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Irv Lee - Higherplane Aviation Training ltd

Mentoring the Private Pilot flying in the UK, Licence and Radio Testing, Renewals & Validations, PPL Masterclasses, Radio Training & Testing, South African Vacation & Licensing advice, Consultancy and much more besides . . . . .

Higherplane Aviation Training ltd
Licence/Ratings/Medical Combos for PPLs and NPPLs

Getting back to flying soon? I always have qualified pilots on my Zoom radio classes to get an airspace and radio refresher. Only 4 separated Zoom hours, see radio tab on left for details, and next dates if already fixed.
WARNING -
The items below are being updated due to the UK leaving EASA, and should be treated with caution at the moment until fully updated.
Last Updated: 25th April, 2021, new entries now being checked
NB: All information given here is believed to be true and current but rules and official interpretations can change at any time out without warning and may not be reflected here for a long time. Pilots must only use the information here as a starting point for their own proper enquiries with the official authorities, and keep current on rules and regulations themselves through the official channels. No liability can be accepted for mistakes or out of date information here.

Before reading below, you need to know the answer to: "what is a Part21 aircraft and what isn't?". This sounds crazy, but to know the aircraft that you are allowed to fly with which rating and what medical depends on whether the maintenance regime of the aircraft is subject to 'Part 21 regulations' or not. (Part21 aircraft were called 'EASA aircraft' pre-2021. You have come to this page to learn about medicals but the complexity of explaining the current situation means that you need to know about 'Part21 Aircraft' and 'non-Part21 Aircraft'first! No wonder so many UK grass-roots pilots are confused. If you definitely know whether you fly a Part21 aircraft on non-Part21 aircraft, you can skip further down the page beyond the explanation with the light grey background, to the answers you came here for.
"Part21 AIRCRAFT"
A Part 21 aircraft is an aircraft that used to be controlled by EASA prior to 2021 through the maintenance regime and was called an 'EASA Aircraft' prior to 2021. It is now a 'Part21 aircraft'. Almost all the certified aircraft that you see around will be Part21 aircraft (Cessna 150-182, PA28, Cirrus, Beagle Pup, Grumman AA5, etc.... clearly, the 'usual' aircraft you find in non-microlight, non-glider, training schools). There are also EASA 'permit to fly' aircraft separate from the UK Permit that we have known for years. Such an EASA Permit aircraft is ALSO treated as a Part21 aircraft as far as licensing goes. So in its documents, a Part21 aircraft will either have an EASA ARC from 2020 (Airworthiness Review Certicate) signed every year, (will be renamed when next issued) or an annual EASA 'Permit to Fly' issued. As long as the aircraft is UK G registered or even as long as there is an aircraft of the type you are interested in on the UK G register, you don't have to go and dig out the aircraft's paperwork, as you can check a particular G registration online with the CAA's "G-INFO". If you don't have a particular registration, you can also search by aircraft type to see all the UK registered ones. When looking on G-INFO at the record for any particular registration, if the "CofA/Permit" there mentions "EASA" or "Part 21" then it is treated as a Part21 aircraft, and you need to read the combinations of licences, ratings and medicals for Part21 Aircraft. Being a Part21 aircraft also means you will need either a UK CAA FCL licence (NOT a UK national PPL or NPPL), or a foreign-EASA FCL licence, to fly it after April 7th 2020 - (unless you have the special case of a 'foreign' non EASA ICAO PPL with an FCL validation/declaration). A CAA FCL licence is either one with such a name issued from 2021, or a previously UK issued EASA LAPL, a UK issued EASA PPL, a UK issued EASA CPL, a UK issued EASA ATPL. Note: expired JAA licences can be renewed to be Part21 equivalents.
"Non-Part21 AIRCRAFT" (once known as "Non-EASA Aircraft")
Aircraft that are "non-Part21" include a few nationally certified aircraft, for example, the CAA nationally certified Piper PA22. All aircraft with a UK National Permit to Fly (eg: RV series, Kitfox, Bulldog, etc), microlights, etc. are all non-Part21 aircraft. There are a small number of permit aircraft that are on an 'EASA Permit to Fly' -see paragraphs above, these require a certain document to be carried in UK airspace - see page 2 of the 'one sheet catch up' pdf in the tabs on the left of this page. If you are flying an aircraft in the UK which is registered outside the UK and EASA states, see the entry below regarding foreign licences.
WARNING, April 8th 2020 onwards:
Flying G Reg Part21 (what were EASA) Aircraft
Unless you comply with the limits and conditions of Exemption ORS4-1471 issued in March 2021 for restricted flying until end of June 2021, you STILL need a UK FCL licence (that is what UK EASA licences are called now), or a foreign EASA licence, or a foreign licence with an official validation, to fly Part21 certified or EASA permit aircraft. The exemption 1471 is described on the temporary page 2 in my 'one sheet catch-up' pdf available from the tabs on this website. The bit of good news is that for a UK FCL licence, the ability to use a PMD (self declare medical) in any suitable G-reg aircraft in UK airspace is now permanent due to a law change on 28/1/2021, rather than ending on March 31st 2021. For pilots wishing to fly aircraft up to 5700kg, there is a list of medical exclusions when you apply. If you wish to only fly aircraft up to 2000kg two exemptions allow it with very few medical exclusions, one for UK national licences (see or4 1486), the other for UK FCL licences (sees ORS4 1487). AND now the bad news:
Warning for 2021 for ALL medicals:
(References to 'PMD' below are Personal Medical Declarations). A new system has been introduced to obtain either PMD or 'proper' medical certificates, but it is having horrendous teething problems. See CAP1902, www.caa.co.uk/cap1902 - you have to register to use this, and registrations are taking weeks. You cannot book a formal medical or make a PMD without first registering at the CAA portal, and once registered then make the PMD or pay to start the process for a formal medical examination with an AME.

Licence Rating Medical
(If PMD mentioned, see warnings above)		 Validity
NPPL or UK CAA (non-FCL) PPL SSEA PMD, or a LAPL or Class 2 or 1 Medical From 8/4/2020, even in 2021 after leaving EASA, until laws are changed, an SSEA rating is not valid in UK Part21 aircraft (what were 'EASA aircraft') or EASA permit aircraft EXCEPT under the terms and restrictions of an exemption issued in March 2021 for restricted use up to 30th June 2021. See my 'one sheet catch up' pdf on this website for ORS4-1471. However, the combination is valid on UK G reg aircraft NON-Part21 aircraft fitting the NPPL-SSEA definition (eg: max 2 metric tonnes, max 4 pob, VFR, UK Airspace only unless foreign authority says it is ok to visit. SSEA ratings are not valid in microlights even with differences training, a separate microlight rating would be needed. NB: Having an ICAO level medical gives no extra privileges over holding a PMD medical declaration.
UK CAA (non-FCL) PPL SEP PMD or LAPL medical The basic rule is that from 8th April 2020, a non-FCL PPL (eg: pre JAA CAA PPL) is not valid in Part21 aircraft or EASA permit aircraft at all, whatever the medical, whatever the rating, EXCEPT under the terms and restrictions of an exemption issued in March 2021 for restricted use up to 30th June 2021. See my 'one sheet catch up' pdf on this website for ORS4-1471.. With this level of medical, the combination is valid in non-Part21 aircraft as if it is a UK CAA PPL (Non FCL) with SSEA rating (see above) but with the following additions: SEP Aircraft up to 5700kg allowed UNLESS the medical restricts to lower MAUM (eg: pilot has a LAPL medical).
UK CAA (non-FCL) PPL SEP Class 1 or 2 medical ICAO compliant licence combination valid in non-EASA aircraft. (It could be that, in 2021 onwards, the non-Part21 permit aircraft is less welcome internationally depending on the country visited and the annual permit in use. Best check with the LAA for the current situation, or BMAA for microlight use.)
Not valid in Part 21 cetified/permit aircraft EXCEPT under the terms and restrictions of an exemption issued in March 2021 for restricted use up to 30th June 2021. See my 'one sheet catch up' pdf on this website for ORS4-1471.
UK FCL PPL or UK LAPL SEP PMD For flying suitable G-reg aircraft (part 21 or not) with UK issued FCL licence but only in UK airspace (without specific permission), this became a permanent combination for part 21 aircraft on 28/1/2021 due to a law change. However, see warnings in the text before this table, there are some issues about 2000kg-limit PMDs that are being worked on, but there are no issues if you can get, or already have, the 5700kg weight limit PMD. This combination is also legal in non part 21 aircraft, see Air Navigation Order Articles 162, 150 & 163.
JAA PPL ANY ANY This cannot be valid as the expiry date of all 5 year JAA licences has now passed. However, a JAA licence can be resurrected (renewed) as a UK FCL licence.
UK FCL PPL SEP Class 1 or 2 medical certificate The normal combination for an ICAO PPL covering EASA and UK non-Part21 aircraft in the 'SEP' class, with no expiry date on the licence itself, only on the ratings within. On issue, it is possible to request a non-FCL national PPL in addition to cover certain non-FCL aircraft that are type rated so could not be included in an EASA licence. ( Differences training sign off in the log book is needed for usual complexities or to use it for microlights.)
UK FCL PPL SEP LAPL Medical This combination of UK FCL PPL, SEP rating, and EASA LAPL medical is valid in the UK. (The combination was not valid before Nov 2019 due to way FCL was written, but this has been corrected by a late 2019 change to FCL.) If using a LAPL medical with a full UK FCL PPL-SEP, the pilot is restricted to LAPL-like privileges eg: max 2 metric tonnes, max 4 pob, VFR only, no instructing, UK Only as it is a non-ICAO medical, (unless granted permission from the other State), and anything else a LAPL is restricted over, BUT, the PPL and SEP rating does not actually become a LAPL, so the normal rules for revalidating SEP ratings apply, NOT the LAPL scheme of rolling validity. To return to full FCL PPL-SEP privileges (for example, to use an IR(R) rating or to instruct) just obtain a Class 2 UK medical (or Class 1).
UK FCL LAPL SEP Privileges LAPL Medical or PMD Restricted to LAPL privileges and because it is non-ICAO, restricted to UK airspace unless foreign authority approves. It is possible that the Channel Islands will approve if the medical is LAPL level too (or better). Restrictions include: eg: max 2 metric tonnes, max 4 pob, VFR only. However, for PMD, see warnings in the text before this table, there are some issues about 2000kg-limit PMDs that are being worked on, but there are no issues if you can get, or already have, the 5700kg weight limit PMD, even though your licence is limited to 2000kg!
FAA PPL SEP FAA Class 3 medical meeting ICAO Class 2 standards Only valid in suitable G registered non-Part21 aircraft in the UK without further declarations. To fly Part21 aircraft after April 8th 2017, a CAA form SRG2140 must be submitted after suitable endorsement by a UK Flight Examiner to say Air Law and ATC procedures are understood by the pilot.
NB: There is great confusion as ICAO use the term class 2 as a standard for private flying, where as the FAA traditionally call their private pilot medical the FAA Class 3. The FAA Class 3 medical is accepted and recognised as an ICAO Class 2 standard medical unless marked otherwise, for example if it marked as confined to use in the USA.
A CAA form SRG2142 has also to be submitted nowadays, in order to let the UK CAA check that the licence has not been suspended or conditions attached in the home country. This adds time (and a little cost) to the validation process, so should be done as soon as possible.
Non-FAA Foreign Non-EASA ICAO PPL (e.g. S.A., NZ, Oz, etc) SEP Suitable Foreign Medical Only valid in suitable G registered non-Part21 aircraft without further declarations. To fly suitable Part21 aircraft after April 8th 2017, it depends whether the licence is to be used fewer than 28 days per year or not. For fewer than 28 days, use CAA form SRG2141 which must be submitted after a suitable acclimatisation flight with a UK Flight Instructor, - see form for more details. For 28 flying days or more, use CAA form SRG2139 which must be submitted after a suitable rating flight check (test) with a Flight Examiner - see form for more details, but a conversion to an UK FCL licence must be made within a year, unless an extension granted. A CAA form SRG2142 has also to be submitted nowadays, in order to let the UK CAA check that the licence has not been suspended or conditions attached in the home country. This adds time (and a little cost) to the validation process, so should be done as soon as possible.
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