NZ BFR Requirments

[JAMUP]

Hi there can a Kiwi B Cat or any Cat instructor in this forum please tell me the Air Law requirments for the PPL BFR in NZ

I hold a NZ CPL ME IR and I have not used the privileges of this License for the last 6 Years in NZ. I am going to do my PPL BFR and need know whther I could do the PPL Air Law? I have been getting conflicting information and part 61 doesnt specifically say anything about it. Any urgent feedback is appriciated

Thanks

[NZScion]

At a glance, yes you will require a law exam. As you are the holder of a CPL, it will need to be CPL law.

[riseagainst]

Hi mate, didn't have to much of a chance to look it up but I believe the above to be correct. CPL law and cpl reqs for BFR .

[Oktas8]

61.37 Recent flight experience
(i) If the holder of a pilot licence issued in accordance with this Part has
not met the requirements of rule 61.39 for a period of 5 years or more, the
privileges of that pilot licence may not be exercised again unless...

61.39 Biennial flight review
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), the holder of a pilot licence
issued by the Director under the Act and this Part must not exercise the
privileges of the pilot licence for longer than 24 months from the date of the
issue flight test for the pilot licence...

(c) A biennial flight review must—
(1) be conducted by an appropriately qualified flight instructor; and
(2) consist of flight instruction to review those manoeuvres and
procedures applicable to the pilot licence privileges the holder
wishes to exercise

61.41 Use of lower pilot licence or rating
(b) The holder of a pilot licence issued in accordance with this Part who
does not meet the currency requirements of rule 61.207 (CPL) or rule 61.257
(ATPL) for the pilot licence type, but who meets the currency requirements
for a lower pilot licence, may exercise the privileges of the lower pilot licence.

You could be ok. The five year clock starts from when you were last due a BFR. If you got the license (or passed a BFR) six years ago, you don't need to resit the law exam - it's only been four years (starting 24 months after the last BFR) since the licence went un-current.

Assuming you do actually need to do a law exam...

There is nothing in Part 61 that says you have to maintain the highest grade of license you hold. Remember that you hold a PPL as well as a CPL. As 61.39 and 61.41 clearly say, you the pilot get to choose which level of license you wish to maintain!

With that in mind, it is perfectly acceptable for a CPL holder to do a PPL BFR, and retain only PPL privileges. It's not unheard of, and the log book sticker will clearly say "PPL BFR".

I would advise you to do the law exam that you need. With an expired CPL in your hand and a fresh PPL law exam, an instructor will have no problem conducting a PPL BFR with you, with you retaining only PPL privileges.

For peace of mind, perhaps you should consider contacting the CFI of the aero club you will be using, to ask whether he objects to conducting a PPL BFR on you, if you hold a fresh PPL law pass. Mention that you're seeking confirmation of rules 61.39 and 61.41.

Best of luck,
O8

[Super Ord]

You don't need to pass a CPL BFR, you can fly to a PPL BFR standard and get yourself back in the air. If you then want to start flying as a CPL for hire or reward, your employer will require you to fly a route check / competency flight which will meet the CPL BFR requirements.

As to needing to sit / pass a law exam, although it isn't required, you already hold a life time licence, I would recommend spending some time going over the syllabus, as I'm sure you will find a lot has changed in five years.

[PilotInPink]

This topic came up at an instructor conferece last year.

The delegate from CAA said that if for example, the holder of an ATPL was to not use their NZ licence for 5 years they would need to re-sit a law exam upon wanting to return to recreational flying. Regardless of the fact that they only want to exercise privileges of a PPL they must sit the exam for the lifetime licence they hold. In this case, an ATPL law paper.

[JAMUP]

Part 61

Thanks for all your Valauable comments, then again its really confusing to decide which Law exam to sit. Because Part 61 does not specify the Law paper, it says Appropriate law Exam,

Thanks and Blue Skies
JAMUP

[mcrowe]

I just went through this process - getting my CPL current again after 6 years of not flying.

After calling the CAA I was told that the law exam must be sat for the license held. i.e. If you hold a CPL then the CPL law exam must be sat and the CPL BFR must be done, even if using it for PPL privileges only.

To be honest after that long not flying I was glad I did the exam as there was a lot I had forgotten.

Hope that helps.

[Naki Boy]

It's funny, I am doing my CPL subjects at the moment. I have a PPL licence that I have had since 97. I was hoping I could just do the CPL law exam and get current with my PPL rating but oh no I have to do the PPL law and the CPL law as I am finishing my CPL. This seems a bit silly but oh well loving flying again after so long away from it. I know why you need to resit law after five years away from it. I forgot most of the law side of things. As for flying well just like riding a bike not a problem. Good luck!

Naki Boy

[JAMUP]

HI

When my CFI rung the CAA he was told that a PPL Air LAw would do, So I sat for the PPL Air Law to renew the BFR of the PPL.

Had enough of this ...

Cheers

[LocoDriver]

Righto,
the CAA rules here are a tad complex.
As a CFI, I conduct BFR's all the time, so need to stay conversant....
In a nutshell..

If you are FIVE years past the EXPIRY date of your last BFR, you need a law exam, appropriate to the licence held IE, PPL or CPL

For example, you do a BFR on 8/2/2005, it is valid until 8/2/2007..
Under the law, you have FIVE years from when your licence was 'current", which would be 8/2/2012 (basically Seven years from date of ISSUE of BFR)
Outside of this period, you need to go resit law

Another problem isa licence issued before about 1992.... they need all the exams, and a re-issue flight test.

You will find CAA helpful if you contact them re this, they will give you all the Gen, by E mail.

Hope this helps!

Cheers...

[A.Sullivan]

quick question on the topic of bfrs... semi relevant. I sat cpl flight test last year. however the bfr date is written in my log book for this year. one year on from the cpl flight test. Is this a mistake by the flight tester?.... or did i fly half as good as i should have?

[aero junkie]

A.Sullivan, sounds like the flight examiner made a mistake, should be 2 years after your flight test, might want to get that looked at

[A.Sullivan]

Thanks aero. will get on to that.