Captain Ong Navigating through CAAS, LCC, ICAO, FAA, TG, TR, JSA, BAH, WSSS and WTF

“CAAS Form designations appear to be a bunch of random numbers destined for the next TOTO draw.” – Captain Ong

For a foreign licence holder, there are a few forms that need to be submitted to CAAS before you will be issued your CAAS Licence. However, there aren’t any publications by CAAS or anywhere else that explains each of these forms and their functions. The way I found them out was through asking existing airline pilots who may have forgotten a lot of the important details. Much of what I learnt was through my own submission and experience. As such, I’ve documented my experiences and summarised the functions of the CAAS FC02, CAAS FC05, CAAS FC32, CAAS FC10 and CAAS FC08 in this article.

CAAS FC02 – APPLICATION FOR CONVERSION OF A FOREIGN PROFESSIONAL PILOT LICENCE

The CAAS FC02 is used for foreign licence holders to get an in-principle approval for a conversion of their licences to a CAAS CPL/ATP.

One of the required submissions in the FC02 is a “Letter from Singapore air operator or aviation organisation indicating employment or intent of employment”. So you can only submit this form after your employment in a Singapore Airlines is confirmed. I recommend submitting this form as early as possible.

As part of FC02, you are required to submit your logbooks for hours verifications. Read about how to fill up this form.

You need to attach a copy of your FAA ATP 135 results slip to proof that you are training in topics such as Human Performance Limitations. If you don’t have a copy, read about how you can get a replacement for your FAA ATP 135 results slip.

Also, if you are an FAA licence holder, you need to submit your FAA ATP 135 knowledge test result as proof that you have done topics such as Human Performance Limitations. Find out how to get a replacement here.

Upon approval, you should receive a “terms of conversion” letter from CAAS, stating all the requirements that must be met before you can convert your licence. At this stage, CAAS is basically saying “based on your submission and declaration, we can give the approval to issue you a CAAS licence”. What CAAS doesn’t do is to verify your licence and hours at this stage. Verification and policing work are actually done at FC05 submission. So as long as your hours and licences are legitimate, the eventual licence conversion (that happens later after FC05) should not be a problem.

This form takes 2 weeks from submission to approval. Submission of the FC02 costs $345.

You can download the CAAS FC02.

CAAS FC05 – APPLICATION FOR VALIDATION OF FOREIGN FLIGHT CREW LICENCE

This form is the Certificate of Validation, aka COV. You need to submit this form before you are allowed to exercise your foreign pilot licences privileges in a Singapore Registered Aircraft (9V registered aircraft).

Submit this form 2-3 weeks before your Base Aircraft Training (Base Aircraft Training is basically the flight where you bring a real aircraft to Johor or Batam for circuit training). Not too early though, as the COV is only valid for a short period of time (will update this space once I find out the period of validity of my COV).

This is the stage where CAAS will do the required validation and policing of your foreign license and hours. While the FC05 states that it would take “approximately 7 working days”, it is also “subject to positive authentication from the foreign licence Authority”. Hence, for FAA licence holders, I recommended the FC05 to be submitted 2-3 weeks before Base Aircraft training, as it will take FCC quite some time to respond to your FCC Radio Licence.

Upon approval, you should receive your Certificate of Validation (COV), and with the COV, you will be allowed to continue with your Base Aircraft Training. According to the SASP, the validity of the COV for the purpose of training in a Singapore registered aircraft is 6 months.

Submission of this form costs $72.

Read about how you can help give your FC05 a push.

You can download the CAAS FC05.

CAAS FC32 – APPLICATION FOR AIRCRAFT RATING ENDORSEMENT

This form is submitted for CAAS to issue you your aircraft type rating. The prerequisites for the submission are as follows.

Training Report by your Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO). As part of your training, you should have undergone a type rating training by a CAAS Approved TRTO. Your course report and/or certificate, signed by the TRTO Head of Training (HT) should be attached to this submission.

Copy CAAS Tech Paper Results. As part of your Type Rating Training at the TRTO, the TRTO should have registered you for the CAAS Tech Paper. Just ensure that this test is scheduled in your training roster. You might want to take note that STAA does not register students for this test, and it remains your responsibility that you get this test done in time for FC32 submission. Read about how to register and schedule yourself for your CAAS exam. Send me a message if you need study guides for the A320 exam.

FC32 Simulator Handling Test. After your Type Rating, you will be tested in the simulator by a CAAS AFE for a handling test. The CAAS AFE will likely be an AFE from your airline. The FC32 simulator sessions will test you in several handling exercises. As part of FC32 form submission requirements, your required check items will be spread over this FC32 Simulator Handling Test, your company’s Base Check, and the Base Aircraft Training flight. Your TRTO should have details of the FC32 flight test. Contact me if you need more information about the FC32 test.

Base Check. The initial base check will basically act as your Instrument Rating Test, carry out your airline proficiency check requirements and finish up the rest of FC32 check items.

Base Aircraft Training. This session is performed in the real Aircraft. For Tiger Air and Jetstar Asia, You will likely depart from Changi for Circuits training in Batam or Senai. As part of FC32 requirements, you are required to carry out a number (usually 3) successful touch and goes from circuits. As you need to either have a CAAS Licence or have CAAS issue you a COV (for foreign licence holders) to fly a 9V Aircraft, make sure you submitted your FC05 early enough to have your COV issued in time for this flight.

Submit this form together with your FC08.

The FC32 is free to submit. Usually submitted together with the FC08 (and the other in the package).

You can download the CAAS FC32.

CAAS FC10 – APPLICATION FOR A FLIGHT RADIOTELEPHONY OPERATOR’S LICENCE

As part of your final submission later for your CAAS licence, you are required to get a Radiotelephony operator’s licence from CAAS. Nothing much in this form, just fill it up, pay and submit it together with your FC08.

It will cost you $28 to submit this form. Usually submitted together with the FC08 (and the other in the package).

You can download the CAAS FC10.

CAAS FO95 – AVIATION ENGLISH LEVEL 6 SCREENING FORM

This form is used to upgrade the FAA “English proficient” level to “ICAO Level 6”. Read about the FAA English Proficient definition.

This form is free to submit. Usually submitted together with the FC08 (and the other in the package).

You can download the CAAS FO95.

CAAS FC08 – APPLICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL PILOT LICENCE

So, after you complete the requirements set out in the FC32, you can submit the FC08. The FC08 is usually submitted together with the FC10, FC32 and FC95.

Upon CAAS approval of the FC08, you will receive your CAAS CPL/ATP with the required Instrument (Part of FC32), Radio (from your FC10) and Type (FC32) endorsements.

For a commercial pilot that is less than 40 years old, it will cost $144 for submission of this form.

You can download the CAAS FC08.