Mon Feb 14, 2022 9:25 am
#1899021
I know....I know....this has been done to death a million (billion?) times....BUT I read something yesterday that I wasn't aware of - and now it's confused me, so could I ask a bunch of questions here to see if I've understood it correctly please?
Assuming a holder of a NPPL (A) with Microlight priveliges only.
Last night, I happened to find myself on Irv Lee's website, where he says:
"Since June 2021, UK Law was changed to allow NPPL-SSEAs and older (non FCL) PPLs with SEP ratings to fly what are now called Part 21 aircraft, providing they are G registered and flown in the UK. The sort of aircraft flown are limited to those that could be flown by a LAPL(A) pilot."
Please could someone clarify if my understanding below is correct, in that:
1) As an NPPL (A) holder with microlight privelidges, I can undertake my SSEA upgrade (as before)
2) Once I have completed that SSEA upgrade, I will be able to fly Part-21 type aircraft.
3) The Part 21-type aircraft I can fly includes the traditional Cessna 152/PA28s of the spamcan world [up to 2,000kg] registered with CoA and I am not restricted to Permit to Fly LAA-type aircraft?
Let me then build on this:
4) Given my underlying licence is NPPL(A), I can add a Night Rating to my licence (Night VFR only) but will only be able to exercise the priveliges of that rating when flying Part 21 aircraft, not Microlights, because the latter are Day VFR only.
5) Given I hold an NPPL(A), I cannot add an IR(R) rating because this cannot be added to an NPPL, even if SSEA upgrade allows me to fly the same aircraft types that others with an IR(R) will fly?
So, in summary: am I right in saying I can do my SSEA and fly Cessna spamcans, and add Night Rating but can't do IR(R)?
Going one final step further:
6) Is there anything stopping me from undertaking the IR(R) course anyway?
7) Assuming not, and that I pass, what would happen if I don't have a 'valid' licence to attach it to (because it can't be added to NPPL)?
Do I end up with anything tangible at the end - so that if the rules/regs change at some point in the future - it can be attached to the licence - or have I simply completed X hours of training that happens to follow the IR(R) syllabus?
I guess what I'm seeking confirmation of - assuming my understanding above isn't fatally flawed, which I expect it is - is that until there is some change in the law I won't be able to do an IR(R) rating, even though I might end up flying exactly the same aircraft as someone else who can obtain an IR(R) rating, just because I started with NPPL and they started with PPL?
Or that, I CAN undertake an IR(R) rating, but I won't have anything to show for it on paper and so - if in the future the powers that be change it to say that an IR(R) can be added to NPPL, I'm won't be able to apply to have the rating added to my licence retrospectively
I'm sure I've misinterpreted something somewhere; to be honest, I expect my misunderstanding is on "the sort of aircraft flown are limited to those that could be flown by a LAPL(A) pilot".
Assuming a holder of a NPPL (A) with Microlight priveliges only.
Last night, I happened to find myself on Irv Lee's website, where he says:
"Since June 2021, UK Law was changed to allow NPPL-SSEAs and older (non FCL) PPLs with SEP ratings to fly what are now called Part 21 aircraft, providing they are G registered and flown in the UK. The sort of aircraft flown are limited to those that could be flown by a LAPL(A) pilot."
Please could someone clarify if my understanding below is correct, in that:
1) As an NPPL (A) holder with microlight privelidges, I can undertake my SSEA upgrade (as before)
2) Once I have completed that SSEA upgrade, I will be able to fly Part-21 type aircraft.
3) The Part 21-type aircraft I can fly includes the traditional Cessna 152/PA28s of the spamcan world [up to 2,000kg] registered with CoA and I am not restricted to Permit to Fly LAA-type aircraft?
Let me then build on this:
4) Given my underlying licence is NPPL(A), I can add a Night Rating to my licence (Night VFR only) but will only be able to exercise the priveliges of that rating when flying Part 21 aircraft, not Microlights, because the latter are Day VFR only.
5) Given I hold an NPPL(A), I cannot add an IR(R) rating because this cannot be added to an NPPL, even if SSEA upgrade allows me to fly the same aircraft types that others with an IR(R) will fly?
So, in summary: am I right in saying I can do my SSEA and fly Cessna spamcans, and add Night Rating but can't do IR(R)?
Going one final step further:
6) Is there anything stopping me from undertaking the IR(R) course anyway?
7) Assuming not, and that I pass, what would happen if I don't have a 'valid' licence to attach it to (because it can't be added to NPPL)?
Do I end up with anything tangible at the end - so that if the rules/regs change at some point in the future - it can be attached to the licence - or have I simply completed X hours of training that happens to follow the IR(R) syllabus?
I guess what I'm seeking confirmation of - assuming my understanding above isn't fatally flawed, which I expect it is - is that until there is some change in the law I won't be able to do an IR(R) rating, even though I might end up flying exactly the same aircraft as someone else who can obtain an IR(R) rating, just because I started with NPPL and they started with PPL?
Or that, I CAN undertake an IR(R) rating, but I won't have anything to show for it on paper and so - if in the future the powers that be change it to say that an IR(R) can be added to NPPL, I'm won't be able to apply to have the rating added to my licence retrospectively
I'm sure I've misinterpreted something somewhere; to be honest, I expect my misunderstanding is on "the sort of aircraft flown are limited to those that could be flown by a LAPL(A) pilot".