IR Revalidation/Renewal
I've held a UK CAA issued JAA IR for 3 years now, but I may be moving outside of Europe for a VFR job and I'm trying to get my head around the implications for my IR.
I am trying to decide whether or not to maintain my IR or just let it lapse and renew it on my return to the UK, so my query basically comes down to trying to understand the difference between revalidation (which I have done twice now) and a renewal. I have looked at CAP 804 and tried to understand Part-FCL, but still came out a little confused. I called the CAA, but the person I spoke to didn't seem that sure in what they were saying and only answered regarding LASORS, which are about to become redundant.
It is my understanding that if an IR has lapsed for more than 5 years (which shouldn't be an issue for me) then you have to do a full initial IR skills test with a CAA examiner, so this leaves the question about how the test for a renewal differs from that of a revalidation.