Media

The Personnel Licensing Office of the Irish Aviation Authority will be closed on Wednesday 27^th March to facilitate staff training in advance of the implementation of EU Regulations in the area of Air Crew licensing.

EU member states currently issue their own air crew licences with their own individual application systems and eligibility criteria, but the system is set to change in April with the introduction of new EU regulations (EASA Aircrew Regulations 1178/2011 and 290/2012). These new regulations are designed to harmonise the air crew licensing process across the EU and will  mean that pilots will have to hold an appropriate EASA licence (or a validation if he/she has a licence from a country that is not an EASA Member State) if they intend to fly.

National licences will remain valid for ICAO Annex II aircraft and for EASA aircraft until 8^th April 2014. After that date pilots wishing to fly EASA aircraft must hold an EASA licence. National licence holders may avail of an EASA approved conversion process from their existing national licence to an EASA licence.  Irish registered airlines are aware of the changes and are putting specific measures in place to comply with the new requirements as appropriate. The IAA’s Personnel Licensing Office is being closed to facilitate a full day of training for staff on these new regulations and will ensure that staff are comprehensively appraised and trained on the new requirements and procedures.

The Authority apologises for any inconvenience this necessary closure of the Licensing Office may cause.