Essential functions of the PEL Section;
1. The assessment and approval of applications for licences and ratings
2. The application of medical fitness assessments relating to licence requirements
3. The issuance of licences and ratings
4. Validation of foreign licenses
5. Conducting knowledge examinations
6. Updating of activities according to ICAO SARPs & promulgation of the same in the industry after ratification.

Routine tasks
1. Arranging and conducting written knowledge examinations required for licences
2. Setting and marking knowledge examination papers
3. Arranging flight testing of flight crew and/or other practical assessments tests required for other licences and/or ratings
4. Licensing and certification of Civil Aviation Training Organizations
5. Processing of licensing applications
6. The promulgation of examination schedules, dates, times and locations
7. Monitoring of flying training standards and processing of licensing applications of flying training schools
8. Monitoring of training activities and standards of civil aviation training schools of other licensing disciplines and processing of such applications

Other Regulatory and Administrative functions
1. The production, updating and availability, under applicable legal provisions, of personnel licensing regulations, implementation procedures, Aviation Safety information circulars detailing requirements for personnel Notices, explanatory pamphlets or licensing
2. The approval of syllabi used by licensed/approved aviation training schools
3. The approval of organizations and persons for specific tasks related to training and testing inclusive of persons designated by the Director General to carry out specific tasks on his behalf
4. The Assessment of qualifications and experience of military personnel in order to determine examination and testing exceptions
5. The enforcement of licensing laws and regulations.

AN INSIGHT TO PERSONNEL LICENSING ACTIVITIES

General
The Standards & Recommended Practices contained in ICAO Annex 1 on Personnel Licensing require certain identified categories of aviation personnel to hold a licence and appropriate competencies known as Ratings (in aviation terminology), plus where applicable, a certificate of medical fitness to perform their respective job functions. Further the licence holders are required to have recent experience in their respective disciplines and also maintain the required proficiency (currency) to become eligible to continue in the job. Licences issued by Sri Lanka are of Expiry type whereas some countries issue licences, which are perpetual or non-expiry. The licence holders in Sri Lanka, hence, are required to renew their licences after producing evidence of the Currency, and Recency to the PEL Section in order to continue to perform the job. The medical certificate also should be valid in order to keep the licence valid. When licences, ratings or medical certificates expire, there are methods of revalidating or reactivating those, generally by either undergoing training and a test or a test alone or by other means.

The requirements, which should be met by an applicant to obtain a personnel licence is specified in ICAO Annex 1. In addition there are local requirements too, which have to be met. The Air Navigation Regulations and corresponding Implementation Requirements and Procedures specify the legal and administrative provisions for all the licensing matters stated in the preceding paragraph. They also describe the steps required to be follow by the licence holders and PEL staff when dealing with such matters. The subsequent Chapters will make reference to these when necessary.

Disciplines which require a Licence and Conditions of issuance
The following personnel licences are issued,

Type of Licence	Category	Reference
Student Pilot	Aeroplane	ASN No.055
	Helicopter
	Free Balloon
	Glider
Private Pilot	Aeroplane
	Helicopter
Commercial Pilot	Aeroplane
	Helicopter
Airline Transport Pilot	Aeroplane
	Helicopter
Glider Pilot	Private
Free Balloon Pilot	Private
	Commercial
Flight Engineer		ASN No. 056
Flight Navigator
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer		ASN No. 057
Air Traffic Controller
Flight Operations Officer

How to obtain a Sri Lanka Licence

• Student Pilot Licence
  
  
• Private Pilot Licence/Aeroplanes
  
  
• Direct Issuance of CPL/IR
  
  
• Conversion of Foreign CPL/IR to Sri Lankan CPL/IR
  
  
• Direct Issuance of ATPL
  
  
• Conversion of Foreign ATPL to Sri Lankan ATPL
  
  
• Air Traffic Controllers Licence
  
  
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence
  
  
• Aircraft Maintenance Licence
  
  
• Flight Operations Officer Licence

In addition to issuance of the above licences, the PEL Section also issues certificates termed Validation Certificates to pilots who hold licences issued by foreign licensing authorities. This enables them to perform either on board Sri Lanka registered aircraft engaged in commercial air transportation or private flying activities. Similar Certificates are issued to aircraft maintenance engineers enabling them to perform with either approved Aircraft Maintenance Organizations or private maintenance activities.

Ratings Issued
The following Aircraft Category Ratings may be issued under the above licences. (Also as indicated in the above table)

a) Aeroplane
b) Helicopter
c) Glider
d) Free Balloon
e) Ultra-light Aeroplane

The following Class Ratings and Type Ratings may be issued under the above licences

Type of Licence	Rating
Pilot Aeroplane/Helicopter (Except for Student Pilot Licence)	Single Pilot Single Engine Land Class Rating
	Single Pilot Multi Engine Land Class Rating
	Single Pilot Single Engine Sea Class Rating
	Single Pilot Multi Engine Sea Class Rating
	Type Rating
	Night Rating
	Instrument Rating
	Assistant Flight Instructor Rating
	Flight Instructor Rating
	Ground Instructor Rating
Glider Pilot
Free Balloon Pilot	Hot-air Private Pilot Rating
	Hot-air Commercial Pilot Rating
	Gas Private Pilot Rating
	Gas Commercial Pilot Rating
	Flight Instructor
	Ground Instructor
Flight Engineer	Piston Engine
	Turbine Engine
Flight Navigator
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer	Category A
	Category B
	Category C
	Category D
	Category X
Air Traffic Controller	Aerodrome Control Rating
	Approach Control (Procedural) Rating
	Area Control (Procedural) Rating
	Approach Radar Control Rating
	Area Radar Control Rating
Flight Operations Officer

Standards and Requirements for Issue of Personnel Licences
The Standards contained in the ICAO Annex 1 has been adopted and used as the Standards to be met by an applicant for the issue of the personnel licences and ratings. When the new Personnel Licensing Regulations are implemented, the applicable Regulatory provisions will be available in detail. These Regulations incorporate the minimum Standards as specified in ICAO Annex 1 and higher where deemed necessary. The corresponding Implementation Requirements and Procedures will be implemented along with the implementation of these Regulations. The future Personnel Licensing Regulations and Procedures will offer an updated and comprehensive personnel-licensing system. As at present, Aviation Safety Notices and other directives provide the Implementation Requirements and Procedures as at present.

The regulatory requirements for issue of a personnel licence in general are,

a) Minimum age
b) Knowledge
c) Experience
d) Skill
e) Medical Certification
f) Flight Instructions

In addition, there are other administrative requirements, which are described in the subsequent Chapters.

The minimum age, the experience requirement and the medical fitness requirements as specified in ICAO Annex 1 are generally adhered to by as the minimum requirements for the issue of any licence.

ASN No 054 on Subject “Personnel Licensing Requirements and Procedures – General Rules and ASN No. 055 on subject” Personnel Licensing Requirements & Procedures – Licences and Ratings for Pilots” are adhered to effective 01 April 2005 Requirements for the other subjects on Personnel Licensing according to Annex I will soon be published in Aviation Safely Notices-Proposed Nos are 056,057,058 & 059.

The Knowledge is established by the written Examinations conducted for various licences and ratings as are applicable. The skill tests for the issue, renewal, and revalidation of licences are conducted by Designated Flying Test Examiners at the receipt of such assignments in written form. The required medical examination is conducted by one of the Designated Civil Aviation Medical Examiners based on the provisions in ICAO Annex 1, The Manual of Civil Aviation Medicine and JAR FCL 3 Medical Requirements of the Joint Aviation Authorities.

Structure of the Personnel Licensing Section

The following officers shoulder the duties and the responsibilities of the Section.

Name	Tel-No Direct	Tel-No Extention	Mobile	E-Mail
Mr. Susantha De Silva Deputy Director (PL)	+9411 2436552	2433213-610	0777720640	ddpel@caa.lk
Ms. S. Kotalawala Senior Personnel Licensing Officer	+9411 2436552	2433213-611		splo@caa.lk
Ms. C. Vidanapathirana Personnel Licensing Officer	+9411 2436552	2433213-613		plo1@caa.lk
Ms. M. Pathirana Personnel Licensing Officer	+9411 2436552	2433213-613		plo2@caa.lk
Mr. M A K Mallikaarachchi Programme Asst. Aviation Examination	+9411 2436552	2433213-613		pae@caa.lk

Personnel Licensing Application Forms

FAQs on Personnel Licencing