COVID-19 Recovery Phase: Revalidation of Class Ratings ORS4 No 1418
 

Can someone clarify the SEP revalidation requirements given in the general exemption ORS4 No 1418?

The reduction in second year hours exemption to revalidate a SEP rating is clear enough. However, what I have been unable to confirm is whether the exemption also extends to the instructional flight requirement. That is to say if a SEP rating is due to run out on 31 March and the holder has the requisite second year hours for revlaidation, as long as that person flies the requisite time with an instructor before 30 April, their SEP may be revalidated. The confusion comes in because the exemption refers to havng a valid class rating. I take that as meaning a class rating that was valid prior to 30 April but that the holder was unable to fly with an instructor because of COVID-19 restrictions. But I could be wrong.....!

This ORSA 1418 doesn't deal with the extension of validity periods published elsewhere, but only the exemptions against the requirements within the normal periods. So, you must have completed the relevant requirements shown in the table 1 within the validity periods of the rating dates that are annotated in the licence.

See Safety Notice: SN-2021/009

Thanks for your response which is pretty much what I expected. The problem seems to be that the CAA had not anticipated another lockdown and thus far seems to have made no provision for the extension of SEP rating validity for those pilots whose ratings lapsed during the most recent lockdown but were not able to fly an instructional flight becuase of the lockdown restrictions.

I am somewhat frustrated by all this and I am sure that I am not alone. I hold a UK-issued EASA PPL. Its validity expires on 31 March 2021 (ie end of second year). I have not flown for a year and so consider that I need some refresher training with an instructor before my next solo flight. In normal circumstances I would have expected to have taken a proficiency check before the expiry date but as this has to be within 3 months of expiry and we have been in lockdown for the whole of this period, I have not achieved it. Moreover to start any flying with an instructor and to prepare and undertake the check will not be possible until mid April, after the expiry date. From the CAA documentation it would seem that anyone who has had an expiry date since November is in the same position.

As I see it, if the CAA does not extend the expiry date, I will have to follow the renewal rules; i.e. be assessed by an ATO, undertake a designated course of instruction with a written outcome to present to an examiner for a proficiency check and that all the paperwork, including the individualised training course details will have to be submitted to the CAA. On the other hand, if the validity is extended I will be able to follow the normal revalidation process, albeit with the revised hour requirements, provided I can achieve this within the extension period.

Am I correct in this?

That's how we're interpreting it.
You make it sound very complicated, which it doesn't need to be.
You also have the option to go to a DTO, usually a local friendly flying club, with a tame examiner and a CFI who will go through the paperwork with you.
If you haven't flown for a year, a couple of hours brush-up and a LPC with an examiner would be a really good idea, anyway.

TOO

Ditto

You're not alone mabmac, There'll be PPLs by the boatload doing this over the spring and summer. Also, it's unlikely to cost you anywhere near how much you've saved by not flying and you'll most likely end up safer.

The licence is valid for life. Presumably you mean that the expiry date of your SEP Class Rating is 31 Mar 2021?

Very sensible - if your Class Rating is valid. Unfortunately the current DfT guidance precludes that before 12 Apr 2021.

There is NO such '3 month' requirement! If you choose to revalidate by Proficiency Check and do so more than 3 months before your Class Rating validity expiry date, then the new validity expiry date will be 2 years from the date of the Proficiency Check.
In which case it'll be a Renewal Proficiency Check rather than a Revalidation Proficiency Check. No difference in content; however, your ATO/DTO will need to include a document stating what refresher training was deemed necessary before you took the Check. Which can in many cases be "No training required".

If a SEP Class Rating is expired by three years or less, FCL.740 now allows a stand-alone instructor to complete the training and sign the CCC so no ATO/DTO involvement required.

ifitaint...

Have you a reference for this? I can't find it.

I've never heard of that either.

FCL.740(b)(2)(ii), which came into effect in 2019:

Thanks for the link which is very helpful. Is the instructor working alone also required to asses the 'training required', in accordance with the same guidance provided to a ATO/DTO but without reference to a ATO/DTO?

Reference for this will also be helpful please.

AMC1 FCL.740(b) Validity and renewal of class and type ratings
ED Decision 2018/009/R