Validity of an ATPL
 

Hi all,

I was wondering how long an ATPL is valid for? There is usualy an expiry date on the licence (5 years from the last issue), but I was under the impression that the ATPL itself is valid lifelong. The IR is the more restricting time limit and is the first thing to expire. Can anyone confirm this? Many thanks.

Your ATPL is your licence which is valid for 5 years, assuming JAA land

Your IR is a rating attached to your licence, and normally part of the type rating, also attached to your licence, and would usually be valid for the same period as your type rating, 1 year.

If you are flying single pilot aircraft, your SPA type rating and SPA/IR may not have the same dates.

Thanks for that.

How would the following case be handled by a CAA in Europe (JAR)?

Last Proficiency Check on type: Dec 2003, IR expires in end of 2011 (+7 years from expiry date). ATPL expired in 2008. A Proficiency Check on Type (Renewal) would revalidate the IR and the Type Rating. But wht about the expired ATPL?

Have you looked in Lasors on the Caa's website?
It gives a pretty detailed explanation of what hurdles to jump and can be downloaded here: LASORS: LASORS 2010 | Publications | CAA

Look at section G5.3 - Expired licenses.

If you are within 5 years of one of the Type or Classes in you're license being valid it should be quite straight forward. Greater than 5 years means re-sitting written's and flight tests.