Kenya - Convert Foreign Private Pilot Licence (PPL)

Advertisement

Procedure

Apply in Person

1. The first step To Convert a Foreign Private Pilot License (PPL), is to visit the Personnel License (PEL) Office to have an eligibility check by the KCAA Personnel officials.
   
2. If you pass all the eligibility requirements you will be allowed to book and sit the composite conversion exam. The eligibility criteria has been mentioned in the Eligibility section of this procedure.
   
3. Pay, book and sit for the PPL composite examinations and after passing the exams you can go ahead and make an official application for the validation certificate.

   • A fee of Ksh.5,000 is charges to sit for the conversion examinations
     

4. This is done by completing and submit the prescribed Application for Issue or Renewal of a Private Pilot Licence- FORM - O-PEL004 application form to the PEL Offices.
   
5. This form can be obtained by visiting the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Branch Offices or by downloading it from their KCAA Website.
   
6. After filling the application documents you are required to submit them to the Authority’s Personnel Office or you can forwarded them to the:-
   

   Director General,
   

   Kenya Civil Aviation Authority,
   

   P. O. Box 30163-00100,
   

   Nairobi, Kenya,
   

7. You are required to submit them together with all the required documents. These documents include:-
   

   (i). Aeronautical Experience form for the license being applied for.
   

   (ii). Flight Summary Form
   

   (iii). Application form for English Language Proficiency endorsement
   

   (iv). Application form for Flight Radio Telephony Operators’ License.
   

   (v). Copy of the foreign license and relevant Kenyan medical certificate
   

   (vi). Logbook and copies of its last two pages for the licensing file.
   

   (vii). Certified copy of ID or passport.
   

   (viii). Submit four photographs - full face (2cm by 2.5cm);
   

   (ix). Letter of verification from the issuing authority of the pilot’s license (PEL will contact the issuing authority to get this)
   

   (x). Logbook evidence, which must be sent either as: original logbooks (preferred), and copies of your logbook pages
   

   (xi). An English translation of the foreign license if it is in the foreign language translation; certified by a sworn translator and both must be signed by an official or representative of the foreign authority that issued the license.
   

8. You are also to proceed to pay the prescribed application fees and submit the payment receipt to together with the application documents.
   

   • An application fee of Kshs. 2,000 is charged for applicants below 40 years and Kshs. 1,000 for those above 40 years.
     

9. A processing time of 14 days is needed to complete the conversion process so as to obtain the validation certificate for the Converted Foreign Private Pilot License (PPL), after which you will be contacted through a phone call to collect your new license at the KCAA offices.
   
10. You will be required to carry your identification documents when collecting your new license.
    
    

Advertisement

Required Documents

1. Duly filled application form i.e. Application for Issue or Renewal of a Private Pilot Licence- FORM - O-PEL004
   
2. Aeronautical Experience form for the license being applied for.
   
3. Flight Summary Form
   
4. Application form for English Language Proficiency endorsement
   
5. Application form for Flight Radio Telephony Operators’ License.
   
6. Copy of the foreign license and relevant Kenyan medical certificate
   
7. Logbook and copies of its last two pages for the licensing file.
   
8. Certified copy of ID or passport.
   
9. Submit four photographs - full face (2cm by 2.5cm);
   
10. Letter of verification from the issuing authority of the pilot’s license (PEL will contact the issuing authority to get this)
    
11. Logbook evidence, which must be sent either as: original logbooks (preferred), and copies of your logbook pages
    
12. An English translation of the foreign license if it is in the foreign language translation; certified by a sworn translator and both must be signed by an official or representative of the foreign authority that issued the license.
    
    

Office Locations & Contacts

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority - Head Office,
Aviation House, Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport, Nairobi
Tel: +254 020 827470-75
Mobile: +254 728 606 570, +254 709 725000
+254 728 606 586, +254 734 000 491, +254 734 000492
Fax: + 254 020 822300
P.O. Box 30163 -00100 Nairobi
Email: [email protected]
Website: KCAA Website

Eligibility

1. Be at least seventeen years of age for a license other than the operation of glider or balloon;
   
2. Be at least sixteen years of age for a license in a glider or balloon;
   
3. Must hold a current and valid foreign Airline Transport Pilot License (including a radio license).
   
4. A valid, relevant medical certificate from a Kenyan designated medical examiner.
   
5. Any class or type ratings you intend to fly with this conversion must also be current and valid.
   
6. Proof of the English language proficiency
   
7. Results of a passed composite conversion exam for the license being applied for.
   
8. The required flying experience as substantiated by the flying logbook
   
9. The applicable aeronautical experience requirements for each license being sought.
   
10. An aircraft type rating for either pilot-in- command or co-pilot respectively included in the PPL license.
    
    

Fees

• A fee of Ksh. 5,000 is charged for the composite conversion examination
  
• A fees of Kshs. 2,000 is charged for applicants below 40 years and Kshs. 1,000 for those above 40 years.
  
• Charges for Air Navigation Services and Regulatory Fees
  
  

Validity

• The Authority may issue a validation certificate which shall be valid for one year, provided the foreign license, ratings and the medical certificate remain valid.
  
• A Private Pilot Licence with an aeroplane or rotorcraft (helicopter) category rating shall be valid—
  

1. For a holder who is less than forty years of age, from the date the licence is issued or renewed by the Authority for a period of the remainder of the twenty four months validity of the holder’s Medical Certificate; or
   
2. for a holder who is forty years of age or more, from the date the licence is issued or renewed by the authority for a period of the remainder of the twelve months validity of the holder’s Medical Certificate.
   
   

Documents to Use

• Application for Issue or Renewal of a Private Pilot Licence - Form O-PEL002
  
• Application form for English Language Proficiency endorsement
  
• Application form for Flight Radio Telephony Operators’ License.
  
  

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• The processing time is fourteen days.
  
  

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. 	
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

• The applicant should –

1. Visit the Authority’s Personnel licensing Offices so as to check if you pass the eligibility criteria.
   
2. Pay, book and sit for the composite conversion examinations.
   
3. Complete the prescribed application form, and all the required documents.
   
4. Pay the applicable fees and submit the payment receipt.
   
5. Wait for the processing period to elapse then collect your converted foreign PPL license.
   
   

Required Information

1. Full names
   
2. Postal and physical address
   
3. Date and place of birth
   
4. Nationality
   
5. Gender
   
6. Name of Aviation Training Organisation where you got instructed
   
7. Particulars of licences already held (Place and Date of Issue , Type of Licence, Number and Expiry Date )
   
8. Category, Class and/or Aircraft Type (if required) for which the Licence is required.
   
9. Instrument Rating held and state date of last test.
   
10. Total Instrument Flying Hours
    
11. Hours Flown (Totals to Date , Totals since renewal, Totals last 6 months)
    
12. Co-pilot details
    
13. Whether yet examined for and obtained a medical certificate in accordance with the Civil Aviation Regulations
    
14. Whether you are able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language in accordance with the English language proficiency requirements of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
    
15. Whether you have met all the requirements for the issuance of this licence
    
16. Declaration
    
17. Signature of Applicant
    
18. Date of Application
    
    

Need for the Document

• Conversion of a pilot’s foreign Private Pilot’s License (PPL) allows a pilot who has a foreign pilots’ license to be able to fly in Kenya on a long term basis.
  
• The Private Pilot Certificate, internationally referred to as the Private Pilot License (PPL), allows students to obtain the foundational knowledge and skills for all future aircraft pilot training.
  
• As a Private Pilot, you can fly an airplane day and night (if one has a Night Rating) in visual flight conditions and carry passengers (friends, family, co-workers, etc.).
  
  

Information which might help

• Any pilot who wishes to fly on an aircraft registered in Kenya using their foreign license, needs to obtain an authorization from KCAA.
  
• This authorization is generally given by the KCAA’s PEL Office through a validation or a conversion of the foreign license.
  
• In general, the validation process is used for short-term authorization while the conversion process is used for longer-term authorization.
  
• You cannot fly for paid compensation or hire.
  
• The PPL is your foundation course on a pathway to a Commercial Pilot’s License.
  
  

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

• This license is one of the requirements needed when applying for a Commercial Pilot license.
  
  

External Links

• The Civil Aviation Act
  
• Personnel licensing
  
  

Others

• Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) was established on 24th October 2002 by the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act, 2002 with the primary functions towards;
  

1. Regulation and oversight of Aviation Safety & Security;
   
2. Economic regulation of Air Services and development of Civil Aviation;
   
3. Provision of Air Navigation Services, and Training of Aviation personnel KCAA;
   

as guided by the provisions of the convention on international civil aviation, related ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), the Kenya Civil Aviation Act, 2013 and the civil aviation regulations.