The privileges of a JAR-FCL SEP Rating include flying microlights. The CAA mis-interpreted the JAA's position regarding microlights, hence the wording in LASORS 2003 is incorrect. They now acknowledge this.
Again, if you have a JAR-FCL PPL(A) with a valid SEP rating, you can use it to fly microlights. But only if you keep your SEP rating valid.
Oddly enough, if you have an ATPL with a SEP class rating and, having retired from the airlines just want to fly microlights, then you'll have to fly a 1 hr dual training flight every 2 years to keep your SEP class rating valid. But if all you hold is a NPPL with microlight aircraft rating, you won't ever have to fly any dual training flight or meet any other periodic refresher training requirements......
Regarding the NPPL,
The SEP aircraft rating allows you to fly ONLY SEP aeroplanes of less than 2000kg and with no more than 4 seats. But NOT microlights.
The SLMG aircraft rating allows you to fly SLMGs ONLY.
The microlight aircraft rating allows you to micolights ONLY.
Currently the NPPL validity periods are, thanks to the CAA, a right bug.ger's muddle. Because they incorrectly adopted the 'rolling validity' requirement for balloon pilots by mistake and now have to amend the ANO to rectify matters. Add to that the fact that the microlight sub-group refuse to budge over simplifying admin for everyone and you might understand why things are proving so difficult.
We're hoping that ALL NPPL aircraft ratings will be valid for 2 years from the date of the appropriate rating issue and that 12 hours including 8 as P1C and 1 either as PIC or PIC U/S for EACH rating held including a 1 hr training flight on either a SLMG or SEP will be agreed. So that if you have SEP, SLMG and microlight aircraft ratings on your NPPL, to re-validate all 3 all you'd have to do is to amass a total of 12 hours in the 24 months before the expiry date including those requirements. For example, fly 4 SEP P1C, 5 microlight P1C, 2 SLMG P1C, a 1 hr training flight in a SLMG in the 2 years before the first rating expires and you'd then be able to have all 3 aircraft ratings re-validated to a single common date. How simple is that?
But until such agreement is achieved, you'll have to re-validate all 3 ratings independently. If you don't like that, then write to the BMAA and urge them to fall into line with everyone else on the NPPL Policy and Steering Committee. Because we just want things to be as simple, safe and cheap for you as we can.