Microlights and JAR-PPL(SEP)
 

Hi all,
A friend and I went and tried out Thruster T600Ns at Popham last week. This was excellent fun, and given that the hourly rate (one conversion completed and share purchased) is around 30 - 35 quid and hour, seems like a nice inexpensive way to get some flying in - not least the possibilities for farm strip visitations (obviously with prior invitation/permissions).

We are aware that microlight hours do not contribute to maintaining the JAR-PPL (SEP) licence, confirmed by AIC 3/2004 (White 92) section 2, and that we can fly three-axis microlights with the appropriate differences training.

One question we don't seem to be able to find the answer to,however, is what happens if we do not complete the 12 hours in the second year in a "class A" aeroplane? Would we still be able to fly microlights (our guess is no), and would we have to revalidate on "class A" aeroplanes? (our guess is yes).

Cheers

Tim

Once you've done the mandatory differences training, you are then on a separate currency regime - which is 5 hours every 13 months with a requirement for a stamp in your logbook from an "R" examiner. This is separate from the JAR 12/24 requirement.

So long as your JAR licence actually exists, if it's currency lapses so far as I understand it you can fly microlights on that currency stamp which has become separate to the currency signature for SEP in your JAR licence.

See you in the clubhouse at EGHP, or failing that at some of the local strips.

G

No - you don't have any different rating validity requirements for flying a microlight on a JAR-FCL PPL(A) licence with SEP Class Rating. You should complete differences training to qualify, then as long as your SEP Class Rating is valid you may fly microlights using those privileges.

If your SEP Class Rating lapses, you cannot fly microlights on a JAR-FCL PPL(A) - you would need to obtain a NPPL with Microlight Class Rating if you didn't want to revalidate your SEP Class Rating.

Don't forget that you can always revalidate your SEP Class Rating in the second 12 month period by flying a LPC in the final 3 months - which could well work out a cheaper option if you can't afford 12 hours of SEP Class flying.

Finally there is no such thing as 'Group A'!. I wish that certain flying associations would grasp that concept - as it's mostly their out of date terminology which breeds confusion!

Genghis says you can lapse your SEP and still fly microlights if current on them, BEagle says you can't.

BEagle mentions JAR-FCL PPL(A) and then says there is no such thing as 'Group A'!

:confused: :confused: :confused:

Beagle has a bit of a thing about the term "group A" :{

Anyhow, if you want a definitive answer, phone Roy Hart at the BMAA on 01869-338888, he's their licencing guru and definitely knows more than either I or Beagle. Then you can post the right answer here for us all !

G

Yes, please do post the answer! I've just finished differences training & would be interested to hear.
As a side issue, how about tailwheel differences? Presumably you should keep that current too? Would flying the tailwheel Thruster cover both?!




Hopefully currency won't be an issue for me any more now. :ugh:

There is no recency requirement on SEP Class aeroplanes after differences training has been carried out.

PPL(A) means Private Pilots Licence (Aeroplanes). The 'Group A' nonsense is routinely spouted by some 'PFA coaches' (actually, they are CRIs) to differentiate between SEP Class aeroplanes and Microlights because they either cannot be bothered to keep up with the times or just aren't capable of doing so. And yes, I do have a 'thing' about people using the right terminology - precision is vital in aviation as any engineer should accept.

The BMAA have no say in any JAR-FCL licensing matter; nice chaps that they are, they are purely concerned with UK PPL(M) licences and/or NPPLs with Microlight Class Ratings.

You may NOT fly a microlight on a lapsed JAR-FCL SEP Class Rating unless you have also obtained a NPPL with Microlight Class Rating - in which case the validity of that licence's Microlight Class Rating (currently 5 in 13 - but soon to be changed) will regulate your Microlight flying.

Your simplest solution is to maintain your JAR-FCL SEP Class Rating and use that for either SEP or Microlight flying. But you MUST meet the SEP Class Rating re-validation criteria to keep flying either SEPs or Microlights on a JAR-FCL SEP Class Rating.

Thanks for the replies. BEagles advice certainly fits with what I had originally thought, and makes more sense in terms of having a licence with the privelege to fly aircraft types, but it would be interesting to see what the chap at the BMAA thinks, so I'll give him a call. I'm not trying to be subversive, just get some opinions to see whether they differ.

BEagle has it 100%.

Regards,

DFC