UK PPL Hiring in EU

[felixflyer]

Hi
I am planning on renewing my SEP rating soon and haven't flown for a few years. My licence is still EASA so I will end up with a UK PPL. I'm going to Crete in May and it would be nice to hore an aircraft for an hour or so. I take it my UK PPL will not be valid there? Does anyone know what the process would entail and can any of it be done here in the UK prior to going?

Regards

[Genghis the Engineer]

For an hour or two, the process really won't be cost effective - I'd recommend just hiring an aeroplane with an instructor and logging dual.

G

[BoeingBoy]

My licence is still EASA so I will end up with a UK PPL

On the strength of your EASA/CAA Licence you should be issued with a Part FCL UK PPL(A). The 'UK PPL' is the old brown licence issued under the ANO. You can still have one if you want but it's a separate application.

Either way to fly anything not 'G' registered you'll need an EASA or FAA licence.

[felixflyer]

Thanks, as I thought. May still do it for future trips but for just one probably not cost effective as above.

[Dave Gittins]

I flew in Crete once, in a C152. Although I had an EASA license, the Greeks wouldn't accept it, so I flew with a local pilot and we told the authorities he was P1.

Personally I would always fly with a local instructor as they know the area and the airspace boundaries, the local peculiarities and the language to help avoid banging into local pilots talking to controllers in Greek. It's worth it for logging a few hours as "only" dual.

[India Four Two]

I agree with Dave. I'm currently visiting NZ from Canada. I have enough hours now that I don't care which logbook column the flight goes in. It's much simpler to fly with an instructor so that they can manage ATC and airspace, while I enjoy the flying and scenery.

[selfin]

The notion of casual, recreational flying is anathema to the Hellenes. Rental checkouts, if any, are typically exaggerated and overpriced affairs. As others mentioned, it's not worth the hassle for a few hours' flying. Further, while some EASA countries pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2020/723, art 3(8), will issue a 28-day foreign licence validation, eg Cyprus, Spain, France, Italy, etc, the Hellenic CAA doesn't. "The HCAA’s policy is not to validate 3rd country pilots at all unless compelling evidence is produced to the effect that there is no other option." HCAA PEL-FCL VAL, p 7 (guidance notes).

Correction: article 8(3), not 3(8), in regulation 2020/723:

By way of derogation from the provisions of Articles 4 to 7, a competent authority of a Member State may validate a licence which is equivalent to one of those referred to in paragraph 2 and issued in compliance with the requirements of Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention by a third country for a maximum of 28 days per calendar year for specific non-commercial tasks, provided that the applicant complies with all of the following requirements:

(a) holds an appropriate licence and medical certificate and associated ratings or qualifications issued in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention;

(b) has completed at least one acclimatisation flight with a qualified instructor prior to carrying out the specific tasks of limited duration.