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Flying in South Africa on a foreign licence?

We handle 28-day and 5-year foreign validations, from the competency check and Air Law briefing to submitting your documents to the SACAA.

Start your validation 5-year validation
28-day
Private VFR by day
5-year
SA validation
Exams
Air Law
Pass mark
75%
Formation flight over the Highveld
Photo: Karl Spangenberg

28-day validation

Short-term validation.

Before you arrive

  • Apply for a short-term validation 60 days before arrival, to allow enough time for your licence to be verified with the country of issue
  • Pay the applicable fee as per Part 18T
  • Send the above to Amanda Haverkamp (HaverkampAm@caa.co.za) at the SACAA, and copy JFA into these emails

On arrival

  • Complete a competency check with a Grade I or Grade II flight instructor or DFE (about 2 hours of flight time)
  • Receive a briefing covering local radio procedures, Air Law, airspace and density altitude (about 2 hours)

Documents for the validation certificate

  • Letter confirming your dates of arrival and departure, and details of the aircraft to be used
  • Application form (CA 61.01.15)
  • Certified copy of your valid foreign licence
  • Certified copy of your valid foreign medical
  • Certified copy of your valid passport
  • Certified copy of your logbook (last three pages, including the competency check endorsement)

An applicant who meets these requirements may be issued with a 28-day validation for private VFR / recreational flying by day (Parts 61, 62, 68 and 69).

5-year validation

Long-term validation.

Apply for a licence number

Email a request directly to the SACAA (Amanda Haverkamp, HaverkampAm@caa.co.za) to apply for a licence number. Include:

  • A copy of your valid foreign licence
  • A copy of your valid foreign medical
  • A copy of your valid passport
  • A motivational letter requesting a South African licence number in order to write the exams for a South African validation
  • The last 3 pages of your logbook, including a dated 12-month flight summary, e.g. 01/10/2018 – 31/10/2019

Verification

The SACAA requests verification from the foreign authority. This can take from 2 weeks to 6 months, depending on their response. Once the SACAA emails you your licence number, you can book the required exams.

Exams

You need to pass two exams with at least 75%:

  • VFR: Air Law (PPL / CPL)
  • IFR: Air Law and Procedures (ATPL)

Completed at Johannesburg Flying Academy

  • A minimum 2-hour briefing on South African Air Law and airspace
  • Aircraft technical
  • Air Law exam
  • A minimum 2-hour check ride: a short navigation exercise covering various VFR routes, including the Johannesburg corridor
  • Initial skills test / conversion (original), started and submitted to the SACAA (a copy is kept in your student file)

Documents we submit to the SACAA for you

  • CA 61-01.15 (original)
  • Certified copy of your passport
  • Certified copy of your valid foreign licence (showing class/type ratings and language proficiency)
  • Valid original RSA medical, or a certified copy of your foreign medical
  • Certified copies of the last 3 logbook pages and a 12-month summary, with dates shown "From – To" and Dual, PIC and grand total hours
  • Certified copy of your endorsement summary
  • Certified copies of all class/type rating and instrument rating endorsements
  • Electronic logbooks initialled by you on each page (certified copy)
  • 2 colour passport photos
  • Letter requesting type/class ratings to be transferred (if required)
  • Initial fee for the SACAA PPL or CPL
  • Copy of the SACAA verification approval email

These documents are submitted with the CA 61-01.15 for the SACAA to issue your validation licence. If your competency is maintained (for example a valid medical and instrument rating), a 5-year validation may be granted.

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Book an introductory flight in a Sling 2, or talk to us about the right licence for you.

Book an introductory flight Call 064 756 6356