But if I renew after April doesn't that mean it will be restricted to non easa aeroplanes? Ie I have to change to part FCL before my license expires?
From April 2014, you will need a Part-FCL licence to fly "EASA aircraft" (i.e. those that don't fall under Annex II of the Basic Regulation). Your JAR-FCL licence is deemed to be a Part-FCL licence. When you convert (or "replace", long story) your JAR-FCL licence to a new Part-FCL licence (which you must do before the JAR-FCL one expires in May 2014), the new one will have an IR(R) attached to it, which will allow you to continue with the privileges you currently have. After April 2014, you may not exercise the privileges of an IMC rating attached to a JAR-FCL licence on an EASA aircraft until it is converted to a Part-FCL licence with an IR(R) attached.
Implementation is likely to be delayed to 2016 anyway as nothing is sorted or set in concrete still and there would be chaos trying to Implement in 2014.
That was readily but unofficially accepted by EASA at the last big meeting.
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Not maybe so much for this forum but there is still a long silence on the dual licencing requirements and conversion route for FAA ATP conversion for working European pilots flying N reg in Europe?
There is supposed to be another big meeting this summer EASA FAA where things should be clearer and I cannot see pilots waving new bits of paper till 2016 which was unofficially accepted by EASA as a likely implementation date at the last meeting.
Big meeting of what, Pace? And implementation of what?