AeroTime guest columnist Christian Charalambous is a pilot operating Boeing 767s on global routes and a consultant leveraging his extensive aviation and technology expertise, Christian also holds a First-Class Honours degree in Air Transport Operations plus a master’s degree in Blockchain. In his columns, he explores the modern challenges and innovative technologies that are shaping the future of flight.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AeroTime.
Brexit’s aviation licensing crisis: a tale of unequal professional mobility
On January 1, 2021, the United Kingdom officially left the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), creating an immediate licensing crisis for pilots. At this point, UK pilots were no longer permitted to fly in Europe, while EU pilots retained the ability to fly UK-registered aircraft. This initial arrangement created an inherent professional advantage for EU pilots.
A two-year transitional period followed, during which EU pilots could continue operating UK-registered aircraft, while UK pilots remained restricted from European operations. This transitional arrangement fundamentally disadvantaged UK pilots from the outset.
On January 1, 2023, the transition period ended, and the UK ceased recognizing EU-issued licenses for UK-registered aircraft. However, a significant asymmetry persists: EU pilots can still extensively operate in the UK, particularly on EU-registered aircraft, due to continued operational and tax-related considerations by many airlines. UK-licensed pilots now face substantial barriers when seeking to operate aircraft registered in the European Union. The process of obtaining alternative licenses remains time-consuming and financially burdensome, with pilots required to undergo a lengthy and expensive license conversion. This acts as an active barrier to job opportunities, effectively degrading UK pilot licenses’ value and utility.
Ironically, many UK pilots find it easier to secure employment in regions outside Europe, such as the Middle East, Asia, and parts of Africa, than within the European aviation market.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) continues to highlight this professional inequity, actively advocating for a reciprocal agreement between the UK and EU for flight crew and engineer licenses. More than 3,500 UK pilots have signed a letter to the government urging them to address this post-Brexit licensing inequality.
Brian Strutton, Acting BALPA General Secretary, emphasized the critical situation: “There are thousands of out-of-work pilots with highly respected UK licenses unable to take up positions with airlines registered in Europe but flying in and out of the UK.”
The situation represents a stark professional imbalance, with UK pilots bearing the brunt of post-Brexit regulatory complications while EU pilots maintain considerable operational flexibility in the UK aviation market.
Additionally, the European Commission has shown no immediate intention of resolving the licensing impasse, leaving pilots in a persistently challenging professional environment.
Technological solutions: a path forward
The current challenges faced by UK pilots have prompted a search for innovative technological solutions that can streamline licensing processes and enhance verification methods. Several emerging technologies are paving the way toward a more efficient aviation licensing landscape.
Electronic Personnel Licenses (EPL): a global digital standard
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) launched a groundbreaking tool on March 7, 2023, enabling states to verify Electronic Personnel Licenses (EPL). Countries like Australia, Brazil, and China have pioneered this approach, implementing EPL systems domestically with intentions to use them for international operations.
The EPL system represents a revolutionary approach to digital licensing, offering unprecedented levels of verification and authentication. By creating a standardized digital framework, these countries are developing a more flexible and efficient pilot certification model that could potentially serve as a global standard.
Blockchain-based license verification: A revolutionary approach
SITA has developed an advanced blockchain-based solution for verifying pilot licenses, addressing critical credential verification challenges. Using Hyperledger Aries technology, the system enables peer-to-peer verification of digital credentials with remarkable security and efficiency.
When a license is issued, the licensing authority creates a digital signature using a private key, with the corresponding public key securely stored on the blockchain. This approach allows inspectors to verify credentials through a mobile application, providing a robust and tamper-proof authentication method.
The verification process is designed to be comprehensive and secure. The licenses themselves are not stored directly on the blockchain, but instead, the licensor issues an Electronic Personnel License (EPL) to the pilot as a verifiable credential stored in a phone wallet. This helps safeguard the pilot’s privacy while ensuring credential authenticity.
Using the self-sovereign identity solution Hyperledger Aries, the system works almost entirely peer-to-peer between the license issuer, pilot, and verifier. When an inspector needs to verify a license, they can do so even without internet connectivity by checking the digital signature against locally stored public keys.
Key advantages of this blockchain-based verification system include offline verification capabilities, enhanced privacy protection, rapid license issuance (taking days instead of weeks), reduced risk of credential fraud, and the elimination of physical credential management.
The solution supports ICAO’s goal of developing an international standard for Electronic Personnel Licenses, with the potential to transform how pilot credentials are verified globally. After a successful proof of concept in 2020, SITA integrated its decentralized identity solution with the Civil Aviation Authority of China’s EPL system, demonstrating the practical viability of this innovative approach.
Artificial Intelligence in aviation licensing
The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s comprehensive AI strategy represents another transformative approach to addressing licensing challenges. Its three-pillar strategy focuses on horizon scanning, strategic direction setting, and internal capability development. AI technologies offer unprecedented potential in aviation licensing through automated equivalency assessments between different regulatory frameworks and intelligent tracking of pilot qualifications.
Machine learning algorithms can facilitate more nuanced pathways for pilot licensing by reducing administrative burdens and creating more efficient verification processes. As these technologies evolve, they will play a crucial role in reshaping how pilot qualifications are assessed and recognized globally.
Global trends and economic implications
The post-Brexit licensing challenges faced by UK pilots are not isolated; they reflect broader global trends toward increasing complexity in professional credential recognition across aviation markets. Countries worldwide are grappling with modernizing their licensing systems while maintaining rigorous safety standards.
Comparative analysis of global licensing approaches
Comparative research reveals significant variations in aviation licensing approaches worldwide. For instance, while the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been somewhat resistant to digital transformation compared to emerging aviation markets like Singapore or the United Arab Emirates, which have been proactive in implementing technological solutions, there is an undeniable shift toward digitization across many jurisdictions.
Economic impacts on workforce dynamics
The technological disruption in aviation licensing extends beyond regulatory compliance; it represents a fundamental restructuring of workforce management within the sector. The complexity of post-Brexit licensing has created a fragmented talent market where pilots increasingly view their credentials as portable global assets driving demand for more flexible technology-enabled verification systems.
Moreover, airlines now face increased operational complexity due to these changes. The need to maintain separate licensing frameworks creates substantial administrative burdens alongside potential financial implications that could reshape recruitment strategies significantly.
A technological revolution ahead
The current licensing challenges represent more than bureaucratic obstacles; they signal a profound technological transformation in how professional credentials are conceived, verified, and managed across international boundaries. As AI, blockchain technology, and digital verification methods continue to evolve, the aviation industry stands at the cusp of a significant paradigm shift.
The solutions emerging from these challenges have the potential to create more transparent and efficient globally integrated professional certification systems that benefit pilots, airlines, and regulatory bodies alike. However, achieving this vision will require continued collaboration between regulatory authorities, technology providers, and industry stakeholders.
By embracing innovation while maintaining commitments to safety and professional standards, the aviation industry can transform these challenges into opportunities for growth and international cooperation, ultimately paving the way for a more interconnected global aviation market.