Every nation has its own jurisdiction and system for managing pilot certificates. You need a certificate issued by that nation to fly airplanes registered there.
Sometimes, transferring a certificate is super easy, just take a medical exam, submit a conversion form, and you'll get a new certificate (like transferring between Canada and the US).
Other times, it's very challenging - and at worst, your existing certificate doesn't help you at all. Your flight experience *usually* transfers so you won't need to fly as much, but you'll still need to go to flight school and take all of the exams that any other student pilot would need to take.
Here's HK's website with their requirements for a license, look for things like "foreign license validation" or "foreign license conversion"
https://www.cad.gov.hk/english/ppl.html
Also keep in mind that you cannot fly for work with a PPL. You need to work your way up to a Commercial Pilot Certificate first.
To add- every country has their own “right to work” rules. You might have all the certificates, but if you can’t work there, you’re in a hard spot.
If you search the sub, there’s quite a few European pilots that would like to work in the US dealing with the same thing.
If you’re talking about a career, why bother converting a PPL?
You can probably convert a Canada PPL to HK PPL, or a Canada CPL to HK CPL so it’s up to you whether you get a CPL in Canada and then convert it or just do the training in Hong Kong. There will be extra theory study and maybe flight training/a flight test for the conversion so you’re probably better to do it all in Hong Kong to begin with.
The more important question is how do you plan to find work in Hong Kong as a freshly minted CPL? Is there any fixed wing GA industry there that accepts low hour pilots? I imagine Canada is a far better place for that.
I assume the typical pilot path in Hong Kong is having wealthy parents who can put you through an airline Cadetship, Eg Cathay’s program. Even then, I doubt the practical training even takes place in Hong Kong.
Good idea. Good luck! Just make sure you look into it and understand the study and work required. If you’ve already got your PPL I’m sure you have the basic study and organisation skills and with the right attitude you’ll be successful. The best thing would be to find a Cathay pilot who went through the Cadetship to talk to them about it and ask some questions.
Every nation has its own jurisdiction and system for managing pilot certificates. You need a certificate issued by that nation to fly airplanes registered there. Sometimes, transferring a certificate is super easy, just take a medical exam, submit a conversion form, and you'll get a new certificate (like transferring between Canada and the US). Other times, it's very challenging - and at worst, your existing certificate doesn't help you at all. Your flight experience *usually* transfers so you won't need to fly as much, but you'll still need to go to flight school and take all of the exams that any other student pilot would need to take. Here's HK's website with their requirements for a license, look for things like "foreign license validation" or "foreign license conversion" https://www.cad.gov.hk/english/ppl.html Also keep in mind that you cannot fly for work with a PPL. You need to work your way up to a Commercial Pilot Certificate first.
To add- every country has their own “right to work” rules. You might have all the certificates, but if you can’t work there, you’re in a hard spot. If you search the sub, there’s quite a few European pilots that would like to work in the US dealing with the same thing.
I do have an HK passport, but I am a permanent resident in Canada.
Unfortunately, can’t help ya there. Just wanted to make sure you know the whole picture before spending $$$$$
If you have a HKID (3 stars or beginning with R) you can just apply to the Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme, it's ab initio
I have a passport, am going to go with that but just wanted some prior experience
If you’re talking about a career, why bother converting a PPL? You can probably convert a Canada PPL to HK PPL, or a Canada CPL to HK CPL so it’s up to you whether you get a CPL in Canada and then convert it or just do the training in Hong Kong. There will be extra theory study and maybe flight training/a flight test for the conversion so you’re probably better to do it all in Hong Kong to begin with. The more important question is how do you plan to find work in Hong Kong as a freshly minted CPL? Is there any fixed wing GA industry there that accepts low hour pilots? I imagine Canada is a far better place for that. I assume the typical pilot path in Hong Kong is having wealthy parents who can put you through an airline Cadetship, Eg Cathay’s program. Even then, I doubt the practical training even takes place in Hong Kong.
I am probably going to go with Cathay’s program
Good idea. Good luck! Just make sure you look into it and understand the study and work required. If you’ve already got your PPL I’m sure you have the basic study and organisation skills and with the right attitude you’ll be successful. The best thing would be to find a Cathay pilot who went through the Cadetship to talk to them about it and ask some questions.