Easa and Aerobatics rating...
 

Hi guys,

I have a quick question regarding the AOPA Aerobatics course and EASA Aerobatics rating. I'm in a bit of a weird situation in that I've done 19 hours of flight training with the Navy (Naval flight grading at RNAS Yeovilton but not Elementary Flight Training (EFT) yet, and not scheduled for that until mid next year) - and currently doing a PPL with another military flying club. It's a bit of a grey area as to whether the CAA will accept my military flight hours towards my PPL - they take EFT hours. Anyway, I've currently done 40 flight hours in total and will apply for my PPL hopefully next month. If they decide not to take my previous hours, do you know whether I can integrate the aerobatics course into my PPL as some of my flight hours, or is having the licence a prerequisite to doing the course? It's a bit irritating as I'll have to go over effects and controls and all of the basic stuff again just to satisfy the CAA and I'd rather get on to some fun stuff to count as additional dual hours, particularly due to the rule changes in April, otherwise it could be another year and a half before I can do the course. It's also annoying as from next year military pilots won't be able to "train" outside of our military flights. I have already been taught some aeros whilst on the course.

Cheers

Part-FCL states that you need 40 hours experience after license issue, that would mean you cannot do your Aerobatics Rating as part of your PPL.

My understanding is that to 'claim' an aerobatics rating you need to have completed historicaly an AOPA aerobatics course, what rubbish. I was lucky in that I was taught and examined by two outstanding instructors and examiners in aerobatics, but apparently that does not count in easaland.

I am quite prepared to take a stand against the CAA, if they will not issue a aerobatics rating.

There is (was?) no requirement for the AOPA course. If you have suitable previous experience, a demonstration of competency to a suitably qualified instructor is sufficient.

See CAP 804 Part I Section 4 Part P pp48-50 (.pdf pp 580-582) - you too, Tay Cough!.

Also no military flight training before graduating from EFT is allowable towards the part-FCL PPL. However, if you can get to test standard and apply before 8 Apr 2018, military flight training time can be used towards the NPPL(SSEA) - which can then be converted to a LAPL and ultimately to a PPL.

To save others looking that up, what Tay says is substantially correct though you do need to show log book evidence of 5hrs aeros and evidence of the required knowledge. Of course if a non easa aircraft then you do not need the rating anyway!