Whilst it is difficult to believe that there will not be some form of credit for experienced aerobatic pilots towards the aerobatics rating, there are no procedures included in the EASA 'Opinion' and time is running short to get them included. The fact is that grandfathering is not particularly high on the agenda as most EU member states already issue an aerobatic rating and, therefore, don't need grandfather rights. It will be easier to arrange credit for ex-military pilots for the aerobatic rating as these arrangements are left to the national authorities to determine.
This is a typical EASA c*ck up and perhaps those negotiating with them need to adopt more overt signs of naked contempt for the whole process and those who have drafted these regulations. Te fact that they may not come in until 2015 is of little comfort as it merely postpones the awful day. The position appears to be that:
- They have not said how instructors for the new rating will be created as currently of course no one is qualified to train or instruct for it and there are no transitional arrangements or provisions for grandfather rights in Part FCL!
- the rating only applies to EASA aircraft, so Annex II are unaffected
- you will still need a form of national licence to fly Annex II
- the CAA plan to make local regulations to validate an EASA licence for Annex II in UK airspace, but that means you won't be able to fly your tiger moth to France without some form of reciprocal arrangement in place in France, Germany, Holland etc
- those who don't have or want an EASA licence will still need a national licence to fly Annex II (which includes gliders, microlights etc)
The result of this dog's breakfast is that you can fly aerobatics without a rating on a permit aircraft (including Extra 230, Christen Eagle, Pitts S1S, Chipmunk, Tiger Moth, some S2As, Yak 50/52, Spitfire!) but will require this "solution looking for a problem" rating to fly aeros in an S2B/C, Super Decathlon, Extra 300, Cap 10, Bolkow Junior (those on C of A as opposed to permit) and S1s and S2As which are on C of A currently.