Should I choose Austro Control exams?
Now that the UK has left EASA we are frequently being asked by students which exams they should sit.
The problems are caused by:
- The EASA rule which says you must sit all your theory exams with the same Authority
- The UK has now left EASA
- The EASA statement that UK CAA exam passes will not be recognised meaning you will need to sit EASA exams if you are looking to achieve an EASA licence
Note, the UK CAA has said that they allow EASA licences to be converted to UK CAA licences for at least 2 years.
The UK CAA do not recognise EASA exams that are passed after 31st December 2020 for the issue of a UK licence. If you are aiming for a UK issued licence you will need to sit your exams with the UK CAA.
EASA have said they will not recognise UK CAA licences nor allow an easy conversion route, instead applying standard rules for converting ICAO licences.
Read more about Brexit-related exam decisions on this page of our website.
Qualified Military Pilots:
The CAA have said that if you are a qualified military pilot relying on exemptions, you will need to sit your examinations with the UK CAA, and you are also required to do your flight tests with an ATO that holds a UK CAA approval.
Bristol Groundschool Austro Control exam dates
We are pleased to confirm the Austro Control EASA exam sitting dates at the BGS premises in Clevedon on the dates below.
Students are not allowed to use digital flight computers (e.g. ASA CX-3) in ECQB-based exams.
Accommodation is available, at least at the Bristol Airport Hilton and Warren Village, but quite possibly elsewhere as well.
Until further notice, Austro Control exams will opened to non-BGS students 6 weeks before the exams.
2023
November 20 – 24 inclusive (5 days) Registration Closed
December 18 – 21 inclusive (4 days) Registration Closed
2024
January 22 – 24 inclusive (3 days)
February 19 – 22 inclusive (4 days)
March 25 – 27 inclusive (4 days)
April 22 – 25 inclusive (4 days)
May 21 – 23 inclusive (3 days)
June 17 – 21 inclusive (5 days)
July 22 to 25 inclusive (4 days)
August 19 – 22 inclusive (4 days)
September 23 – 26 inclusive (4 days)
October 21 – 24 inclusive (4 days)
November 18 – 20 inclusive (3 days)
December 16 – 18 inclusive (3 days)
To see availability for these dates, visit the booking page below.
Book exams with Austro Control
Knowledge skills and attitudes (100-KSA) is a new subject area recently introduced as a compulsory module for students studying for their 2021 syllabus examinations. There is no associated EASA exam, your ATO is required to sign you off for this module prior to booking your final Austro Control examination. The new Austro Control booking form incorporates a KSA section to be signed by your ATO.
- Download the relevant application:
ATPL (A) Application
ATPL (A) Conversion Application
ATPL and CPL (H) Application -
a) ATPL A, ATPL & CPL H Application – Complete pages 1 and 2 of the form electronically (not by hand) and then electronically sign or print and sign Part 2. (Please note – if you have not studied with Bristol Groundschool, you will also need your ATO to complete and sign Parts 4 and 5).
b) ATPL A Conversion Application – Complete pages 1 and 2 of the form electronically (not by hand) and then e-mail directly to Austro Control with the last pages of your logbook – [email protected] Austro will then check that you meet the requirements and send you confirmation.
- A completed form is required for each exam sitting, selecting the exams that you wish to sit.
4. Please note -Incorrectly completed or late submission of forms will result in cancelled exams.
5. Email completed forms to info@bristol.gs Please specify the month and venue you wish to sit the exams. If this is your first sitting please include a copy of your ID.
6. Proceed to the booking page below if you wish to sit your exams at Bristol Groundschool. Students planning to sit at an alternative venue need to contact the venue directly to book their exams.
Bristol Groundschool students are given priority when booking Austro Control exams, the system is released to non-BGS students for booking exams 6 weeks before the exam dates. For non BGS students who have already booked their exams with us, these bookings are confirmed.
Please note a new application is required for each exam sitting. This does not apply to Conversion applications.
Please note ECQB08 (old syllabus) exams are no longer available to book with Austro Control. If you have started a series on the old syllabus any remaining exams will be sat using the new 2021 syllabus.
Book your exam at Bristol Groundschool
Once you’ve completed the form you can make a booking via this page: austro.bristol.gs
Please do not make any bookings until you have sent us your form.
How much do the exams cost?
Costs & Terms
The fees are £80 per exam. Bookings, changes & cancellations must be made 8 working days before the start of the exam week. That is the Wednesday, before 17:00 a week and a half prior to the start of the exam week.
In summary:
Exams are taken on iPads provided at the exam centre with the results available immediately after the exam. They are also sent by email the following week to the candidate from Austro Control.
- Questions are drawn from the whole of ECQB 2021*
- There are no ‘quadrant’ style questions
- Annexes are viewable on-screen and printed if the question requires it
- Results are available instantly
- There is no charge for appeals
- Retakes in the same sitting are not allowed
The Austro Control exams will be offered at BGS normally once a month.
* ECQB 2021 is the current EASA question bank.
Frequently asked questions
UK Military Pilots
The CAA say any UK military pilots relying on exemptions need to do their ATPL exams with them and their flight tests etc at ATOs with UK CAA approvals
Can I swap if I’ve already started with UK CAA?
No, EASA stopped recognising UK CAA exam results after the 31st of December 2020.
Is the process the same for conversion students?
There is a bespoke form for conversion students that meet the required experience to be exempt from approved training. You can find this form at the section above ‘book exams with Austro Control’.
