Question on Recency and new requirements

[Mad-Air]

Dear All,
Need to ask some advise so I thought the best place to come, would be here, so I hope you can all help.
I have the old CAA lifetime PPL. Issued in December 1995. Last flew as P1 in 1997. Have had several flights since then as P1/S, most recently in August. Medical now up to date (JAR Medical).
Have 189hrs TT, with IMC and Night Rating (both need re-validating, however nothing is or has replaced the IMC). By my reasoning, I think I need to take a mini-GFT (with a couple of hours previous to this for obvious resons!), does anyone have any advice to add to this with regards to what else needs to be achieved?

Thanks in advance to all who reply.....
<img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[Newguy]

Hi Mad-Air
I think you already have the answer to your question. You need to pass a proficiency check with a flight examiner to renew your sepl rating. Prior to the check flight do as many hour's as you and your instructor think necessary. The check flight will be similar to a GFT so practice stall's, steep turn's, PFL's and circuit's.
If you convert your license to JAA you can still attach your IMC rating to it after renewal but you can only use the IMC in the UK. The IMC renewal is another flight test. Your night rating, I think, comes with the sepl renewal but you need to do 1 take off and and landing at night (every 90 day's) in order to carry passengers.
One last thing. Be careful when you log p1/s. As far as I know you can only do this for a successful flight test. Without a current license you need to log p/ut.
Hope this help's.

[BEagle]

Mad-Air - when was the expiry date of your most recent (old-style) logbook Certificate of Experience stamp? If it was less than 5 years ago, you need to fly whatever practice you think you need, followed by a 'Single Engine Piston (Land) Class Rating' renewal Proficiency Check with an Examiner who will complete a Certificate of Rating Revalidation for your licence. Apart from the Examiner's fee and the cost of aircraft hire, there won't be anything more to pay. But if your last logbook stamp expired 5 years or more ago, you'll need to contact the CAA for them to decide what mandatory refresher training they may require you to complete before you fly the same SEP renewal proficiency check. The difference then is that, in addition to the Examiner's fee and aircraft hire, there will be the added burden of sending your paperwork off to the CAA and paying a Rating Variation Fee (currently £64) to them.

Regarding the IMC, you will need to complete a test following the same format as the initial one but, if the IMC has expired by more than 5 years you will also need to complete appropriate training at the CFI's discretion before taking the test after which you will have to send the application form to the CAA together with your personal logbook. There is no reason why you shouldn't do both the SEP renewal and IMC tests on the same flight if you so choose.

Regarding your night 'rating', it is now known as 'night qualification'. There is no formal renewal test, you merely need to fly dual with a FI to regain your 'night recency'; you then keep that valid by flying one take-off and landing by night every 90 days if you wish to carry passengers.

Without a valid rating, you cannot log any flying as P1 unless you are flying solo under the supervision of a FI in order to complete mandatory refresher training specified for licence rating renewal. 'P1/S' flown with a non-FI is invalid if you do not hold a valid licence rating.

[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]</p>

[Another CFI]

If you visit the CAA SRG web site and print off General Information Document 33 it will answer all your questions on renewing your Single Engine Piston(Land) Class Rating [formerley Group A]