What happened to the 90 day 'recency' rule?
 

My last ATCO Unit Endorsement took place on 27 Feb 15.
I last exercised the privileges of my ATCO licence during July 2015.
SARG has today informed the ATS Manager that my UE remains valid until 27 Feb 2016.
So what has happened to the old long-standing 90-day rule?

They simplified everything around 3 or 4 years ago, there are now 30 and 45 day rules and the annual UE endorsement. There are more changes to the whole system coming in during this year to comply with EASA requirements.

Thanks Z.
I am being told that I may resume ops after 6 months lay-off without a comp check by an examiner until my UE expiry, which I find very hard to believe. In the old days if privileges were not exercised for 90 days one went down a big snake. Where do I look, CAP724 or is it an EASA doc?

Your unit will have their own UCS Document which will have been approved by the CAA and specifies exactly the processes for returning to competence all dependent on how long you have been off. The CAA document is the CAP744 but having just checked it, nothing useful to you is specified, it's like the MATS part 1, a very high overview, and the UCS Document is the MATS part 2 equivalent. That could mean that the 30/45 day rulings I mentioned earlier just applies to my unit and that yours has something different approved.

Thanks Z.

Nothing is straightforward these days. Bring back CAP160...

Talkdownman

Could not agree more, but we'll need to kick the EU into touch before we do.