FAA aviation
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FAA · Licence Compatibility

One licence.
Anywhere in the world.

Train under the FAA at Florida, Arizona and Texas hubs — the world's most flown training airspace — then convert seamlessly into DGCA, EASA, CASA, GCAA or SACAA when your career calls.

Issued under
14 CFR Part-61 / 141
Federal Aviation Administration · USA
Recognised across
ICAO Annex 1
Universal bilateral acceptance
Issued to
Career-Track Cadets
PPL · IR · CPL · CFI · ATPL
Foundations

Pump up your skills — supercharge exam-passing with foundational classes on every FAA subject.

Air Law · Navigation · Meteorology · Tech-Gen · Performance · Human Factors · Comms · Instruments. Live, instructor-led foundations from Aerovate Global — bridge gaps, lock concepts, walk into your FAA written with confidence.

Enrol in foundations
Chapter I · The Selector

Select your destination CAA to see how your FAA licence converts.

Pick the regulator where you intend to fly commercially. We'll show you exactly what's required to convert an FAA Commercial / Instrument into the licence issued by that authority — exams, flight test, medical, hour credit, timeline.

Destination regulator
Supporting 25+ destinations across DGCA, FAA, EASA, UK CAA, GCAA, CASA, SACAA & more.
Destination regulator
India
DGCA
FAA
From
FAA
Part-61 / Part-141 · United States
To
DGCA
India
India
Your FAA licence converts cleanly into the DGCA system in India.

FAA Part-61 / Part-141 is recognised under ICAO Annex 1 and accepted by every major regulator with a defined conversion path. Below is the typical pathway from a FAA CPL/ME/IR into the DGCA system.

Timeline
4–6 months
Hour credit
FAA hours credited 1:1; FAA IR converts as DGCA IR after exam.
For pricing, please contact Aerovate Global.
Theory exams
DGCA CPL papers: Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical General + Specific, RTR(A) — 6 exams.
Flight test
DGCA CPL skill test on VT-registered aircraft + RTR(A).
Medical
DGCA Class 1.
Note · RTR(A) and Air Regulations are the typical bottleneck.
Plan my FAA → DGCA conversion
Chapter II · The Network

FAA hubs where we deliver pilot training across the United States.

300+ flying days a year, the world's busiest GA airspace, abundant Cessna and Piper fleets, and direct pipelines into US regional and major airline cadet programmes.

Florida cityscape
MCO

Florida

FAA Hub
Arizona cityscape
PHX

Arizona

FAA Hub
Texas cityscape
DFW

Texas

FAA Hub
California cityscape
LAX

California

FAA Hub
Oklahoma cityscape
OKC

Oklahoma

FAA Hub
Aviation interlude
Interlude · Across the American West

"The FAA writes the rulebook the rest of the world reads."

Over 16 million annual flight hours in US airspace — the deepest training ecosystem on the planet.
№ Field Notes · From the FAA flight line

From the apron, the cockpit, the cloud deck.

Real frames from real cadets across our partner flight lines — the kind of training FAA candidates do every week.

01 / 37
Twin-tail at last light
Apron · Dusk
Twin-tail at last light
№ 01 · Civil Aviation Authority

Federal Aviation Administration

FAA — United States
www.faa.gov
ICAO Annex 1

FAA regulates US civil aviation under 14 CFR (FARs). Pilot certification follows Part 61 (flexible) or Part 141 (structured ATO). Licences are globally respected and easy to convert.

Training standards

190–250 hrs CPL · written + oral + checkride per certificate.

Where Part-141 meets the line.
Plate № 01
Where Part-141 meets the line.
№ 02 · Pathway

PPL → ATPL under FAA

PPL — Private Pilot Licence
Flight hours
40 hrs (Part 61) / 35 hrs (Part 141)
Theory
PAR written + oral
Medical
Class 3 (or BasicMed)
CPL — Commercial Pilot Licence
Flight hours
250 hrs (Part 61) / 190 hrs (Part 141)
Theory
CAX written
Medical
Class 2
Note · 100 hrs PIC, 50 hrs XC PIC, 10 hrs instrument.
IR — Instrument Rating
Flight hours
40 hrs instrument + 50 hrs XC PIC
Theory
IRA written
Medical
Carried over
ME — Multi-Engine Rating
Flight hours
No fixed minimum — typically 10–15 hrs ME
Theory
—
Medical
Carried over
ATPL — Airline Transport Pilot Licence
Flight hours
1500 hrs total (1000 hrs for R-ATP)
Theory
ATP-CTP + ATP written
Medical
Carried over
Note · R-ATP available at 1000–1250 hrs for Part 141 graduates / military.
№ 03 · Fleet

Aircraft accepted by FAA for training

Single-engine trainers
  • Cessna 152/172
  • Piper Cherokee
  • Cirrus SR20
  • Diamond DA40
Multi-engine trainers
  • Piper Seminole
  • Beechcraft Duchess
  • Diamond DA42
Approved simulators
  • AATD / BATD
  • Level D FFS for type rating
"Train where the airlines train — every US major hires through Part-141 cadet pipelines."
— Captain J. Marsh · B737 Line Check Airman
№ 04 · Type rating

FAA type rating requirements

Minimum entry
ATP — 1500 hrs (or 1000 R-ATP)
Pathway
Type ratings required for any aircraft over 12,500 lbs MTOW or turbojet. Done at Part 142 training centre (FlightSafety, CAE, ATP).
Aircraft types accepted
B737A320B777B787CRJERJCitation
Cessna cockpitSectional charts
№ 05 · Admission

Eligibility & admission requirements

Age
17+ for Private · 18+ for Commercial
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
English
ICAO Level 4 (TSA verification required)
Medical
FAA Class 1 from a US-based AME
Documents required
  • Passport (6+ months validity)
  • TSA AFSP enrollment
  • I-20 from SEVP school
  • Proof of funds
  • Bank statements
№ 06 · Visa

Visa process & requirements

Visa type
M-1 Vocational Student Visa (or F-1 for degree programmes)
Duration
Course length + 30 days
Work rights
On-campus only (no off-campus employment under M-1)
Processing time
6–12 weeks (after I-20)
All visa documentation is processed end-to-end via Aerovate Global — appointment booking, embassy submissions, biometrics and approvals.
Key documents
  • I-20 from SEVP-approved school
  • DS-160 form
  • SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
  • Proof of funds USD 30,000+
M-1 visas, TSA & paperwork — handled.
Plate № 02
M-1 visas, TSA & paperwork — handled.
№ 08 · Compatibility

Where a FAA licence converts most easily

These are the regulators that recognise FAA training closest to their own standards — usually requiring only an air-law paper, a skill test and a medical re-issue. Click any destination to apply for training there.

India
DGCA
200 hrs CPL · 6 theory papers · RTR(A) · skill test with DGCA examiner.
South Africa
SACAA
200 hrs CPL · 8 theory papers · 320 flying days/yr.
Poland
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Europe (EASA)
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Australia
CASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 7 theory exams · flight test with CASA FE.
United Arab Emirates
GCAA
200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL papers + UAE Air Law · 330 flying days/yr.
Greece
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
France
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Netherlands
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Spain
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Italy
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Switzerland
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Norway
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
№ 07 · Licence conversion

Convert FAA licence to DGCA · FAA · EASA · CASA · GCAA

Below is the typical conversion path from a FAA licence into each major regulator. All routes assume an ICAO Annex 1-compliant CPL/IR, valid logbook, and a Class 1 medical from the destination state. Numbers are indicative — confirm with the receiving authority before booking exams.

→ DGCA4–6 months
Theory exams
DGCA CPL papers: Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical General + Specific, RTR(A) — 6 exams.
Flight test
DGCA CPL skill test on VT-registered aircraft + RTR(A).
Medical
DGCA Class 1.
Hours credit
FAA hours credited 1:1; FAA IR converts as DGCA IR after exam.
Note · RTR(A) and Air Regulations are the typical bottleneck.
→ EASA9–14 months
Theory exams
EASA ATPL theory — 13 papers (Air Law, AGK Airframe & Systems, AGK Powerplant, AGK Instruments, Mass & Balance, Performance, Flight Planning, Human Performance, Meteorology, Gen Nav, Radio Nav, Operational Procedures, Principles of Flight, Communications).
Flight test
ME-CPL/IR skill test on EASA registry.
Medical
Class 1 medical re-issued in destination state (~USD 250–400, 1 day).
Hours credit
Full credit; ATPL theory mandatory at EASA ATO.
Note · EASA Part-FCL conversion — most expensive but most prestigious in EU.
→ UK CAA9–14 months
Theory exams
UK CAA ATPL theory — 13 papers (mirrors EASA); plus FCL.625 IR revalidation if expired.
Flight test
UK CPL/IR skill test.
Medical
UK CAA Class 1.
Hours credit
Full credit.
→ GCAA6–10 weeks
Theory exams
GCAA CPL/IR licence verification + Air Law UAE paper, plus skills assessment at an AS-approved ATO.
Flight test
GCAA assessment at UAE ATO.
Medical
GCAA Class 1.
Hours credit
Full ICAO credit.
→ CASA4–6 months
Theory exams
CASA CPL exams (7): Aerodynamics, Aircraft Gen Knowledge, Performance & Loading, Meteorology, Navigation, Flight Rules & Air Law, Human Factors. + IREX for instrument rating.
Flight test
Australian CPL flight test + IREX.
Medical
CASA Class 1.
Hours credit
Full credit.
→ SACAA6–10 weeks
Theory exams
SACAA conversion: Air Law (SA), Radio Licence, plus Skills Test in SA airspace.
Flight test
SACAA skill test.
Medical
SACAA Class 1.
Hours credit
Full credit.
100% compliance promise

Aerovate's conversion advisors handle exam booking, document apostille, AME scheduling and skill-test prep end-to-end — guaranteed to meet the receiving regulator's Annex 1 standards.

Plan my conversion
№ 08 · FAQs

Frequently asked questions about United States

Part 141 vs Part 61 — which is faster?+
Part 141 has structured syllabus, allows CPL at 190 hrs (vs 250 under Part 61), and is required for M-1 visa students.
How quickly can I finish?+
Full-time students typically reach Commercial Multi-IR in 12–14 months at a Part 141 school.
Is FAA CPL accepted by Indian airlines?+
Only after DGCA conversion. Most Indian cadets do FAA hour-building, then convert to DGCA before joining IndiGo / Air India.
What's the M-1 visa process?+
Get accepted by SEVP-approved school → school issues I-20 → pay SEVIS fee → file DS-160 → consulate interview. 6–12 weeks total.
World map at night
Chapter III · The Global Network

All supported regulators across our global network.

From Phoenix to Paris, Houston to Hyderabad — one team handles every conversion, every approval, every embassy stamp.
India
DGCA
South Africa
SACAA
United States
FAA
Poland
EASA
Europe (EASA)
EASA
Philippines
CAAP
Australia
CASA
United Arab Emirates
GCAA
Saudi Arabia
GACA
Qatar
QCAA
Kuwait
CAA-Kuwait
Oman
CAA-Oman
Bahrain
CAA-Bahrain
Singapore
CAAS
Malaysia
CAAM
Thailand
CAAT
Japan
JCAB
South Korea
MOLIT
Indonesia
DGCA-ID
Greece
EASA
France
EASA
Netherlands
EASA
Spain
EASA
Italy
EASA
Switzerland
EASA
Norway
EASA
Foundations · FAQ

Before you enrol.

The questions cadets ask before signing up for the Aerovate Global foundations programme — prerequisites, schedule, and how it lifts your FAA pass-rate.