Single-engine class rating

Single-engine piston or so-called SEP(land) class rating is the basic. If you have attended your ab-initio PPL(A) training under EASA, your training has been done exactly on an aeroplane constituting into the SEP(land) class rating.

We can generally say that all the EASA approved single-engine piston aeroplanes are variants of the SEP(Land) class rating. Variant in this case means the particular aircraft type. However EASA does not require you to attend the specific so-called type rating for each particular type of single-engine aeroplane. To avoid the additional long-lasting type rating training Part FCL established single class rating which allows you to fly on all SEP(land) aeroplanes. So when it comes to the single-engine aeroplanes, we are calling them variants instead of types. 

Class rating SEP(land) allows you to fly on the single-engine piston aeroplanes with wheeled landing gear with a maximum take-off weight of 5,700kg. The variants specifically constituted into SEP(Land) are not explicitly listed in EASA class rating endorsement list.

Common EASA SEP(land) class rating varians are following:

• Manufacturer ZLIN: Zlin 42, Zlin 142, Zlin 43, Zlin 143
• Manufacturer Diamond Aircraft Industries: Diamond DA-20, DA-40
• Manufacturer Piper: Piper PA-28
• Manufacturer Tecnam: Sierra, Echo
• Manufacturer Cessna: Cessna 152, Cessna 150, Cessna 172
• and many more 

Extension of SEP(land) privileges

Your privileges to fly on particular variant are limited to the variant in which you have passed your SEP(land) skill test. To extend your privileges to another variant, you have to undertake the differences training or familiarization within ProfiPilot Training.

EASA established mandatory differences training and familiarization when transitioning from one SEP(land) variant to another (e.g. from Cessna 152 to Cessna 172). Based on the differences levels ProfiPilot Training will provide you with adequate differences training to meet the learning objectives thus to safely fly on the particular aeroplane.

Same applies for additional SEP(land) qualifications usually required to fly on more complex SEP(land) aeroplanes. Those additional qualifications are:

When transitioning from one variant to another. Aircraft transition within the same class rating within different SEP(land) quallification requires differences training, whereas those aircraft which are contained within the same SEP(land) qualification requires familiarisation. As an example, a SEP(land) aeroplane with variable pitch propeller and a SEP(land) aeroplane with retractable undercarriage require differences training, whereas two different SEP(land) aeroplanes, both with cabin pressurisation require familiarisation.

SEP(land) Validity

Once obtained, the validity of your SEP(land) Class Rating is 2 years.

Revalidation of SEP(land)

You have generally two options to revalidate your SEP(land) class rating. So-called competency-based is simple and straight forward. It is so-called revalidation by experience. Your SEP(land) will be administratively revalidated if you within the 12 months preceding the expiry date of the SEP(land) class rating, complete 12 hours of flight time in the SEP(land) class rating, including at least:

• 6 hours as PIC,
• 12 take-offs and 12 landings, and
• refresher flight training with a flight instructor

If you are a holder of the TMG class rating, you can meet the revalidation criteria on either class or by combination of both.

If you do not meet the criteria for re-validation by experience, you have to fly the SEP(land) LPC with an EASA Class Rating Examiner.