PPL Advice Needed

[Chris_Ray]

Good Afternoon All,

I am currently 10 Hrs into re-validating my PPL after recently picking up flying again some 3 months ago, I am aiming to take my re-validation in a couple of weeks. subject to all going well i am looking at jumping straight into the Night Rating, all being well I envisage no problems with the re-validation, however I don't want to send all the paperwork off for the PPL then a week after getting it back send it off again to have the Night Rating added (mainly to avoid any additional costs not to mention putting my flying training on hold).

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Chris

[rudestuff]

You haven't actually asked anything..

[Chris_Ray]

Apologies,

Would there be anything stopping me renewing my PPL and holding off sending all the paperwork to the CAA, to then commence my Night Rating (same school) & complete before sending both the PPL Renewal & NR off to the CAA?

Chris

[rudestuff]

Yeah that shouldn't be a problem, I think you get around 6 months to get the licence issued.

[custardpsc]

Presumably you meant renewing, not revalidating in the first post - ? revalidation implies you are already valid ... renewal , meaning lapsed, currently undergoing refresher training is what I think you meant ( and did say in the second post) ? in which case - its not clear what licence you originally held so its a bit hard to answer... but heres a couple of thing that might help, assuming that you hold an EASA Private licence

If you pass the proficiency check, the examiner will endorse your rating with a new expiry date by signing the relevant section of your licence and entering the new date.

see here: https://www.caa.co.uk/General-aviation/Pilot-licences/Applications/Ratings/Keeping-your-ratings-valid/

and when you apply for the night rating you will have to state the expiry date of your ratings on the night rating form

https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/SRG1126Issue07enabled.pdf

And then these will be updated on the new licence when it is sent to you

And you'll need the licence & medical to be valid for the solo part of the night training

[Chris_Ray]

All, Thank you for the advice regards the night rating post PPL Re-validation, unfortunately due to me converting from a JAR-FCL which had expired I have to wait for everything to come back from the CAA before I can start my night rating, lesson learned to not let it lapse as its proven a tad expensive

[Fl1ingfrog]

Chris

I'm not so certain that you are correct about not being able to complete the night rating before applying for your EASA FCL licence. A number of schools are advertising the Night rating as part of the ab initio PPL course which, if correct, implies holding a pilots license is not necessary but only the relevant medical certificate. I can remember this being argued out some years ago but I can't remember the outcome.

Certainly, I have completed numerous night ratings for PPL students, during their ab initio training, in the past without issue.

[Maoraigh1]

I thought flying with an Instructor, as Pu/t, doesn't require you to be in possession of your PPL.
Maybe even solo, if each flight is authorized by an Instructor.

[MrAverage]

From memory (hopefully someone will come along shortly with the reference that I cannot find) flying solo under supervision only applies to ab initio PPL students and those who have sent in their initial PPL application but are waiting for licence issue. Although some have obviously managed to include night training whilst ab initio students and be issued with a licence I'm of the opinion they slipped through the net.

The OP has a licence, albeit lapsed, how can he complete the solo requirement of the night training if he's no longer a student?

[Chris_Ray]

My club will allow me to undertake the dual part of the rating but wont let me complete the solo element until my PPL has been renewed and returned by the CAA, unfortunately they cant tell me how long it will take before its returned (although they've been really quick to take my hard earned cash!). Its more frustration over anything as otherwise it would time perfect with my upcoming week off, along with letting me hour build during the day while the weather is still reasonable as I don't fancy my first solo after 5+ years being at night

[Fl1ingfrog]

The pilot in question is a student and is undertaking a formal course of training which has been specified by his school. It is illogical that an ab initio student with say 7-8 hours flying experience can be authorised solo but a lapsed PPL (licence also lapsed) with perhaps hundreds of hours experience, under the supervision of an ATO, cannot be authorised solo as part of his/her training. The night rating specifies the solo element. Holding a licence is an administration process to enable the attachment of the night rating. A joint application therefore is possible.

The law is of course a different matter and cannot be assumed to follow logic. As has been said we need a reference. An ATO will quite reasonably expect to have certainty that they are doing the correct thing.