Article 15 Mutual recognition of air traffic controller licences

Subject to Article 8, each Member State shall recognise licences and their associated ratings, rating endorsements and language endorsements issued by the national supervisory authority of another Member State in accordance with the provisions of this Directive, as well as the accompanying medical certificates. However, a Member State may decide only to recognise licences of holders who have reached the minimum age limit of 21 as envisaged in Article 5(2)(a).

In cases where a licence holder exercises the privileges of the licence in a Member State other than that in which the licence was issued, the licence holder shall have the right to exchange his or her licence for a licence issued in the Member State where the privileges are exercised, without additional conditions being imposed.

In order to grant a unit endorsement, the national supervisory authorities shall require the applicant to fulfil the particular conditions associated with this endorsement, specifying the unit, sector or working position. When establishing the unit training plan, the training provider shall take due account of the acquired competencies and the experience of the applicant.

The national supervisory authorities shall approve and give a reasoned decision on the unit training plan containing the proposed training for the applicant not later than six weeks after presentation of the evidence, without prejudice to the delay resulting from any appeal that may be made. In their decisions, the national supervisory authorities shall ensure that the principles of non-discrimination and proportionality are respected.