I had an interesting update from EASA at a meeting today. They intend to publish the NPA (Notice of Proposed Amendment) that introduces the EASA flight crew licensing rules in mid-April. There will be a three month comment and response period during which time anyone may make comments and suggestions. The rules will be revised (or not) after considering the comments and it will become part of European law in Mid April 2009.
Although broadly based on JAR FCL 1 and 2 the significant likely changes are:
- All instructors who train for EASA licenses and ratings must hold the license or rating they train for. (No more FAA licensed instructors teaching for European licenses)
- All the EASA (JAA) states will have to conform with the most current versions of the licensing regulations and CQB. (The interim arrangements for ATPL(H) will disappear and the UK CAA will use the NPA 25 syllabus)
- National arrangements such as exemptions for military pilots will disappear.
- In a wider sense all 'national discretion' will be removed. Exactly the same rules will apply in all JAA states.
- For the modular route ICAO PPLs will have to be converted to EASA PPLs before a modular course of training can be started.
There is a provision for a transitional period of up to three years to be applied to some areas of licensing. As I understand it where this applies it will only apply to courses already in progress. In other words an integrated course involving training in the the US with FAA licensed instructors that starts before April 09 may be allowed to proceed but the one that starts in May 09 will have to use EASA licensed instructors. Some sources say it might have to use EASA registered aircraft as well.
We don't anticipate any problems with the ground exams. The NPA 25 syllabus is an improvement on its predecessors and the CAA are starting a consultation period with the training providers to try and iron out any problems with the latest question banks before they are tried out on an unsuspecting public. The withdrawl of the interim arrangement for ATPL(H) will lead to proper helicopter courses being provided, although probably from only a few brave providers. Military pilots will undoubtably be worse off and integrated providers operating in the US and elsewhere will, at the least, be massively inconvenienced.
I understand the NPA draft rules are 700 pages long. More will become clear once we get the NPA, work through it, and digest the implications.