Neil wrote:
Yes you can, I fly both Citation and King Air on an EASA PPL with appropriate type ratings and embedded IR. I used to fly on an FAA CPL/IR with type ratings but I don’t keep that up to date at the moment as I am not flying US reg aircraft.
Note that to actually get the type rating you need a MEIR as a pre-requisite to the training course, so you have to have a current EASA IR on a MEP at that time.
Thanks for the clarification.
So which country’s NAAs accept the HPA without a classroom part?
Worth a mention, for compleness, that an alternative route to the HPA requirement if to have passed the “ATPL” theory (no matter how long ago and even if you never did any CPL/IR or ATPL flight training). It can be any ICAO ATPL, including the single-exam FAA one which I believe is still accessible if you embark on a SE ATP (though you need an FAA PPL to do the CPL and you need the CPL to sit the ATP exam). Quite a lot of private pilots do hold the FAA CPL/IR, myself included, because they did it simply because it was very accessible compared with the European route.
This isn’t subject to national rules. If this is true a report to EASA is necessary.
So which country’s NAAs accept the HPA without a classroom part? Switzerland for example doesn’t, and a pilot who has gone through this told me you have to pay 3k for the course even if you have passed the theory by distance learning at another ATO.
Would be interested in experiences from France, asking for a friend and don’t want to wake sleeping dogs.
Ok, we meant the same thing. Thanks for clarifying your previous answer. Obviously the distance learning provider has to also be an ATO.
What HPA ATO exam?
If you already have a CPL/IR then you can just take the High Performance Aircraft theory course and exam through distance learning to top up before taking the type rating. It costs between 681 Euro and 899 pounds, with a higher price and scope for those with CBIR rather than full IR theory.
Content is taken from six ATPL modules.
Google reveals two ATOs offering courses – Central Aviation Training Europe and CATS.
Unlike the ATPLs, the HPA test passes never expire.
Wow lots of replies…Thanks very much.
@peter I was thinking of flying a single pilot approved light jet for a private owner.
I am just debating if I take the ATPL exams or take the easier option of the CPL exams and a separate HPA course. (I have an IR so can skip MET and HPL).
Although I could fly on a PPL if I was to do more of this kind of flying it would be nice to be paid !
Tumbleweed wrote:
Concord Test Pilots were flying with a PPL
You can still fly it on UK PPL? (it is Annex 2/Annex 1) if you get the TR 
I think it was used most of the time as example not to discriminate (non-EASA aircraft does not mean a wood & fabric)
A few years back, Concord Test Pilots were flying with a PPL.
There is a huge difference between just sitting the HPA exam (approx 500 Euro, exam can be done at an ATO, no expiry/time limit before actually flying this type of aircraft)
What HPA ATO exam?
I remember another thread where it was concluded that the HPA can be done completely via distance learning.
