First renewal = first flight since initial
 

I'm a fully qualified fATPL holder, just out of training at the worst possible time. Both my MEP class rating and IR are up for their first renewal early next year, and like many I've barely logged any hours this year. In fact, with the exception of the two days messing around at UPRT, the last time I flew properly was the initial IR test last March. I had hoped to join a flying club and get a bit of time in the air to keep things fresh, but by the time I was in a position to afford it everything had closed down again. I struggled enough with my confidence the first time round so as you can imagine it's a pretty daunting prospect to have to do another two tests after a year out.

I know I don't need to keep current while the jobs market is so barren, but the advice they give us is to do so in case something comes up unexpectedly, plus my skills are only going to fade more with no sign of weekend flying being possible anytime soon, so I might as well do it now. And besides I think it helps my mental health while I work a job that I don't want to know that I can legally fly a plane lol. I know there will be lots of people in a similar situation facing renewals, I'm just feeling particularly apprehensive as a newbie since I've no flight time outside of training and I don't have years of experience to fall back on.

I'm interested to hear the thoughts of others in similar circumstances, or from anyone who's already been through the process and can tell me it's not that bad :p

If you can, don’t let it actually expire - revalidation is easier (from a paperwork point of view) than renewal.

Revalidation/renewal tend to be “easier” or perhaps less stressful as you’ve already experienced the test conditions so have a better understanding of what’s to come.

With regards to staying current, I would recommend flying as much as you can afford to (little and often) even if that’s in a simulator. Keep up your planning skills by planning trips you’d like to do if money were no object. There will be others (perhaps from your group) in the same position so perhaps “buddy up” some flights to stretch the budget and challenge yourself.

Historically the aviation industry is very cyclical so keep plugging away and working to achieve that first commercial job but bear in mind it might be a few years away.

Definitely better to stay current. My advice... download flight sim / X-Plane and buy a 5$ joystick, set the weather to IMC and shoot some approaches / holds. Will help get your brain in gear.

I've let my MEP expire, revalidating A320, SEP and FI is enough, don't think i am gonna land any MEP job anytime soon so, why would i? Giving instruction at the moment and feeling quite blessed for having found this. Letting the mep expire +1.5 years is worth the money ( if you find a school to sign the "no additional flights required"

I agree totally with DD.

I'd also say that whilst I'm not a fan of self learning on simulators, you obviously know how to fly. Maybe consider a second hand gaming PC and copy of FSX, XP11 or FX2020 and set yourself some missions that are realistic and use your skillset, rather than just do the computer game thing.

In the middle of the first lockdown I bought myself controls and a copy of FSX (not brilliant graphics, but runs well on my business laptop and has very realistic flight models) - expenditure probably around £400. I've not used it constantly, but regularish flights have kept the rust at bay and when I've been able to fly a real aeroplane this year, it's been a much easier step back into the cockpit than I think it would have been otherwise.

I qualified just after 9/11 with frozen atpl and spent several years trying to find a flying job, first thing I did was instructors rating just to keep flying, as well as renewing IR each year on a fixed base sim which saved money, worked out in the end.