The Blue Book
Hi Pilot 2013,
The good news is that your shiny new EASA PPL will be valid for life (as mentioned above) so that particular five yearly cost won’t come around again.
One quick warning, if you have any Ratings (TMG, IMCr, Night etc) they should be valid when you change from JAR to EASA. If you have an invalid rating it will appear on the back of the new licence and it will cost you an additional fee to the CAA to get it revalidated in the future. All valid Ratings are transferred to your new EASA licence on issue and are covered in the cost of the new licence.
If you do get a ‘poo brown’ book from the CAA you should complain. The new licences come with a blue folder, usually called a ‘blue book’ to differentiate it from the old licence. Your new EASA licence will comprise sheet(s) of paper and the blue ‘book’ with lots of clear envelopes inside. On no account cut up your new (A4-ish) EASA licence to fit in the plastic envelopes, logical and tempting though it may be. That renders the licence invalid and you will have to get the CAA to print you a new one, for a fee naturally…..
Good luck with your Licence & SEP
Safe Flying.