EASA SEP revalidation by exp. microlights
 

Apologies if this has been answered previously. I can't find it on the forum.

I'm looking for the specific EASA documents that state that 3 axis microlights can now be used to fulfil hourly requirements for SEP revalidation. So far, I have discovered the following in but I am confused by the emboldened (condition a). How does this mean that the aircraft used can be a "microlight"!? Help much appreciated.

From the CAA website;

Single-engine piston rating for aeroplanes

Requirements for issue of a single-engine piston rating for aeroplanes in single-pilot operations

Single Engine Piston (SEP) and Touring Motor Glider (TMG)

For pilots with these ratings to revalidate by experience, you must fly a certain amount of hours in the 12 months before the rating expires. This can be made up of flight time as pilot in command or dual. There is a minimum number of take offs and landing that must be as pilot in command.


The guidance from EASA means that you can now include flight time in non-EASA aircraft (apart from weightshift microlights); flight experience is now considered to be part of the definition of hourly requirements.


There is also a requirement for a refresher training flight with an instructor and this cannot be conducted in a microlight aircraft of any configuration. In addition, the aircraft used must be subject to an authorisation by the ATO or DTO (ORA.ATO.135 or DTO.GEN.240).


Pilots can use hours flown from 18 March 2020 towards meeting the recency or revalidation requirements. The use of this Acceptable Means of Compliance is not compulsory, as this is one of a number of means to comply with the regulation, so licence holders do not have to use non-EASA aircraft if they do not want to.


The hours flown in non-EASA aircraft cannot be used to obtain a Part-FCL licence, rating, or certificate or towards meeting their prerequisites.


All of these requirements only apply to non-EASA Sailplanes, Single-Engine Piston (SEP) Aeroplanes and Touring Motorgliders (TMGs).


Annex I (non-EASA aircraft 1) is defined in the Basic Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/1139) as;


1(a) Historical aircraft,
1(b) Research, experimental and or scientific aircraft,
1(c) Homebuilt aircraft,
1(d) Former military aircraft,
1(e) Microlight aircraft (as defined)

EASA has subordinated ultralights to the national authorities, they cannot and won't mention them for themselves. It is for the national CAA's to decide the degree to which they accept ultralight hours for PPL revalidation. As neatly illustrated above.

"The hours flown in non-EASA aircraft cannot be used to obtain a Part-FCL licence, rating, or certificate or towards meeting their prerequisites."
That's interesting. Hours in a Jodel DR1050 etc don't count towards the minimum hours for anything. (My bold.)

My reading of the extract is that only the hours flown in a 'EASA type' may be counted toward the requirements for the initial issue of a licence or rating or when any course of training is required: i.e. a training requirement for renewal of a EASA rating or an examiners certificate. I take that to mean explicitly that a prescribed course for a EASA licence, rating or certificate must be completed wholly in a EASA recognised aircraft. Nothing to do with the hours experience required for revalidation of a certificate of experience though.

This all stems from the complete nonsense EASA has made with regard to acceptance of flight time in Annex 1 aircraft.

Back in 2014, the intention was that flight time in Annex 1 (a) - (e) aircraft could be counted towards SEP revalidation. As the legal cogs slowly ground away in EASA, evntually that was agreed...

But at no time was the intention that such flight time could ONLY be used for that purpose!

Meanwhile, a different EASA group looked at the use of Annex 1 (a) - (d) aircraft for flight instruction - eventually this was agreed; Annex 1(e) aircraft ('microlights') could NOT be used for this purpose.

There are some idiots now at EASA who cannot understand that it is quite OK to do a PPL course on something like a Piper Cub, including the Skill Test (assuming the examiner is happy). One such person even thought that the FI who taught on a non-EASA aircraft could count the hours towards his/her SEP Class Rating revalidation, but NOT towards his/her FI certificate revlidation....Where do they find these people?? There was even a suggestion that a pilot would have to keep EASA and non-EASA flight time in separate log books.

Anyway, as far as the UK is concerned you can use flight time in non-EASA 'annex 1 (a)-(d)' aircraft for training on anything issued by the CAA (provided that the aircraft has been deemed to be OK by the CAA) and it will also count towards revalidation. Annex 1(e) 3-axis microlight flight time can be used for revalidation, but not for the refresher training flying requirements.

To resolve this utter dog's breakfast, AOPA (UK) drafted an AltMoC for the CAA to pass to the DfT; however, due to the UK/EU exit situation that had to be shelved. The draft AltMoC was sent to IAOPA and any national AOPA is welcome to submit it to their NAA.

When the UK leaves EASA, the problem will go away in the UK as we won't have 'EASA' and 'non-EASA' aircraft any more.

Thanks Beagle.
My aircraft is an Annex 1 (LAA Permit) Bolkow BO208C. Most such aircraft are EASA. :rolleyes:
.

Quite right we will have Part 21 and Annex 1 aircraft.

Part 21 whether it is ICAO, EASA or FAA etc applies to all aircraft certification whatever its use or capability. Annex 1 is a EASA construct and will not be applicable after we have left EASA.

The bit that I find confusing in the AMC1 (highlighted) is point (a). How can an ultralight be in the same category, class and type as a SEP? Can anyone help me out?

It is impossible to separate the handling of a three axis ultralite, microlite etc from those aircraft registered in the other three axis categories. The handling characteristics of the many very different types, although within the same category, demonstrate this.

I suppose the question is, can a microlight be an SEP?

No. A 'microlight' is an Annex 1(e) aircraft. In the case of a 3-axis 'microlight', it falls under the ICAO of an aeroplane:

So although flight time in Annex 1(e) aircraft is recognised towards the revalidation of an SEP/TMG Class Rating by experience (as may flight time in Art.2(8) 'opt-out' sub-600kg aircraft), dual refresher training with an instructor must be flown either in an EASA aircraft or, if it has been approved for training by the NAA, an Annex 1(a)-(d) aircraft.

We must somehow stop referring to "EASA" aircraft. Very hard though when trying to explain things.

Unless EASA has adopted the term 'Part 21' for other than Annex1 or Art.2(8) aircraft, it is simpler for those outside the UK to continue to term them as 'EASA' aircraft, in my view.

Well, they are not "EASA" so to term is incorrect. "ICAO" compliant perhaps goes someway to distinguish them from Microlight, home builds, permit and those aircraft on a national C of A. etc. Whatever is the choice they are not EASA any longer and everyone must come to terms with that. Over the coming months all references to EASA will have been removed.

Well then I am really very confused. How on earth can a Microlight comply with the required AMC point "(a) the aircraft matches the definition and criteria of the respective Part-FCL aircraft category, class, and type ratings;"

This, to me plainly states that can only count hours flown in an SEP towards revalidation by experience. An ultralight does not match the definition and criteria.

Longer quote of the AMC text for context:

There was an article in Flyer May 2020 (Dave Calderwood, 28/5/2020) I cannot post the URL as new PRUNE member. In short it indicates that 3 axis hours can be counted towards renewal. I have flown a Skyranger since 2006 and always revalidated by proficiency check to maintain my full PPL. I can recall at the last renewal one examiner believed that my 3 axis time counted but the other was not convinced. I therefore did the prof check to be certain. I am now under the impression that I can renew on hours +the one hour instructor flight.
Google search of microlight/hours/flyer soon found the article.

Hope this helps

rob

You cannot renew an SEP Class Rating by flying a Proficiency Check in a microlight.

You can count flight time in a microlight towards revalidation of an SEP Class Rating by experience, but the minimum hour of refresher flight training with an insructor may not be flown in a microlight. Neither may a revalidation Proficiency Check be flown in a microlight.

Just to clarify. All my revalidation flights were in a warrior. I was aware that they could not be carried out in my skyranger