PPL in Austrocontrol without the Radio Telephony License (AFZ)

[EagleFalcon]

Hello guys,

I am planning to pass my PPL theory exams in Austrocontrol + practical skill test in one of the authorised external examiners from Austrocontrol in Spain (there are several centers across Europe).

At the moment, I am having my training in a Spanish ATO, where there is no Radio Telephony License training or test, as everything is done in Spanish.

I can not speak German properly and I am not interested in getting the AFZ (Allgemeines Sprechfunk Zeugnis für den beweglichen Flugfunkdienst) at the moment. That would take too much time to learn German and then study for the test.

My question is: can I still get my Austrian license without the Radio Telephony License (AFZ) and use it to fly everywhere else in Europe (of course in Spain as well)?
I understand that I will not be able to fly in Austria or Germany if I need to speak German (most of the aerodromes).

PD: If you are asking why I did not do the PPL examens in Spain, the answer is bureaucracy and useless people.

Thank you!

[Jan Olieslagers]

Excuse me for not having even a beginning of an answer, but perhaps I can help in clarifying/detailing your question/problem.

Do I understand right that, wanting to pass the examination with an Austrian organisation/company, or an agent of theirs, you will request your PPL from the Austrian CAA? If so, it is for them to detail the conditions they require. So you should ask them, I reckon.

Ready to stand corrected :)

[Jhieminga]

If you are required to use the radio, you need a LPE on your licence. See FCL.055 for the specifics. This also states:
...in either English or the language used for
radio communications involved in the flight.
So the question is whether you can do a LPE in English and/or Spanish (skipping the German one) on an Austrian PPL. As Jan said, best to ask the Austrian CAA, or go and have a chat with one of these authorised external examiners. They will know.

[Jan Olieslagers]

If you are required to use the radio, you need a LPE on your licence.
Always? Or only for undertaking a flight where the use of English might be required?
I can well imagine that some private pilots in countries like France and Spain, never leaving their country, do all their R/T in local language. Would they still be required to have a valid LPE? Even if they are, I doubt very much whether the requirement would be enforced :)

[Jhieminga]

FCL.055 Language proficiency Regulation (EU) 2020/359
(a) General. Aeroplane, helicopter, powered-lift and airship pilots required to use the radio
telephone shall not exercise the privileges of their licences and ratings unless they have a
language proficiency endorsement on their licence in either English or the language used for
radio communications involved in the flight.
That's what it says... I only ever have had a LPE in English on my licence, so don't know how this works in other countries where RT may be conducted in other languages.

From: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/easy-access-rules-flight-crew-licencing-part-fcl

[Fl1ingfrog]

English is the international language and all ICAO ATC must be competent. At private non ATC aerodromes some may not use English but I have never heard of any aerodrome that demands a local language. I have come across some locally based PPLs who try to demand it but ignore them because they have no authority. However it is polite in my view to use the standard phrases in the local language if this is the case.

[Whopity]

+ practical skill test in one of the authorised external examiners from Austrocontrol in Spain The PPL Skill test requires the candidate to demonstrate the use of the radio under the heading Communications in each section of the test. If the test is conducted in Spain that could be demonstrated in Spanish or English. With regard to LP on your licence, it will be down to the issuing Authority but if you don't have ELP that will limit your ability to use the licence Internationally.

[EagleFalcon]

I am in the situation of getting soon my PPL license issued by Austrocontrol, and I speak no German.
Therefore, I can not get the BZF or AZF Radio-Telephony license from Austria.

Austrocontrol says that, after passing my final skill test with a flight instructor in English, they will endorse my Radio-Telephony ability in the license BUT it is my responsibility to get a valid Radio-Telephony license in order to exercise the rights of a radio operator (WTF?) I guess they are referring to flying inside Austria, because in Spain there is no requirement to hold a separate radio license. The PPL is more than enough.

This seems like a joke, because Austria is not offering this Radio Telephony exam in English, and in addition, many EASA countries DO NOT require a separate RT license. Why do Austrians, like Germans require this extra bureaucracy and money wasted? The communications are well examined during the communications exam, part of the 9 subjects of the PPL.

Austrocontrol says that they will accept any RT license from other EASA country, but I did not find any EASA country that offers this RT license in English. Do you know any?

Thanks in advance!

[EagleFalcon]

I am planning to get ICAO level 6 (permanent) in English.

Austrocontrol can only endorse English or German in the license.

But here we are talking about the radio telephony license. Austrocontrol said that, after doing my final skill test for the PPL, they will endorse my ability to use the radio in English in the license BUT, it is my responsibility to hold a valid radio telephony license (textually). Germany follows the same phylosophy.

I do not understand this. In Spain there is no Radio Telephony needed. Why do I need to get one to use the radio in English in Austria or Germany?

What should I do now? I am technically prevented from flying in those countries that require a separate Radio Telephony license.

Do you know any EASA member that provides Radio License examination only in English? Czech Republic or Netherlands?

I see here a huge amount of useless bureaucracy and money wasted (circa 300 euros), not respecting the EASA commonality that we should all have.

Thank you in advance.

[Fl1ingfrog]

In those countries that do do not have a RT practical test I would expect this is done informally as an assessment during the licencing skill test flight.

I'm baffled by your statement that you cannot find an RT Examiner who will the test in English. The worldwide official language of the air is English. All ATC controllers worldwide must speak English. In the UK you can do the RT as a stand alone licence

[Jan Olieslagers]

I did not find any EASA country that offers this RT license in English. Do you know any? Belgium does, or at least used to. I still have my separate radio operator's license - unlimited validity - obtained after a separate test. In English.

[tango_kilo]

You may check atc-comm.com. It is a certified Dutch RT training facility that offers VFR and IFR R/T training according to ICAO standards with online classes in Dutch and English. I did my IFR training there (mandatory for Dutch license holders) which took me around 8 hours spread over four online sessions with an exam at the end. You will receive a certificate after passing the exam.