Licence conversion to EASA
Do you hold a pilot licence issued in the United States, Canada, or another non-European country and wish to operate in Switzerland or Europe?

Conversion to an EASA licence is the mandatory process to have your qualifications recognised within the European regulatory framework. Air-Evolution Ltd. assists you through every stage of the process, from theoretical preparation to the administrative procedures with FOCA, through to the final skill test.
The licence conversion process
Who it is for
This pathway is intended for pilots holding a PPL(H), CPL(H), or ATPL(H) licence issued by a third country, such as the United States under FAA regulations or Canada, who wish to convert their qualification into an equivalent EASA licence recognised in Switzerland and in all countries of the European Union. It generally consists of a reduced PPL(H) or CPL(H) programme, calibrated to the flight experience already accumulated abroad.
Medical certificate
To initiate the conversion process, the applicant must hold a valid EASA-FCL Class 2 Medical Certificate for PPL(H), or Class 1 for CPL(H), issued by an authorised Aeromedical Examiner (AME) in Switzerland. We recommend obtaining your EASA medical certificate before commencing the conversion procedures.
EASA theoretical examinations
The candidate must pass two theoretical knowledge subjects, air law and human performance, in the case of a PPL(H), or the full EASA theoretical knowledge examinations at the FOCA examination centre in Ittigen for a CPL(H) or ATPL(H) VFR/IR licence. Theoretical preparation, covering the subjects required under European regulations, may be completed via distance learning with a minimum number of classroom hours. The programme also includes approximately 15 hours dedicated to Swiss aviation law and specific EASA regulations.
Reduced flight instruction
Thanks to the flight experience already accumulated abroad, the practical programme is agreed directly with FOCA and the Approved Training Organisation (ATO) responsible for the training. The candidate is generally required to complete approximately 10 hours of flight instruction, sufficient to demonstrate mastery of operational procedures to European standards. The exact training plan is defined on a case-by-case basis according to the individual profile of the candidate.
Administrative procedures
The conversion involves a precise administrative process that must be followed carefully. Air-Evolution Ltd. assists you with all the necessary formalities, verifying point by point that the documentation required by FOCA is complete and correct before submitting the application for issue of the new EASA licence.
Skill test
Upon completion of the process, the candidate must pass a skill test before an authorised Flight Examiner, to be completed within 6 months of the end of the instruction period. Once passed, the EASA licence will be issued, fully valid in Switzerland and in all countries of the European Union.