New European regs may dramatically increase the number of private instrument pilots, but will force FAA license holders resident in Europe to be dual-qualified.
European IFR changes
It may surprise U.S. pilots to know that much (perhaps most) private instrument flying in Europe is done in U.S.-registered aircraft using an FAA-issued pilots certificate. But the times are a-changing. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is now the sole authority across much of Europe, enforcing by law what was an amalgamation of voluntary agreements between countries.
Key Takeaways:
- New EASA regulations will require European residents flying U.S.-registered aircraft with FAA licenses to acquire EASA licenses and ratings, fundamentally changing previous practices.
- A primary aim of these new rules is to simplify and ease the process for European pilots to obtain an instrument rating (IR) within Europe, as the former system was historically complex and restrictive compared to the FAA's.
- While creating a burden for existing FAA certificate holders, a proposed "credit" for third-country ratings may offer a streamlined path, requiring a written test and only necessary practical training to gain EASA qualification.
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