I was told by someone that the Basic AOPA Aerobatic Course (6 hours of aerobatic instruction) can now be converted to a rating in EASA.
Is it a requirement to have the rating instead of an endorsement? Can you choose which one you want to have (sorry I know that sounds a bit stupid) and if you must have the rating, then when does it expire?
There are many ways to get your aerobatic rating grandfathered onto an EASA licence. The AOPA certificate is one way but the easiest is to have five hours of aerobatics in your log book and then demonstrate the manoeuvres listed in FCL 800 to an aerobatics instructor. The instructor will need to certify that you have had the necessary TK as well. Competing just once in a BAEA event also counts as does RAF and Navy military aero training. Being an instructor with the aerobatics restriction removed will also do it.
The rating does not expire