SPL rolling recency guidance

Updated December 2024

Sailplane pilot licensing is straightforward in that there is only one licence – the SPL. The SPL can include privileges to fly powered sailplanes including TMGs. Rolling recency is not complicated once a pilot is familiar with the requirements.

The following detail is provided to assist pilots in understanding the rolling recency requirements for SPL holders and FI(S) certificate holders.

Warning – in each case, please note that SFCL is the definitive source of information. The ‘Acceptable Means of Compliance’ (AMC) provide helpful detail.

Definitions (from the regulation)

‘Sailplane’ means a heavier-than-air aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its fixed lifting surfaces, the free flight of which does not depend on an engine.

‘Touring Motor Glider’ means a specific class of powered sailplane having an integrally mounted, non-retractable engine and a non-retractable propeller. It shall be capable of taking off and climbing under its own power according to its flight manual

Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL) recency

SPL privileges. SFCL.160 SPL recency requirements refers. SFCL.160 can be viewed here.

Notes:

During the period of conversion, i.e. until September 2025, the two flights with an instructor at * may be provided by a BGA Assistant or Full Rated instructor.
The completion of the dual flights, flights under supervision and the training flights, as well as the proficiency checks as specified shall be entered in the logbook of the pilot and signed by the responsible instructor or examiner as appropriate.
SPL holders shall carry passengers only if in the preceding 90 days they have carried out as PIC, at least 3 launches in sailplanes.
If you are intending to self-launch, take-offs in a TMG may be counted towards the 5 required self-launches. If you are intending to bungee launch, the launch method requirement is reduced to 2 bungee launches in the previous 24 months. For full details on launch methods, refer to SFCL.155.
Additional requirements apply to SPL holders utilising TMG privileges – please refer to SFCL.160.

FI(S) recency

Flight Instructor (Sailplanes) privileges. SFCL.360 FI(S) recency requirement refers. SFCL.360 can be viewed here.

Notes:

SPL rolling recency must be in place.
Hours flown as an FE(S) during skill tests, proficiency checks and assessments of competence shall be fully credited towards the 30 hours or 60 launches.
Additional requirements apply to FI(S) utilising TMG privileges – please refer to SFCL.360.

FI(S) 9-year demonstration of ability to instruct

The BGA Head of Training nominates SFCL qualified FIC’s (ie they have SFCL.315 (a) (7) annotated on their SPL, or on SPL’s or LAPL(S)’s issued before SFCL came into force, have ‘FI(S) (i)’ annotated) as able to conduct 9 yr Demonstrations of Ability under SFCL.360 where they:

Hold an FI(S) with (a)(7) (or on older licences, ‘FI(S) (i)’ ) privileges and,
Have a minimum of one year’s experience delivering instructor training, or
Have other relevant experience in delivering aeroplane instructor training

In exceptional circumstances, an FIC not meeting the above criteria may be considered for approval subject to the BGA DTO HoT’s specific authorisation.

Club CFIs should advise the BGA DTO HoT via the BGA office of the names of FICs at their club who will be conducting 9 yr Demonstrations of Ability in accordance with SFCL.360.

The successful completion of the demonstration of ability to instruct should be recorded and signed in the FI(S) logbook – for example: “9-year demonstration of ability to instruct completed. FIC name, signature and date.”

now please read this – FI(S) rolling recency conversion considerations

UK SFCL cover article 2 states that Part-FCL licences for sailplanes and associated privileges, ratings and certificates issued by the CAA under FCL shall be deemed to have been issued in accordance with SFCL. In other words, a FCL SPL/LAPL(S) is deemed to be an SFCL SPL, and an FCL FI(S) is deemed to be an SFCL FI(S).

The UK SFCL conversion report states “SFCL.360 Flight Instructor (Sailplanes) recency requirements. On conversion from BGA instructor to an SPL with FI(S) certificate, the pilot shall exercise instructor privileges of the FI(S) certificate after three years from the issue date of the BGA instructor rating only when they comply with SFCL.360 (a) (1) and when they have either completed a BGA instructor standardisation check (i.e. a BGA 5 year refresher) in the previous nine years or comply with SFCL.360 (a) (2) (the 9-year demonstration of ability).

Therefore, to comply with the 9-year demonstration of ability rolling recency requirement, ensure that within the previous 9 years of using your FI(S) privileges that you have completed a 9-year demonstration of ability or carried out a BGA 5-year refresher. Please note that the BGA 5-year refresher will not be available after the end of the conversion period, i.e after 30th September 2025.

If I complete an instructors course under SFCL rules, how do I apply the FI(S) rolling recency requirements?

The rolling recency requirements apply immediately after the FI(S) certificate is issued to the SPL holder. Initial rolling recency is complied with based on the FI(S) assessment by a Flight Examiner (Sailplanes) and the course content covers the refresher requirement.

Aeroplane licence holder information – aimed at tug pilots

PPL(A) SEP aeroplane licence. Part FCL refers

A PPL(A) requires revalidation on a 24 month cycle which requires the licence to be signed by an approved person.

FCL.740.A Revalidation of Part-FCL class and type ratings – aeroplanes

1. For revalidation of single-pilot single-engine piston aeroplane class ratings or TMG class ratings the applicant shall:

(i) within the 3 months preceding the expiry date of the rating, pass a proficiency check in the relevant class in accordance with Appendix 9 with a Flight Examiner;

(ii) within the 12 months preceding the expiry date of the rating, complete 12 hours of flight time in the relevant class, including:

6 hours as PIC; and
12 take-offs and 12 landings; and
refresher training of at least 1 hour with a flight instructor (FI) or a class rating instructor (CRI). Applicants shall be exempted from this flight if they have passed a class or type rating proficiency check or skill test in any other class or type of aeroplane.

2. When applicants hold both a single-engine piston aeroplane-land class rating and a TMG rating, they may complete the requirements of (1) in either class or a combination thereof, and achieve revalidation of both ratings. Note- this only applies to REVALIDATIONS. A renewal requires a Licence Skills Test in each class.

AMC 4.1.1 states: The requirements for a training flight with an FI or CRI, referred to in FCL.740.A(b)(1)(ii), may be satisfied by receiving instruction totalling at least 1 hour from one or more instructors in the course of a maximum of three flights.

UK AMC 4.1.2 states: The CAA has issued an exemption for a pilot licence issued by the CAA that includes a Single Engine Piston class rating or Touring Motor Glider class rating, which may be revalidated subject to the condition that, within 12 months preceding the expiry of the rating the applicant shall:

complete 12 hours of flight time in Single Engine Piston aeroplanes or Touring Motor Gliders, including 6 hours as pilot in command and 12 take-offs and 12 landings; and
pass in an aeroplane, a skill test or proficiency check for any class, type, instrument or mountain rating or an assessment of competence for any Flight Instructor, Class Rating Instructor or Instrument Rating Instructor certificate included in the applicant’s aeroplane pilot licence.

The 90-day rule applies when carrying passengers. The licence holder must have completed within the previous 90 days, three take-offs and landings as sole manipulator of the controls in the same type or class to be used on the flight. If carrying passengers at night, one of those takeoffs and landings must also have been at night, unless an instrument rating is held.

LAPL(A) aeroplane licence. Part FCL refers

FCL.140.A LAPL(A) as amended — Recency requirements

a. Holders of an LAPL (A) shall only exercise the privileges of their licence when they have completed, in the last 24 months, as pilots of aeroplanes or TMG:

(i) at least 12 hours of flight time as PIC or dual, including 12 take-offs and landings; and

(ii) refresher training of at least 1 hour of total flight time with an instructor

b. Holders of an LAPL(A) who do not comply with the requirements in (a) shall:

(i) undertake a proficiency check with an examiner before they resume the exercise of the privileges of their licence;

(ii) perform the additional flight time or take-offs and landings, flying dual or solo under the supervision of an instructor, in order to fulfil the requirements in (a).

AMC1 FCL.140.A: Training flight items should be based on the exercise items of the proficiency check, as deemed relevant by the instructor, and depending on the experience of the candidate. For aeroplanes and helicopters, the briefing should include a discussion on TEM with special emphasis on decision-making when encountering adverse meteorological conditions or unintentional IMC, as well as on navigation flight capabilities.

LAPL privileges integral to other licences: Holders of other licences wishing to exercise LAPL privileges only need to hold a valid LAPL medical (or higher) but must maintain validity of any class ratings in accordance with FCL.740.

UK PPL aeroplane licence. The ANO refers

A UK PPL requires revalidation on a 24 month cycle which requires the licence to be signed by an approved person.

ANO 2016 Revalidation of UK PPL class and type ratings – aeroplanes

1. For revalidation of single-pilot single-engine piston aeroplane class ratings or TMG class ratings the applicant shall:

(i) within the 3 months preceding the expiry date of the rating, pass a proficiency check in the relevant class in accordance with Appendix 9 to this Part with an examiner;

(ii) within the 12 months preceding the expiry date of the rating, complete 12 hours of flight time in the relevant class or (for SEP) 3-axis microlight, including:

6 hours as PIC;
12 take-offs and 12 landings; and
refresher training of at least 1 hour with a flight instructor (FI) or a class rating instructor (CRI). Applicants shall be exempted from this flight if they have passed a class or type rating proficiency check or skill test in any other class or type of aeroplane.

Note- this only applies to REVALIDATIONS. If a renewal, there has to be a Licence Skills Test in each class.

If flying on a UK PPL, a pilot may fly with one other person who is also a pilot qualified on class or type, without having met the requirements of the 90 day rule. The other person must be informed of the fact that the pilot in command is not current to carry passengers and must also make it clear they are the pilot in command. This is known in the ANO as the ‘recent experience exception’.

UK NPPL. The ANO refers

Definitions:

“SSEA” means a simple single engine aeroplane, being a single engine piston aeroplane with a maximum take-off weight authorised of not more than 2,000kg and which is not a microlight aeroplane or an SLMG.

“Self-launching motor glider” (SLMG) means an aircraft with the characteristics of a non-power-driven glider, which is fitted with one or more power units and which is designed or intended to take off under its own power.

An NPPL requires revalidation on a 24 month cycle which requires the licence to be signed by an approved person.

ANO 2016 Revalidation of UK NPPL class ratings – aeroplanes

To revalidate an SSEA, Microlight or SLMG class rating attached to an NPPL(A), the holder must complete the following during the 24 month validity of the current certificate of revalidation for the rating:

a. A General Skill Test; or

b. At least 12 hours flight time to include:

(i) at least 8 hours as pilot in command;

(ii) at least 12 take-offs and 12 landings;

(iii) at least 1 hour of flying training with an instructor entitled to give instruction on aeroplanes of that class;

(iv) at least 6 hours flight time in the 12 months preceding the validity expiry

General Skill Test: Must be completed with a Flight Examiner holding the appropriate rating and qualification.

Single seat: Where the holder has not undertaken the skill test or the flying training specified, but has completed all the other experience requirements, a certificate of revalidation may be issued but must be endorsed “single seat only”. AIC W089/2011 states that a further certificate of revalidation can be issued without the ‘single seat only’ endorsement, but with the same expiry date, when the training flight has been completed.

Holders of more than one Class Rating: 3.9.1.2 Where the holder wishes to revalidate more than one class rating, they may carry out the requirements above in any of the relevant classes but must have at least 1 hour PIC or 1 hour dual instruction in each of the classes as part of the 12 hours flight time.

Validity: The new certificate is valid for 24 months from the end of the month which includes the expiry date of the existing certificate, except where the certificate is validated by a NPPL General Skill Test more than 3 months before the expiry date of the existing certificate, in which case the new certificate is valid for 24 months from the end of the month in which the test was taken.

If flying on a UK NPPL, a pilot may fly with one other person who is also a pilot qualified on class or type, without having met the requirements of the 90 day rule. The other person must be informed of the fact that the pilot in command is not current to carry passengers and must also make it clear they are the pilot in command. This is known in the ANO as the ‘recent experience exception’.

FI SLMG. The ANO refers.

Schedule 8 notes:

A certificate of revalidation required by article 157 for a flight instructor’s certificate (SLMG) must be signed by a person authorised by the CAA* to sign certificates of this kind and certify –

(a) the certificate to which the certificate of revalidation relates;

(b) that on a specified date the holder has passed an appropriate test of the holder’s ability to exercise the privileges of the certificate;

(d) the date on which the period of validity of the certificate expires in accordance with sub-paragraph (2).

(2) If the rating—

(a) has not expired, the new certificate is valid for 36 months from the end of the month which includes the expiry date of the existing certificate; and

(b) has expired, the new certificate is valid for 36 months in addition to the remainder of the month in which the date of test falls.

*For example, a BGA Panel Examiner, i.e. a Flight Examiner (SLMG) who is a member of the BGA examiner panel.

Can I carry our refresher training for SEP or TMG in a non-Part 21 aircraft?

Yes. See the CAA ORS4 exemptions.

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