''Outside of QSP accreditation, in current LASORs, what would a 747 pilot who TR'd 6 years ago have to do, if anything to begin a MPA TR course had he not remained 'current and valid'? ''
Assuming his last LPC/IR was six years ago, he would have to sit another LST/IR with a CAA Examiner observing the test. This is from the latest LASORs 2010 (which was only published in April 2011!). Included in this version is a requirement to sit all the IR Nav exams if the IR has expired by more than 7 years. This is becuase JAR FCL 1-185 (issued in 2005) has it included and the CAA have only just noticed! But they have included the caveat that no experince or IR under military or a non JAA ICAO member state can be counted.
This has cuaght quite a few people out. The CAA sent letters to all UK licence holders explaining they had better renew before April 2012 and then introduced this little gem. Foregin based UK licence holders (both national and JAA licence holders) have done what the CAA instructed and got a LST/IR on their current type and were then told that the rating could not be included on their licence to renew as their IR exams had expired!
One wonders at the motive behind this. Is it a concerted action to align the UK with the JAA (which no longer exists of course) or is it a ploy to increase their revenue before a lot of it disspears in April next year?
Either way, it's a muddle - and it appears it hasn't been applied evenly. Some pilots have been issued the rating after LASORS 2010 were isssued and others who were told their UK national licences wouldn't be re-issued after 1 Apr 11 have in fact had then renewed. And other JAA authorities apply the regs differently. For example, all you have to do in Sweden to keep your rating current is to send their aviation authority a copy of your foreign rating.
And the logic is as sound as asking a doctor to retake his biology A level becuase he's been working overseas for seven years. The premise that say for example, an IR issued in Hong Kong is less valid than on issued in Turkey or the RAF is nonesence, particulary if that IR has been used to fly in European airspace.
There are enough British Pilots in the world who this affects to cause a wave. The CAA will probably be facing legal action over their interpretation of JAR FCL 1-185. Something that they won't relish right now!
I will keep you all posted on developments.