markvincent747

Hi All,

I passed my PPL skills test last summer and had my license issued in October 07 but unfortunately I have not flown since due to a number of reasons - mainly financial

My question is how long will my license stay valid if I do not regularly fly? I know to keep my license current I need to fly each month but if I don’t fly for a considerable length of time will my license simply become invalid and require exams and tests to be retaken?

Many Thanks for your help........Mark

Duchess_Driver

Your licence is valid for a period of 5 years.

Your rating to fly single engine piston aeroplanes is valid for 2 years. You need to fly 12 hours (6 of which must be p1, 1 hr dual with an instructor) in the last 12 months of this period for the licence to be revalidated 'by experience'.

If however, during this period you haven't flown for a period, to fly passengers you will need to have completed 3 take-off and landings within the last 90 days. Thats the rules of the land.

Club rules vary but are ususally a 'check-ride' if you haven't flown within the last 30 days.

scherzo

DD has put it very well indeed, but part of having a PPL is knowing this, or at least knowing where to look it up. If you have signed a club's Flying Orders book you have signed to say that you understand amongst other things, currency rules.

Remember your licence is valid for 5 years from date of issue, but your SEP is 24 months from the date of test. Even if you have your own plane and are not restricted by club currency rules, it would be wise to get an instructor to check you out again if you are low hours and not in current practise.

Deano777

DD

And don't forget you need 12 take off's & landings within the last 12 months too.

Kengineer-130

I need to re-validate, ( JAA SEPL) as I have not flown the hours I need (£££ is the main cause as ever ).. What needs to be done for this?

Deano777

Kengineer

Can you not read? that is what was just discussed above

Has your SEP lapsed? or is the lapse date ahead of you?

If you can still revalidate it via experience then to reiterate what was said above you need

12 hours flying in the previous 12 months including 12 take offs & landings including 6 as PIC and includes 1 full hour with an instructor.

That's it, make sure you get someone who is qualified to sign your license & application form, and just stick the form in the post.

If your SEP has lapsed already then you need to take a skill test, this is a shortened version of the PPL GST which includes a short nav trip with no diversion, GH including 2 of the 3 stalls, a PFL and some circuits.

Hope this helps

D777

scherzo

..or you can revalidate by check...ie an LPC with FE...

the dean

kengineer,

as sherzo says...some would take this course of action..ie renew by flight proficiency check again....it might be a cheaper option, but bear in mind, if you have not done at least some hours and brushed up manouvers again, in my experience as an examiner , you are unlikely to be proficient enough to pass. that could mean a partial ( in which case you need to reapply with the additional cost that brings ) or a full fail ( unlikely ) with even more cost applying for a retest...

i have a friend who flies ATRs. he likes to keep his SEL and SEL IR alive but does'nt have the time to do the necessary in singles so he opts each time to take the flight check, but as he is flying constantly ( though the single is different ), and so he never has a problem passing it.

some do a few hours to brush with an instructor and take the flight check, but thats a personal choice. doing the required 12 hours and the hour with the instructor in that is, to most people, satisfactory.

with the cost of aviation these days and temporary draws on our resourses situations like yours are unavoidable, but remember the requirements are there to protect you ( and those that fly with you )

good luck.

the dean

taylor_mckenzie

Something else to keep i mind, your license never actually expires, it is your medical that puts a 5 year "expiration date" on the license, no medical, invalid license. So five years from the date of your medical exam your license is invalid. Then you have all the recency requirements on top of that to stay current.

BEagle

Wrong.

A JAR-FCL PPL(A) has to be re-issued every 5 years (for no real reason) irrespective of medical validity or anything else.

It will not be re-issued unless you have a valid JAA Class 2 or JAA Class 1 medical certificate.