Keeping Your Licence Valid / Return to Flying

(Last updated: 8/3/2021)

NOTE: These notes:
    ●   Are composed of information gathered from various sources
    ●   Were last updated on 22/02/2021
    ●   Are aimed at PPL / LAPL(A) / NPPL – SPL / LAPL(S) may be different (e.g. not covered by ORS4 exemptions)
    ●   Are for guidance only – IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK YOUR LICENCE COVERS YOU FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT

As it looks (hopefully) as if we may be able to resume flying in a few weeks it seems appropriate to produce something which:
    ●   Reminds of the requirements to ensure your licence is still valid
    ●   Provides a couple of ideas on preparation for flying – after the extended lay-off
… this is my offering – I hope it is of some use

There are some licence specific (NPPL / PPL / LAPL) at the end of this page - please read the relevant ones.
If you ONLY have a non-EASA licence I would definitely recommend reading: UK (non-EASA) licence GOTCHAS

I would suggest that you take the opportunity to look at some of the online courses / resources aimed at a safe resumption of flying – examples are:
    ●   GASCO course (After Lockdown - Your First Flight): https://ispri.ng/9m669
    ●   GASCO course (Return to Flying in the wake of Covid-19): https://ispri.ng/VlGNZ
    ●   BGA “Getting Yourself Safely Current” (Mike Fox): https://youtu.be/82FJMlvhXsQ
    ●   CAA: Clued Up: Time To Get Going: http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/Clued%20up%2021_Download.pdf
    ●   AOPA: Refresher Quiz: AOPA Quiz Final version.pdf     Please try the quiz before looking at:     ANSWERS.pdf

This table gives an overview of the requirements to:
    ●   Keep your licence valid
    ●   Revalidate by experience

Table is a couple of years old … but is still useful
For LAPL(S), or SPL, look at LAPL(A)

I can:
    ●   Complete the “1 hour with instructor flight with you ” PROVIDED YOUR LICENCE IS STILL VALID
    ●   If necessary sign (revalidate) your licence PROVIDED I AM THE ONE WHO DID THE 1 HOUR WITH INSTRUCTOR
    ●   If you have a licence which requires renewal then you will have to find an examiner to fly with (NOTE: Max doesn’t do this in TMG any more)
         “Renewal” will be required if:
            ●   The expiry date in your Certificate of Experience has passed (doesn’t apply to LAPL)
            ●   You can’t meet the requirements for Revalidation by Experience
    ●   If you have a licence with “Rolling Validity”, and you are out of validity, I am:
            ●   Not clear that I can fly with you (unless I can find a “supervising instructor”)
            ●   Not clear that "making up the hours" is even an option - I can only find this mentioned in an EASA "Opinion" (not a regulation)

There are some relaxations, to the Revalidation by Experience & Medical requirements, at the moment:
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?catid=1&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode=list&type=sercat&id=128&filter=2&reorder=refOrder
The most relevant seem to be:

Medical (ORS4No1421):
You can use a PMD, with a PPL or LAPL – but your privileges are restricted to:
    ●   Within UK (unless overseas authority grants permission)
    ●   Day VFR
    ●   Not commercial / training flights
    ●   Restricted to 2000kg MTOW & 3 passengers
Please also check http://www.higherplane.co.uk/combos.html – there are some restrictions if you make the sub-2000kg declaration

Licence Revalidation (ORS4 1484 & ORS4 1485) – does NOT apply to LAPL rolling validity:
THESE RELAXATIONS WILL END ON 31 July 2021
You still need the hour with an instructor
If you don’t have 12 hours, in the 12 months preceeding expiry of your rating BUT you have completed the required number of take offs & landings:
    ●   More than 11 hours: 15 take offs & landings
    ●   More than 10 hours: 16 take offs & landings
    ●   More than 9 hours: 17 take offs & landings
    ●   More than 8 hours: 18 take offs & landings
then you can still revalidate by experience.

Other sources of information:
    ●   Skyway Code Version 3: https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/Skyway_Code_v3_INT_(CAP1535S).pdf
    ●   Irv Lee is an extremely experienced instructor – his web site can be found at: http://higherplane.co.uk/
            ●   One Sheet Catchup: Useful information for keeping up to date: http://www.higherplane.co.uk/bfr-ground.pdf
            ●   Licence/Medical Combinations: Take particular note of comments about sub-2000kg PMDs: http://www.higherplane.co.uk/combos.html
            ●   General FAQS: http://www.higherplane.co.uk/faq.html
            ●   EASA FAQS: http://www.higherplane.co.uk/faqeasa.html

    ●   CAP804: Flight Crew Licensing: Mandatory Requirements, Policy and Guidance: https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP804April2015REFONLY.pdf
    ●   Air Navigation Order 2016 (updated 15/1/2021): https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/Law 2016_765 15 Jan 2021 Version.pdf
    ●   CAP393: Regulations made under powers in Civil Aviation Act and ANO: CAP393 Regulations made under powers in the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and the Air Navigation Order 2016.pdf
    ●   Easy Access Rules for Flight Crew Licencing(Part-FCL): https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/Easy_Access_Rules_for_Part-FCL-Aug20.pdf
    ●   Easy Access Rules for Sailplanes: https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAA 2018-1976 (Sailplanes).pdf
    ●   CAA Medical Guidance - including PMD: https://www.caa.co.uk/General-Aviation/Pilot-licences/Medical-requirements/Medical-requirements-for-private-pilots/

This flow chart gives a simplified check of whether you can fly TODAY

I have atttempted to gather guidance specific to various licences:
    ●   NPPL
    ●   PPL
    ●   LAPL / SPL
    ●   UK (non-EASA) licence GOTCHAS