Documentation requirements
Foreign pilots employed by Part 137 or Part 138 operators must submit the following documentation alongside their Form 61-4A (flight crew licence application on basis of overseas civil qualifications part 1) or Form 61-4 COV (certificate of validation on basis of foreign civil qualifications).
- A notarised/certified copy of their overseas licence.
- A notarised/certified copy of the last 3 months or last 3 pages of their foreign logbooks - whichever is greater.
- A certified copy of their Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) or Aviation Identification (AVID).
- A copy of their International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Australian English Language Proficiency (AELP) assessment.
- Their authority to release information to CASA from the civil aviation authority in the country where their licence was issued.
- Notification of any Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) 5 endorsements to be issued on their Civil Aviation Safety Regulation Part 61 licence, where applicable.
- A current photo, or confirmation that CASA holds a current photo (submitted within the previous 10 years).
Because overseas firefighting operations vary and requirements can differ from those in Australia, we may also need additional information to speed up the assessment process and ensure equivalency.
This can include:
- a copy of a foreign air operator's certificate (AOC) showing that the pilot worked for an organisation authorised to conduct firefighting operations
- a letter from the pilot's Australian employer, confirming that the applicant was employed for firefighting operations
- logbook entries documenting the pilot's participation in firefighting operations overseas under the supervision of the foreign AOC
- a proficiency check conducted by their foreign employer for firefighting operations.
These additional requirements will help us to process applications more efficiently, especially in cases where firefighting operations may not be a standard qualification in the pilot's home country.
We urge all Part 137 and Part 138 operators to communicate these requirements to foreign pilots seeking to work in Australia for the fire season. Providing the necessary documentation up front will help us assess vital firefighting applications without unnecessary delays.
