Inexpensive MEP-IR renewal in EU?

[Luray]

Hello all,
I am looking for an inexpensive place to renew my long expired MEP-IR in EU. After covid layoffs trying to get back to airlines and they don't care I have around 3k tt.
When I did it in 2013 prices were biting at around 350 euro per hour, but now I am shocked to see it doubled and tripled. I only need to renew it to meet the interview requirements. Wasting 3-4k euro for that seems to be outrageous.

[Edgington]

How long has it been lapsed for? If it's more than 7 years, you'll have to redo ground exams and effectively the whole course for MEP & IR. You also need a course completion certificate from an EASA ATO.
Can help you with a reasonable Examiner in the UK, who is dual licenced.

[AlwaysWondering]

I am hoping the IR was still valid when Covid hit as that makes things much easier. If you let it lapse seven years, you're essentially a beginner and need to do the ATPL exams again.

There are plenty of reasonable ATOs. Look to Poland or Hungary where many schools will do it relatively cheaply. Certainly sub €500 for an hour multi IR instruction time.

As for airlines not being interested, are you shocked they aren't interested with someone whose ratings expired years ago?

[nickyfly]

Originally Posted by Edgington

How long has it been lapsed for? If it's more than 7 years, you'll have to redo ground exams and effectively the whole course for MEP & IR. You also need a course completion certificate from an EASA ATO.
Can help you with a reasonable Examiner in the UK, who is dual licenced.

Hi there, sorry Luray for breaking into your thread, I have to renew my MEP/IR EASA as well after a long time (5 years)
Would it be possible to get in contact with the examiner? where in the UK and does he fly Tecnams?

[Luray]

Yeah no problem Nickyfly.

I found out that in new EASA FCL's there is no more requirement to have a valid MEP/IR for a type rating but only a proof that you done it before. Also now there is NO more 5 year class rating expiry limit except for 7 years lapsed IR so if you still remember how to fly a tiny doctor killer airplane with two engines you can renew it in 3 hours depending on ATO.

[asmith474]

Where did you hear this? Every job application says a current valid MEP/IR as a requirement.

[Luray]

Originally Posted by asmith474

Where did you hear this? Every job application says a current valid MEP/IR as a requirement.

Check FCL 740

For a TR you don’t need a valid MEP-IR, just a proof you did it before.

On the other hand airlines often don’t see difference between fresh graduates and experienced pilots with thousands of hours with expired MEP-IR.

Now I contacted some ATO’s and they want me to do all from 0 and pay around 7-10k for lego airplane with two rc plane engines.

[Edgington]

Originally Posted by asmith474

Where did you hear this? Every job application says a current valid MEP/IR as a requirement.

Most job applications require a valid ME-IR, MEP doesn't have to be valid, however it does have to be valid when you revalidate your ME-IR.
You can do your ME-IR revalidation in the sim if your MEP is valid, if both have lapsed or the MEP then you would have to do it in an actual aircraft. Because it's lapsed you need a course completion certificate, some aviation authorities prescribe a minimum amount of training before an ATO gives you the Course Completion certificate. Roughly 1 hour for every year it's lapsed, the 5 years comes from the fact after a Class Rating is 6 hours, so after 5 years you basically need to do the whole rating again, it never was fixed in law.

Dealing with an Engine failure will be part of your Type Rating so it's less important for you to be current in N-1, however the type rating isn't about teaching to fly IFR again so they want some form of currency hence you need a valid ME-IR