I am currently a multi-engine, commerical pilot with my instrument
rating pursuing a career as a professional pilot. I am also a
certified flight instructor who lives in Colorado.  I have always
worked towards becoming an airline pilot and have followed the typical
route, including attending a four year college program to obtain a
degree.  I am now finished with college and the essential ratings but
am considering other options available in this profession.

I am interested in obtaining my commercial helicopter license and have
looked into possible options for training here in Colorado and
throughout the states, however my wife is from Australia and we have
considered moving there in the near future. I have looked into
training for and obtaining my commercial helicopter license in
Australia, but am concerned that if I invest the money to train and
obtain the license there, it may not be transferable to the United
States. If I were to move back to the U.S. I would want to essentially
be able to prove that I have a commercial helicopter license and not
have to repeat my training and invest more money to carry the same
rating in the U.S.. Is an Australian commercial helicopter pilot?s
license transferable to a U.S. commercial helicopter?s pilot?s
license?

If it is transferable, what is required when I return to the U.S. and
want to prove that I can carry that license here? I am really looking
for the specific requirements to transfer it or essentially ?opt out?
of training for the rating all over again. I have found through some
research online that a private pilot?s fixed wing license is typically
transferable, but there seems to be some gray area when it comes to
the commercial license.

Thanks for your help and let me know if you need any clarification

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Request for Question Clarification by byrd-ga on 10 Sep 2004 19:32 PDT

Hello flyingace-ga,

I wanted you to know that I have done a bit of preliminary work on
your question, so you'd know it hasn't been ignored.  Just for your
information, I also hold a Commercial certificate with Instrument
rating, so I'm quite familiar and comfortable with the regs and the
vernacular.

As you likely already have, I spent some time perusing FAR Part 61.75
and other pertinent sections, and certainly agree there is a gray area
with regard to foreign licenses and a Commercial certificate.  The way
I read it, it would seem that, if you successfully obtain a rotorcraft
rating add-on in Australia, the best you could do here would be to get
Private privileges, after taking a checkride and perhaps a written
test, which would certainly not be satisfactory to you.

I sent off information requests to both AOPA and the FAA on your
behalf. I did hear back from AOPA, but the reply was unsatisfactory,
so I requested further clarification and additional information, but
have not received a further reply, nor have I yet heard from the FAA.

If/when I do hear anything definitive, I'll be sure to let you know. 
However, since that may not be until next week, I'm leaving the
question open in the meantime in the event one of my colleagues might
be able to better assist you, particularly as I will be away the rest
of this evening and tomorrow.

Oh yes, I also meant to ask you whether you have already investigated
training in Australia, and have you learned whether or not they will
accept your U.S. pilot certificate directly?  It may or may not have a
bearing on your decision as to whether to pursue the rating here or
there.

Best regards,
Byrd-ga

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Clarification of Question by flyingace-ga on 11 Sep 2004 07:49 PDT

I really apprciate your efforts- I have been looking for the answer
for a while with little result.

I have also found that the best I could get when I return to the
states would be a private pilot license of whatever I train for, eg.
helicopers. I have studied FAR part 61.75 and am not finding much
about being able to convert a commerical license.

I have been looking into training as I mentioned before in Australia
an have picked out a few schools for helicopter training but have not
found much information on whether or not my ratings I currently hold
will transfer there. If we decide to live there long term that will be
something I need to be concerned with for obvious reasons. I am
currently looking for that information, but as of yet I have not found
anything useful to speak of.

Again, I do appreciate your help with this- I have been unsuccessful
in finding anything that helps much in my decision. Thanks also for
giving me a response so I knew the question was not being ignored.

Thanks!

flyingace-ga