurately described as an “add-on”. This approach allows pilots to “add” a standalone FAA PPL to their existing TCCA PPL, enabling them to hold both licenses simultaneously as completely independent certifications.

Obtaining an FAA PPL that is not simply “issued on the grounds of a foreign license” carries significant benefits. Most notably, a standalone FAA PPL is not subject to the limitations typically imposed on licenses that are based on foreign credentials. In cases where the FAA PPL is issued on the basis of a foreign license, the validity of the FAA license is directly tied to the status of the foreign license. For example, if the medical certification for the TCCA PPL lapses, the FAA PPL would also become invalid. By the same logic, if a holder of EASA PPL (which has an expiration timeframe of only 5 years, after which it needs to be renewed, to it would lapse) converts his/her license to a restricted FAA PPL (which has no expiration date), and then allows his EASA PPL to lapse in the E.U., then his restricted FAA PPL will also automatically lapse.

By contrast, the standalone FAA PPL obtained through the outlined here add-on process is entirely independent. This distinction is crucial for international students who wish to maintain their FAA PPL without worrying about the administrative upkeep of their Canadian license once they transition to flying in the United States.

Advantages of Holding Both TCCA and FAA PPLs

Upon completion of this process, the pilot will hold both a TCCA PPL and an FAA PPL, each independent of the other. This dual licensure provides several advantages:

• Flexibility: Pilots can operate in both Canadian and U.S. airspace under the respective country’s regulations without the need to manage the validity of one license based on the other.
• Continuity: The pilot’s ability to fly in the U.S. is not compromised by any changes or lapses in the status of their Canadian license, ensuring uninterrupted access to flying privileges in the U.S.
• Career Opportunities: Let’s face it: most US airlines fly to Canada, yet the FAA pilots are not very familiar with the TCCA regulations. And having a pilot a pilot in the cockpit who is familiar with the TCCA Air Law can serve as a great advantage. Yes, surprisingly, Canada’s aviation regulations are rather different from the U.S. regulations: the airspace is very different (see Canadian “Class Bravo”, for example!), MF procedures, CZ area charts, standardized across Canada Multicom and Unicom frequencies (we talking about 123.2, 122.7, 122.8, 123.0 and, of course the famous 126.7. Confused? That’s because TCCA is different from FAA!), maximum annual flight time limitation for private pilots (1200 hours), and so on. Stuff that we just don’t have in the FAA, or have, but it is different. When you eventually get to the ATPL level of licensing and apply for employment with the U.S. airlines, bragging about your Canadian PPL license and showing off your knowledge of TCCA Air Law could give you a competitive edge during the interview process and land you that coveted Airbus FO job!

So, What’s the Process?

To convert your TCCA PPL to an FAA Private Pilot Certificate with ratings such as ASEL (Airplane Single-Engine Land), AMEL (Airplane Multi-Engine Land), ASES (Airplane Single-Engine Sea), AMES (Airplane Multi-Engine Sea), or Rotorcraft-Helicopter, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Age Requirement:
   • You must be at least 17 years old.
2. Medical Certificate:
   • You need to hold at least an FAA third-class medical certificate.
3. License Validity:
   • Your TCCA PPL should include the ratings you’re seeking on your FAA certificate (ASEL, AMEL, etc.), and it must not have been issued based on another foreign license.
4. Pilot-in-Command (PIC) Flight Time:
   • You must provide evidence of your PIC flight time in the category and class of aircraft for which you’re applying.
5. Knowledge Test:
   • You are required to pass the FAA Private Pilot Airplane Canadian Conversion or Private Pilot Helicopter Canadian Conversion knowledge test. These tests focus specifically on the differences between TCCA and FAA rules, particularly in air law and communications.
   • Only the tests designated as “Canadian Conversion” are authorized for this purpose.

   Note: No practical (flight) test or “check-ride” is required.

6. English Language Proficiency:
   • You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English. Your TCCA pilot license should include an English proficiency endorsement. For more details on the English language skill standards, refer to FAA Advisory Circular AC 60-28.

Limitations:

• If you do not hold a TCCA night qualification or do not meet FAA night flying experience requirements, your FAA pilot certificate will include the limitation “Day VFR Only,” meaning you will be restricted to daytime, Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations only.

This process ensures that you meet FAA standards while allowing you to maintain your Canadian qualifications, giving you the flexibility to operate under both regulatory systems.

To obtain an FAA Private Pilot License (PPL), you must meet the minimum flight time requirements as outlined in 14 CFR Part 61. Here are the key requirements:

Minimum Flight Time Requirements

Although the TCCA PPL and FAA PPL have very similar minimum flight time requirements, when converting your license, you must ensure that you have the same flight time logged, as the minimum requirements for the PPL issuance by the FAA, which are:

• Total Flight Time:
  • 40 hours minimum of flight time, which must include:
    1. Dual Instruction (with a Certified Flight Instructor):
       • 20 hours minimum of flight training, including:
         • 3 hours of cross-country flight training.
         • 3 hours of night flight training, including:
           • 1 cross-country flight over 100 nautical miles total distance.
           • 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop at an airport.
         • 3 hours of instrument flight training.
         • 3 hours of flight training within 2 calendar months before the practical test.
    2. Solo Flight Time:
       • 10 hours minimum of solo flight time, including:
         • 5 hours of solo cross-country flying.
         • 1 solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles total distance, with full-stop landings at three points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles between takeoff and landing locations.
         • 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.

These requirements ensure that you have a well-rounded experience covering the essential aspects of flying, including navigation, night flying, and basic instrument skills.

For international students, the journey from a TCCA PPL to an FAA PPL is a crucial step in advancing their aviation careers. By understanding the add-on process and the benefits of obtaining a standalone FAA PPL, these aspiring pilots can effectively navigate the regulatory landscape and secure the credentials necessary for a successful career in both Canadian and U.S. aviation. The result is a robust, independent licensure that offers flexibility, opportunity, and peace of mind for the pilot.

Happy flying!

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About the Author:

Russ Sherwood is a Captain and a LCP (line check pilot) at a major US airline flying the A320/321 fleet, with the military flying background on the F-16th as WSO. He has logged around 10,000 hours of flight hours and holds airline, commercial and flight instructor pilot licenses issued by the FAA (US), TCCA (Canada), CAAC (China) and DGCA (Indonesia). Russ is also an aviation career development mentor for Aerocadet