Last Updated:06:30 03 Apr 2025
Licence Revalidation / Currency Reminder
PLEASE READ THE NOTE (FCL.740.A) AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE Requirements for 1 hour flight have changed
Please read the section applicable to your licence
PPL or NPPL (one with a date in the Certificate of Experience)   IF the expiry date, on your CofE, is ON or BEFORE 31/03/2026 then I would suggest that you do your "hour with instructor" as soon as possible.   As a reminder you need to do the following to keep your licence going: PPL    In the 12 months preceeding the expiry date:    • 12 hours (of which 6 PIC)    • 12 takeoffs and landings    • 1 hour with an instructor NPPL    During the period of validity of the CofE:    • 12 hours (of which 8 PIC)    • 12 takeoffs and landings    • 6 hours in the 12 months preceeding the expiry date    • 1 hour with an instructor   You DON'T need to have completed the hours prior to flying with an instructor - you can fly with an instructor any time (in the 2nd year of the CofE validity) and get the licence signed when you have the hours.   Don't leave it until the last moment - then get caught out by weather, instructor and/or aircraft availability ... if the expiry date is missed you WILL have to find an examiner
LAPL(A), LAPL(S) or SPL (one without a date in the Certificate of Experience )   If you have a LAPL(A), LAPL(S) or SPL then YOU must make sure BEFORE your next flight that, in the previous 24 months, you have:    • 12 hours (PIC or PU/T)    • 12 takeoffs and landings    • 1 hour with an instructor   If you do not meet the above then you must fly with an instructor until you do. (There is no need to involve an examiner).
Changes to the UK FCL.740.A Revalidation of class and type ratings - aeroplanes "Refresher training with an instructor"   The following amendment takes immediate effect, thereby requiring the instructor to be satisfied regarding the standard of the required one-hour flight:   Refresher training of at least one hour flight time to the satisfaction of a flight instructor (FI) or a class rating instructor (CRI) holding a valid UK instructor certificate who shall select those flight exercises that allow the applicant to refresh their competence in safely operating the aircraft and applying normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures. Applicants shall be exempted from this refresher training if they have passed a class or type rating proficiency check or skill test or assessment of competence in any other class or type of aeroplane in relation to a UK-issued rating or certificate: (1) a class or type rating proficiency check, (2) a skill test.   As before, the instructor conducting this flight must have FCL.945 endorsed in their licence to make any entry into the ratings page of a pilot's licence having conducted this flight(s) otherwise the licence page must be signed by a Flight Examiner (Aeroplanes). However, this change means that if the standard demonstrated by the pilot concerned is below standard (ie: that expected during a PPL/LAPL LST) the instructor should raise their concerns with the pilot and must not sign the ratings page of the pilot's licence or the pilot's logbook. The instructor should also contact the CAA FOTI (ATO & FCL).   The instructor concerned should during the debrief highlight the areas of weakness and recommend the training required to meet the required standard.   NB: It is important that before the flight takes place the brief given by the instructor    must make it clear to the pilot that if the standard during the pre-flight planning and    the flight is below standard then the instructor will not sign the ratings page of the    licence or the logbook.   N.B. This also applies to FCL.140.A - LAPL(A) Recency Requirements   The training is not a pass or fail and therefore all the instructor is doing is recommending training to enable the pilot concerned to become safe and competent.
Contents of "Refresher training with an instructor"   Below is a list of areas in which "competence" should be demonstrated during the flight N.B. It is not expected that every item, below, is covered in the flight BUT, during    the flight, everything demonstrated should be "to an acceptable standard"   1: Pre-flight operations and Departure (a) Pre-flight documentation, NOTAM and weather briefing (b) Mass, balance and performance calculations (c) Aeroplane or TMG inspection and servicing (incl. documentation) (d) Engine starting and after starting procedures (e) Taxiing, aerodrome and pre-takeoff procedures (f) Take-off and after take-off checks (g) Aerodrome departure procedures   2: General Airwork (a) Straight and level flight with speed changes (b) Climbing (c) Medium (30°) turns (d) Steep (45°) turns and recovery from a spiral dive (e) Flight at critically low airspeed (with and without flap if appropriate) (f) Stalling (g) Descending   3: En-route Procedures (a) Flight plan, dead reckoning and map reading (b) Maintenance of altitude, heading and speed (c) Orientation, airspace, timing, revision of ETAs and log keeping (d) Diversion (e) Flight management (checks, fuel, carburettor icing, etc.)   4: Approach and Landing Procedures (a) Aerodrome arrival procedures (checks, drills, altimeter setting, lookout) (b) Glide approach (c) Go around (d) Actions after flight   5: Abnormal and Emergency Procedures (a) Simulated engine failure after take-off (b) Simulated forced landing (c) Emergencies (e.g. Fire: at startup / in the air)