JCAB aviation
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JCAB · Licence Compatibility

One licence.
Precision-trained Japan.

Train under JCAB at our Sendai and Obihiro hubs — direct pipeline into ANA, JAL and Skymark cadetships — then convert into DGCA, FAA, EASA, CASA, GCAA or SACAA when your career calls.

Issued under
JCAR-FCL
Japan Civil Aviation Bureau · Japan
Recognised across
ICAO Annex 1
Plus bilateral conversion partners
Issued to
Career-Track Cadets
PPL · CPL · ME-IR · ATPL
Foundations

Pump up your skills — supercharge exam-passing with foundational classes on every JCAB subject.

Air Law · Navigation · Meteorology · Tech-Gen · Performance · Human Factors · Comms · Instruments. Live, instructor-led foundations from Aerovate Global — bridge gaps, lock concepts, walk into your JCAB written with confidence.

Enrol in foundations
Chapter I · The Selector

Select your destination CAA to see how your JCAB licence converts.

Pick the regulator where you intend to fly commercially. We'll show you exactly what's required to convert a JCAB CPL/IR into the licence issued by that authority — exams, flight test, medical, hour credit, timeline.

Destination regulator
Supporting 25+ destinations across DGCA, FAA, EASA, UK CAA, GCAA, CASA, SACAA & more.
Destination regulator
India
DGCA
JCAB
From
JCAB
JCAR-FCL · Japan
To
DGCA
India
India
Your JCAB licence converts cleanly into the DGCA system in India.

JCAB JCAR-FCL is recognised under ICAO Annex 1 and accepted by every major regulator with a defined conversion path. Below is the typical pathway from a JCAB CPL/ME/IR into the DGCA system.

A bilateral JCAB → DGCA conversion path exists under ICAO Annex 1. Talk to our admissions team for an exact roadmap.
Plan my JCAB → DGCA conversion
Chapter II · The Network

JCAB hubs where we deliver pilot training across Japan.

270 flying days a year, modern training fleets and direct cadet pipelines into the region's flagship carriers.

Tokyo cityscape
HND

Tokyo

JCAB Hub
Osaka cityscape
ITM

Osaka

JCAB Hub
Sendai cityscape
SDJ

Sendai

JCAB Hub
Obihiro cityscape
OBO

Obihiro

JCAB Hub
Aviation interlude
Interlude · Japan

"JCAB cadets are trained to a level of precision that the rest of the world quietly tries to copy."

270 flying days per year — efficient training airspace and a direct line into regional airline cadet programmes.
№ Field Notes · From the JCAB flight line

From the apron, the cockpit, the cloud deck.

Real frames from real cadets across our partner flight lines — the kind of training JCAB candidates do every week.

01 / 37
Twin-tail at last light
Apron · Dusk
Twin-tail at last light
№ 01 · Civil Aviation Authority

Japan Civil Aviation Bureau

JCAB — Japan
www.mlit.go.jp/koku/
ICAO Annex 1

JCAB (under MLIT) regulates Japanese civil aviation. Pilot training is highly structured; most cadets train abroad and convert.

Training standards

200 hrs CPL · written exams in Japanese · flight test with JCAB.

Where JCAR-FCL meets the line.
Plate № 01
Where JCAR-FCL meets the line.
№ 02 · Pathway

PPL → ATPL under JCAB

PPL — Private Pilot Licence
Flight hours
40 hrs
Theory
JCAB PPL written (Japanese)
Medical
Class 2
CPL — Commercial Pilot Licence
Flight hours
200 hrs
Theory
JCAB CPL written + oral (Japanese)
Medical
Class 1
IR — Instrument Rating
Flight hours
40 hrs instrument
Theory
JCAB IR written
Medical
Carried over
ME — Multi-Engine Rating
Flight hours
10 hrs ME
Theory
—
Medical
Carried over
ATPL — Airline Transport Pilot Licence
Flight hours
1500 hrs
Theory
JCAB ATPL written
Medical
Carried over
№ 03 · Fleet

Aircraft accepted by JCAB for training

Single-engine trainers
  • Cessna 172
  • Piper PA-28
Multi-engine trainers
  • Beech Baron
  • Piper Seneca
Approved simulators
  • FNPT II
  • Level D FFS
"JCAB cadets are trained to a level of precision that the rest of the world quietly tries to copy."
— Captain K. Tanaka · B787 Captain, ANA
№ 04 · Type rating

JCAB type rating requirements

Minimum entry
CPL + ME/IR
Pathway
JCAB type rating done at ANA / JAL training centres.
Aircraft types accepted
B737B777B787A320A350
CockpitCharts
№ 05 · Admission

Eligibility & admission requirements

Age
18+
Education
10+2 / Japanese high school
English
TOEIC 600+ for ANA / JAL cadet
Medical
JCAB Class 1
Documents required
  • Passport
  • JCAB medical
  • Education certificates
  • ANA / JAL aptitude (kanji-language)
№ 06 · Visa

Visa process & requirements

Visa type
Destination student visa, then JCAB residence for conversion
Duration
Per destination
Work rights
—
Processing time
6–12 weeks
All visa documentation is processed end-to-end via Aerovate Global — appointment booking, embassy submissions, biometrics and approvals.
Key documents
  • School acceptance
Visas, medicals & paperwork — handled.
Plate № 02
Visas, medicals & paperwork — handled.
№ 08 · Compatibility

Where a JCAB licence converts most easily

These are the regulators that recognise JCAB training closest to their own standards — usually requiring only an air-law paper, a skill test and a medical re-issue. Click any destination to apply for training there.

India
DGCA
200 hrs CPL · 6 theory papers · RTR(A) · skill test with DGCA examiner.
United States
FAA
190–250 hrs CPL · written + oral + checkride per certificate.
Poland
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Europe (EASA)
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
United Arab Emirates
GCAA
200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL papers + UAE Air Law · 330 flying days/yr.
Greece
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
France
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Netherlands
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Spain
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Italy
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Switzerland
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Norway
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
№ 07 · Licence conversion

Convert JCAB licence to DGCA · FAA · EASA · CASA · GCAA

Below is the typical conversion path from a JCAB licence into each major regulator. All routes assume an ICAO Annex 1-compliant CPL/IR, valid logbook, and a Class 1 medical from the destination state. Numbers are indicative — confirm with the receiving authority before booking exams.

→ FAA6–10 weeks
Theory exams
FAA written exams: Private (PAR), Commercial (CAX), Instrument (IRA) + IACRA application.
Flight test
FAA practical.
Medical
FAA Class 1.
Hours credit
Full credit.
→ EASA9–14 months
Theory exams
EASA ATPL theory — 13 papers (Air Law, AGK Airframe & Systems, AGK Powerplant, AGK Instruments, Mass & Balance, Performance, Flight Planning, Human Performance, Meteorology, Gen Nav, Radio Nav, Operational Procedures, Principles of Flight, Communications).
Flight test
ME-CPL/IR skill test.
Medical
Class 1 medical re-issued in destination state (~USD 250–400, 1 day).
Hours credit
Full credit.
→ CASA4–6 months
Theory exams
CASA CPL exams (7): Aerodynamics, Aircraft Gen Knowledge, Performance & Loading, Meteorology, Navigation, Flight Rules & Air Law, Human Factors. + IREX for instrument rating.
Flight test
CPL flight test + IREX.
Medical
CASA Class 1.
Hours credit
Full credit.
100% compliance promise

Aerovate's conversion advisors handle exam booking, document apostille, AME scheduling and skill-test prep end-to-end — guaranteed to meet the receiving regulator's Annex 1 standards.

Plan my conversion
№ 08 · FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Japan

Why is JCAB conversion so long?+
Air Law and Ops exams are conducted in Japanese; non-native speakers typically need 6–9 months of language preparation.
World map at night
Chapter III · The Global Network

All supported regulators across our global network.

From Tokyo to the world — one team handles every conversion, every approval, every embassy stamp.
India
DGCA
South Africa
SACAA
United States
FAA
Poland
EASA
Europe (EASA)
EASA
Philippines
CAAP
Australia
CASA
United Arab Emirates
GCAA
Saudi Arabia
GACA
Qatar
QCAA
Kuwait
CAA-Kuwait
Oman
CAA-Oman
Bahrain
CAA-Bahrain
Singapore
CAAS
Malaysia
CAAM
Thailand
CAAT
Japan
JCAB
South Korea
MOLIT
Indonesia
DGCA-ID
Greece
EASA
France
EASA
Netherlands
EASA
Spain
EASA
Italy
EASA
Switzerland
EASA
Norway
EASA
Foundations · FAQ

Before you enrol.

The questions cadets ask before signing up for the Aerovate Global foundations programme — prerequisites, schedule, and how it lifts your JCAB pass-rate.