Blending the reality of flight with the hard work of study. This EASA conversion was a journey both in the books and in the skies

Just wrapped up a huge quarter! I finally passed all 13 EASA exams and the check ride to convert my Colombian ICAO ATPL to an EASA ATPL.   

Honestly, it sounds way more complicated than it is. Any pilot can do this! It just takes time, the right mindset, a bit of strategy, and some smart tactics.   

I wanted to share my experience juggling these exams as a working pilot. It was kind of a surprise opportunity that popped up in my fifties – definitely a challenge! But it pushed me to rethink my goals, boost my resilience, and practice patience.   

For those who don't know, if you're an ICAO pilot wanting to fly under EASA rules, you can get a validation of your ICAO license. It's good for a year and you might be able to renew it once. To keep that renewal, you've got to show you're working towards the full EASA license by passing some exams in that first year.   

To start the conversion, you need to pick an EASA-approved ATO (Approved Training Organisation). There are tons worldwide. I went with AustroControl because of their reputation. But looking back, and comparing notes with other pilots, there are pros and cons to every ATO. It really depends on what you need, how much time you have, and your budget.   

Basically, if you're thinking about this EASA thing, here are the big things you need to know (at least, they were for me!):

• Deadline: You get 18 months after your first exam sitting to finish all of them.   
• Sittings: You have 6 chances to take exams. Could be enough, could not be – depends on how you roll.   
• Failing: It happens, no biggie. You can retake an exam up to four times, but only in the next sitting. Blow an exam on your sixth sitting? Game over.   
• Scope: Get a quick overview of what each subject covers. This helps you get your bearings on what you need to learn.   
• Strategy: Plan your attack!   

Coming from a military background, I'm convinced that strategy is everything. As a planner, figuring out the right steps is key to hitting your main goal. And as a fighter pilot, deciding on the right tactics – where to start, how to pace yourself, which subjects to combine, timing – that's how you nail the target.   

I talked to mentors and colleagues and ended up starting with the easier exams. The downside? The hardest ones were left until the end, which added unnecessary pressure because of the clock. But I got lucky! Life throws you curveballs, right? I met two young cadets who were starting their type ratings. They totally helped me get through those last exams. They were awesome teachers, full of the passion and knowledge I'd forgotten. They studied with me, showed me how to tackle the tough stuff, and taught me a valuable lesson: the importance of humility in recognizing both weaknesses and strengths. That's my first takeaway.   

Looking back, it's easy to map out different plans. But you're dealing with a ton of material – something like 850 hours studying 16,000 questions and 3,900 pages of theory. So, my best advice? Start with a solid self-assessment. Think about how much time you can realistically put in, your experience level, your current knowledge, and your career path. And don't forget to balance it all with family, work, and your well-being (physical, mental, and spiritual).   

Now that it's over, I'd suggest mixing easy and hard subjects, aiming to finish in 4-5 sittings (leave a couple for emergencies), and really drilling the question bank for the tougher exams. Also, lean on people with more expertise and maybe even use AI to clear up doubts – classic CRM (Crew Resource Management) in action!   

During the whole thing, I aimed for about 2 hours of study a day. Sometimes I missed that, but I'd catch up later or put in extra time in the 15 days before an exam. You'll figure out how much you need based on how you're doing, how confident you feel, and your gut feeling. Don't leave it all up to luck... though I can't say luck plays no part, because it has for some people. It really comes down to your discipline, character, and personality.   

In the end, I basically re-studied 13 subjects, saw at least 15,000 questions, and spent 20 hours and 45 minutes actually taking the exams (answered 671 questions total).   

Here's the breakdown:

1.     Communications - 34 questions, 1 hour. Difficulty: Easy.   

2.     Airlaw - 44 questions, 1 hour. Difficulty: Easy to Medium.   

3.     Instrumentation - 60 questions, 1 hour 30 minutes. Difficulty: Easy to Medium.   

4.     Operational Procedures - 42 questions, 1 hour 15 minutes. Difficulty: Medium.   

5.     Human Performance and limitations - 48 questions, 1 hour 30 minutes. Difficulty; Medium.   

6.     Radio Navigation - 66 questions, 1 hour 30 minutes. Difficulty: Medium.   

7.     Aircraft General Knowledge - 80 questions, 2 hours. Difficulty: Medium.   

8.     Mass and Balance - 25 questions, 1 hour and 15 minutes. Difficulty: Medium and time pressure.   

9.     Meteorology - 84 questions, 2 hours. Difficulty: Medium to hard.   

10.  Flight Planning and Monitoring - 42 questions, 2 hours. Difficulty: Hard.   

11.  Performance - 45 questions, 2 hours. Difficulty: Medium to hard.   

12.  General Navigation - 55 questions, 2 hours 15 minutes. Difficulty; Medium to hard and time pressure.   

13.  Principles of Flight - 46 questions, 1 hour and 30 minutes. Difficulty: Hard.   

A quick word on study methods... There are some good apps and websites out there. I used the ATPLQ bank website – it has over 15,000 practice questions and gets updated regularly. Easy to use, but you need to be online. You pay for a subscription for however long you need it. I also used YouTube videos, and EASA books that a friend gave me years ago (talk about foreshadowing!). And yeah, I even dabbled with Artificial Intelligence – fascinating!   

As a working pilot, the subjects I use every day were easier to study for: Communications, Instrumentation, Radio Navigation, Meteorology, Performance, Flight Planning, and Operational Procedures.   

The tougher ones were the more theoretical subjects that don't come up as much in daily flying. General Navigation, for example, was a beast! Interesting to know, but not super practical in the cockpit these days, due to the latest generation automation and navigation systems. It's also the most failed exam, not because it's too hard, but because you have 55 questions in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The time pressure is intense. That's only about 2.5 minutes per question, and some of those navigation problems take way longer than that!, the key here is to buy time with theoretical questions.

My final piece of advice? Don't do two hard exams on the same day. Some subjects are related, which can make studying easier. And definitely pair a hard subject with an easy one. You don't want to save all the killers for last – trust me on that!   

Aim for 3-4 exams per sitting, keeping in mind your own strengths. A solid plan could be:   

• Sitting 1: Communications, Operational Procedures, Air Law, Human Performance   
• Sitting 2: General Navigation, Radio Navigation, Meteorology   
• Sitting 3: Mass and Balance, Performance, Flight Monitoring   
• Sitting 4: Airframe, Instrumentation, Principles of Flight.   

And leave the last two sittings open for abnormal procedures (failed exams).   

If you're thinking about getting your EASA ATPL, my biggest tip is to start studying ASAP when you make the decision to do so. Time flies, and 18 months goes by in a flash. Plan your study schedule and stick to it!   

Safe skies and smooth landings!