Pilot Licences

Pilots can be categorised into private pilots and professional pilots. The former shall hold a Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) while the latter shall hold a Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL), a Multi-Crew Pilot's Licence (MPL) or an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence (ATPL). The following specify the requirements for obtaining a Hong Kong Pilot Licence.

Private Pilot's Licence

Introduction

1.1     The Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (AN(HK)O), as amended, allows Hong Kong flight crew licences, ratings and medical certificates to be issued subject to the requirements set out by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Such requirements are specified in detail in the 'CAD 54 - Requirements Document : Pilot Licences and Associated Ratings'.

1.2     Staff of the Personnel Licensing Office (PELO), Civil Aviation Department (CAD) act on behalf of the DGCA in the processing of applications for and issuance of licences.

1.3     The following paragraphs state the general requirements for the issue of a Hong Kong Private Pilot's Licence (PPL). It is important to remember, however, that the following information is intended as a guide only. It must not be taken as qualifying in any way the effect of the AN(HK)O and/or CAD 54.

Requirements to obtain a PPL

2.1     Minimum Age - 17 years old

2.2     Medical Requirements - A valid Hong Kong Class 2 medical certificate

2.3     Flying Experience Requirements for Applying Licences and Ratings

2.3.1  PPL

  PPL (Aeroplanes) PPL(Helicopters)
Minimum 40 hours 40 hours

2.3.2  For recording and crediting of flight time Part 1 Appendix C of CAD 54 should be referred to.

2.3.3  Detailed flying hours requirements for each corresponding PPL can be found in the relevant chapters in Part 2 of CAD 54.

Theoretical Knowledge Examinations

2.4.1  An applicant for a PPL is required to pass the following theoretical knowledge examinations as appropriate:

Aviation Law, Flight Rules and Procedures (Aeroplanes or Helicopters)
Navigation
Meteorology
Radiotelephony
Human Performance
Aircraft (General) (Aeroplanes or Helicopters)
Aircraft (Type)

2.4.2  The syllabuses for the PPL theoretical knowledge examinations are given in Part 2 Appendix B (for aeroplanes) and Part 2 Appendix D (for helicopters) of CAD 54.

2.4.3  A pass in each examination is valid until the last calendar day of the 12th month from the month in which the examination was passed.

2.4.4  For the conversion of a foreign PPL to a Hong Kong PPL, exemptions from examinations may be granted on the basis of previous examination results. Exemption details are stated in Part 2 Chapter 1 (for aeroplanes) and Chapter 2 (for helicopters) of CAD 54.

PPL Flight Test

2.5.1  An applicant for a PPL is required to pass a flight test conducted by a CAD authorised PPL examiner, which comprises an assessment of preparation for flight and procedures for pre-takeoff and various flight phases.

2.5.2  The syllabus for the PPL flight test is given in Part 2 Appendix A (for aeroplanes) and Appendix C (for helicopters) of CAD 54.

Aircraft Rating (AR)

2.6.1  The AR enables the licence holder to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) of the types of aircraft contained in the AR page of the licence. For aeroplane, subject to the AR flight test results, the following groups may be endorsed in the AR page:

  1. Group A - entitles the holder to act as PIC of all single-engine aeroplanes not exceeding 5,700 kg Maximum Total Weight Authorised (MTWA).
  2. Group B - entitles the holder to act as PIC of all multi-engine aeroplanes not exceeding 5,700 kg MTWA.
Application Procedures

3.1    An application for the issue of a PPL should be lodged with the PELO and include the following documents:-

  1. personal flying log book
  2. medical certificate
  3. forms: DCA 605 and DCA 527 PPL
  4. one recent full faced photograph size 25mm x 30mm
  5. identity proof
  6. qualifying cross-country certificate (if applicable)
  7. foreign licence (if applicable)
  8. administrative fee(s) as specified in Cap. 448D
Contact

4.1    For application or enquiry, you can write to:

Personnel Licensing Office
Flight Standards and Airworthiness Division
Civil Aviation Department
1 Tung Fai Road
Hong Kong International Airport
Lantau, Hong Kong

Professional Pilot's Licence

Introduction

1.1     The Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (AN(HK)O), as amended, allows Hong Kong flight crew licences, ratings and medical certificates to be issued subject to the requirements set out by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Such requirements are specified in detail in the 'CAD 54 - Requirements Document : Pilot Licences and Associated Ratings'.

1.2     Staff of the Personnel Licensing Office (PELO), Civil Aviation Department (CAD) act on behalf of the DGCA in the processing of applications for and issuance of licences.

1.3     The following paragraphs state the general requirements for the issue of a Hong Kong professional pilot's licence. It is important to remember, however, that the following information is intended as a guide only. It must not be taken as qualifying in any way the effect of the AN(HK)O and/or CAD 54.

1.4       Please refer to CAD 509(MPL) in conjunction with CAD 54 for details of MPL licensing requirements.

Requirements to obtain a Professional Pilot's Licence

2.1     Minimum Age

  • Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) / Multi-Crew Pilot's Licence (MPL) - 18 years old;
  • Airline Transport Pilot's Licence (ATPL) - 21 years old

2.2     Medical Requirements - A valid Hong Kong Class 1 medical certificate

2.3     Flying Experience Requirements for Applying Licences and Ratings

2.3.1  CPL

  CPL (Aeroplane) CPL(Helicopter)
Minimum 250 hours 185 hours
Remarks: Minimum hours for attaining CPL(A) or CPL(H) through a CAD approved course may be reduced. Please refer to CAD 54 and each corresponding CAD 509 for details

2.3.2  ATPL

   ATPL (Aeroplane)  ATPL(Helicopter)
Minimum  1,500 hours  1,200 hours

2.3.3  Instrument Rating (IR)

  IR (Aeroplane) IR (Helicopter)
Minimum 250 hours 200 hours

2.3.4  For recording and crediting of flight time Part 1 Appendix C of CAD 54 should be referred to.

2.3.5  Detailed flying hours requirements for each licence and rating mentioned above can be found in the relevant chapters in Part 3 of CAD 54.

Theoretical Knowledge Examinations

2.4.1  An applicant for a professional pilot's licence is required to pass the following theoretical knowledge examinations at CPL or ATPL level as appropriate:-

Group 1 (Navigation)

  1. Aviation Law (Paper A) (Aeroplanes or Helicopters)
  2. Aviation Law: Flight Rules and Procedures (Paper B)
  3. Flight Planning and Flight Monitoring
  4. Navigation
  5. Instruments
  6. Meteorology Theory
  7. Meteorology Practical
  8. Radio Aids
  9. Radiotelephony
  10. Human Performance (Aeroplanes or Helicopters)
  11. Signals

Group 2 (Technical)

  1. Principles of Flight (Aeroplanes or Helicopters)
  2. Airframe Systems (Aeroplanes or Helicopters)
  3. Engines
  4. Electrics and Automatic Flight
  5. Loading
  6. Aircraft Performance and Technical appropriate to the Aircraft Rating to be included in the licence

2.4.2  The syllabuses for the professional pilot's licence theoretical knowledge examinations are given in Part 3 Appendices A and B of CAD 54.

2.4.3  The validity period of the results of the theoretical knowledge examinations of the respective group for licence issue is normally last day of the 6th or 12th month from the month when the pass is obtained as specified in Part 3 Chapter 7 of CAD 54. However, where the applicant is the holder of a Hong Kong CPL(A) the validity period of the results of the ATPL (A) theoretical knowledge examination is 7 years from the end of the year of the last validity date of either the Aircraft Rating of a multi-engined aeroplane or the Instrument Rating corresponding to that particular type, whichever is earlier.

2.4.4  For the conversion of a foreign professional pilot's licence to a Hong Kong licence, exemptions from examinations may be granted either on the basis of flight experience or on previous examination results. Exemption details are stated in Part 3 Chapter 3 (for aeroplanes) and Chapter 6 (for helicopters) of CAD 54.

General Flight Test (GFT)

2.5.1  An applicant for a professional pilot's licence is required to pass a GFT conducted by a CAD authorised flight examiner, which comprises an assessment of the following:

Section 1: Preparation for flight
Section 2: Cross-country flight
Section 3: Basic aircraft handling
Section 4: Instrument flying
Section 5: Night flying (if such privilege is to be included in Professional Pilot's licence)

2.5.2  The syllabus for the GFT is given in Part 3 Appendix D of CAD 54.

2.5.3  The holder of a foreign professional pilot's licence seeking a Hong Kong licence will normally be exempt from all sections of the GFT.

Aircraft Rating (AR) Flight Test

2.6.1  A CPL will not be issued unless the applicant has qualified for inclusion in the AR of the licence, either in Part 1 or Part 2 (excluding P2X), of at least one aircraft type.

2.6.2  For ATPL the applicant must qualify for inclusion in the AR page of the licence in Part 1 a multi-engined aircraft type which:

  1. is currently registered in Hong Kong; and
  2. is required to be operated by not less than two pilots.

2.6.3  A P2X rating (cruise relief pilot) will only be issued in respect of an aircraft which is certificated for two pilot operation and in a licence that has an AR endorsed in Part 1.

Instrument Rating (IR) Flight Test

2.7.1  Applicant for an IR should meet the flying experience requirements mentioned in paragraph 2.3.3 above.

2.7.2  The test will comprise:

Section 1: Flight preparation
Section 2: Take-off and climb
Section 3: En-route
Section 4: Holding
Section 5: Precision and missed approaches
Section 6: Non-precision approach and if applicable, GNSS approach (for Initial IR Flight Test only)

2.7.3  Further requirements are specified in Part 3 Chapter 10 (for aeroplanes) and Chapter 11 (for helicopters) of CAD 54.

Application Procedures

3.1   The applicant must submit Form DCA 605 and DCA 607 together with all required evidence of identity, experience and qualifications in support of the application.

3.2   For foreign licence conversion, conversion terms will be issued after assessing the applicant's experience, qualifications and relevant evidence. Licence will be granted only if all the conditions in the conversion terms are fulfilled.

3.3    An application for professional pilot's licence will not be processed normally until the applicant can show evidence of a genuine requirement to hold a Hong Kong professional pilot's licence and exercise the privileges of the licence on a Hong Kong registered aircraft.

Contact

4.1    For application or enquiry, you can write to:

Personnel Licensing Office
Flight Standards and Airworthiness Division
Civil Aviation Department
1 Tung Fai Road
Hong Kong International Airport
Lantau, Hong Kong