The global aviation sector has been hit hard in the past year or so. The COVID-19 pandemic has left airlines struggling and many pilots worried about jobs. The situation is even worse in the UK, with the double impact of the pandemic and Brexit. UK-based pilots have found themselves with licenses that will not be recognized by the EU. Existing pilots face a lengthy and costly conversion; new pilots face the prospect of double examinations.
Guides For Aviation in Europe
Brexit & Pilot Licenses
The UK left the European Union on December 1st 2020. The so-called Brexit agreement has affected all sectors and industries. For aviation, this meant the UK was no longer a member of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency from the end of 2020. At that time, UK-issued pilot licenses ceased to be valid for use on EU-registered aircraft. These remain valid on UK-registered aircraft but not on European ones.
This is more of a problem than it may first sound for UK pilots. Many UK pilots fly out of British airports for airlines with European registered aircraft – Ryanair and easyJet are a couple of the most prominent examples.
Registering UK Pilots
There are options for UK pilots. A pilot with a UK license can apply for validation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). From January 1st 2021, this requires certification under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/723.
The requirements for this are complex. In summary, some pilots will have to re-take theoretical and practical flight examinations and obtain new medical certificates. Currently, any examinations taken in the UK before January 1st 2021 will be recognized as part of recertification. Any taken after this date will need to be conducted in an EASA country.
These changes are particularly hard for any pilots who had not had licenses issued before January 2021. They will need to decide whether to proceed with a UK or EASA license.
Lobbying For More Action
Seeking EASA validation is an option, but this is time-consuming and costly – especially for pilots not currently working for an airline.
The situation applies in reverse too, with EU licensed pilots operating UK registered aircraft also facing difficulties. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed that it will continue to recognize EU licenses for two years without additional training or testing.
In contrast, the sudden change in EU policy has left many pilots in difficulty. Amidst a difficult outlook for jobs, this is not something that they need. There have already been changes in the market. As just one example, Ryanair’s subsidiary Lauda Europe recently advertised for London-based pilots, but with a requirement for an EASA license (its A320s are registered in Malta).
There is lobbying action underway, but no shift as yet from the EU. The UK pilot’s union BALPA has pushed the UK government to push for mutual recognition of licenses by the EU, citing concerns over conditions for UK pilots. In reporting by FlightGlobal, BALPA sums up the current situation, saying:
“The UK government has done little to even raise this contradiction with the EU. [The] UK has repeatedly announced that it wants to diverge from EU rules, and any extension of recognition of licenses or training would also have to take account of the interests of the EU industry and ensure a level playing field between [the] EU and UK.”
Final Thoughts
As if COVID has not caused enough challenges in the aviation sector, airlines and pilots now find themselves dealing with another one. Like many other Brexit-related issues, this is a highly politically topic. EU and UK pilots will ultimately suffer if the regulations do not change – but for now, UK pilots seem much worse off.
