CAA Licenses
Posted: 05 Oct 2016, 08:52
Has anyone any information on specific types of license types issued by the CAA.
I have the appropriate licenses from OFCOM to install, test and demonstrate VHF radios - mobiles and hand-held, and the worst formality was a half-day course to get the short range marine license needed to operate the equipment I'm able to install and demo. I've had a client interested in the hire of aviation radios- NOT aircraft fitted ones that I realise need specific installation by approved engineers. I'm thinking about handhelds - so think parachuting, ground services, balloons etc.
The information I have requires the pilots radio license, which is way OTT for our needs. We don't need to talk to aircraft, but simply be able to use a ground frequency to demonstrate to the client how the radios work, so perhaps just being able to call the parachute ground director and get a "loud and clear" back. That really is all that we need.
I contacted the CAA, who OFCOM designate to control all aviation licenses, and asked if there were any non-pilot licenses for such things, and after three emails have not had any response from their "product specialists".
It may be that there really is no aviation equivalent, and every ground person has to take a pilots test, but that seems unlikely. The ground controller talking to the people on the apron would mean everyone involved doing a pilot qualification? There must be a ground license, or must there?
As I've had no response from the CAA and have a potential client getting restless because he wishes to hire some equipment from me, I'm a bit stuck. I have too little information to complain, and while I could easily buy half a dozen, and simply hand them over, I'd prefer to be able to at least check the equipment I hire out. Dummy loads in the workshop are fine - but being able to say test into a radio and hear it coming out of another is a very basic requirement.
Anyone know the UK current system and what license types are available for aviation, apart from the pilots version. To be fair, this is hardly a difficult one, but very expensive to take, as it's usually part of the PPL.
I have the appropriate licenses from OFCOM to install, test and demonstrate VHF radios - mobiles and hand-held, and the worst formality was a half-day course to get the short range marine license needed to operate the equipment I'm able to install and demo. I've had a client interested in the hire of aviation radios- NOT aircraft fitted ones that I realise need specific installation by approved engineers. I'm thinking about handhelds - so think parachuting, ground services, balloons etc.
The information I have requires the pilots radio license, which is way OTT for our needs. We don't need to talk to aircraft, but simply be able to use a ground frequency to demonstrate to the client how the radios work, so perhaps just being able to call the parachute ground director and get a "loud and clear" back. That really is all that we need.
I contacted the CAA, who OFCOM designate to control all aviation licenses, and asked if there were any non-pilot licenses for such things, and after three emails have not had any response from their "product specialists".
It may be that there really is no aviation equivalent, and every ground person has to take a pilots test, but that seems unlikely. The ground controller talking to the people on the apron would mean everyone involved doing a pilot qualification? There must be a ground license, or must there?
As I've had no response from the CAA and have a potential client getting restless because he wishes to hire some equipment from me, I'm a bit stuck. I have too little information to complain, and while I could easily buy half a dozen, and simply hand them over, I'd prefer to be able to at least check the equipment I hire out. Dummy loads in the workshop are fine - but being able to say test into a radio and hear it coming out of another is a very basic requirement.
Anyone know the UK current system and what license types are available for aviation, apart from the pilots version. To be fair, this is hardly a difficult one, but very expensive to take, as it's usually part of the PPL.