How does the UK declaration for FAA pilots work?
Having gone through this process, I thought I'd share my experiences and timescales:

Useful Docs:


https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/InformationNotice2017029.pdf
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/SRG2140_Issue02_Enabled.pdf


1 Oct 2018

Get a checkout from an instructor and get them to sign the SRG2140 form and also certify copies of the docs required (log book, licence, medical etc, - details on SRG2140 form)

See https://www.caa.co.uk/General-aviation/Pilot-licences/Applications/Documentation/How-to-get-copies-of-your-documents-certified/ for details on how copies are certified i.e. the wording that must be used.

Scan and submit my SRG2140 form to the CAA via email to pilotvalidation@caa.co.uk

25 Oct 2018

Phone the CAA and talk to a very helpful person who says I need to


also send in SRG2142 and use fclweb@caa.co.uk
pay £45


So I filled in that form and sent it off by email again with my CAA reference number in the subject and to fclweb@faa.com and pilotvalidation@caa.co.uk

29 Oct 2018

Got a phone call (that I missed) and an email asking for my credit card details to pay the £45
I called them back and paid the money
Later that day I got another email confirming they had sent a request to the FAA and suggesting I chase the NAA:

We are contacting you to inform you that we have processed your application for the Verification of your Third Country ICAO licence, and a verification request has been sent to the FAA. 
To help ensure that the verification is received in a timely manner, you may wish to contact the NAA directly. Additional requirements may need to be met in order to release your personal details to the UK CAA.

8 Nov

I discovered that the FAA has an online portal that allows you to request a validation report so I went to https://amsrvs.registry.faa.gov/amsrvs/main.asp and asked it to send a report to me and also directly to fclweb@caa.co.uk and pilotvalidation@caa.co.uk

12 Nov 

Received the validation receipt:

As the current holder of an FAA licence with a validating medical certificate, you are entitled to exercise the private privileges of the ratings for which you are qualified on your FAA certificate in UK Airspace without remuneration.
Please note that your privileges on G-registered aircraft are restricted to day VFR regardless of the medical held, as stated in ORS no.1228: ORS4. FAA Certificate holders with a valid IR flying N-registered aircraft may continue to exercise IFR privileges in UK Airspace. 
Should you be ramped checked, you will have to produce a copy of your declaration made on form SRG2140 and a copy of this email.

So now I can fly G-Reg aircraft in the UK.

In hindsight, if I had to do it all again I would:


submit both forms at the same time
once they had taken the money, gone on to the FAA website and request the validation be sent directly to the two CAA emails addresses


Next step is to do a conversion to an EASA licence which involves:


(a) pass a written examination in Air Law and Human Performance; 
(b) pass the PPL, BPL or SPL skill test, as relevant, in accordance with
Part-FCL; 
(c) fulfil the requirements for the issue of the relevant
class or type rating, in accordance with Subpart H; 
(d) hold at least a Class 2 medical certificate, issued in accordance with
Part-Medical; 
(e) demonstrate that he/she has acquired language proficiency in accordance with FCL.055; 
(f) have completed at least 100 hours of flight time as a pilot.


As per https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1524553458669&amp;uri=CELEX:02011R1178-20160408

ANNEX III – Part B “CONVERSION OF LICENCES”