Almost all pilots know that feeling. Having looked into the pilot licence and becoming panic about expiration of single-engine piston class rating very soon. There are generally 2 ways how to keep the current your SEP(land) class rating. If you are also flying any other type and being a flight instructor or simply flying single-engine for fun, there is also a way how to keep your SEP(land) instrument rating current. Let's have a look how it works.

Revalidate your SEP(Land) by experience

Probably the cheapest and for majority of pilots the most convenient way to keep the currency of SEP(land) class rating is to revalidate the rating by experience. You should start working on this by starting the last year of your SEP(land) validity.

If you as a pilot have recent experience in flying any SEP(land) or TMG aeroplane and meeting requirements of FCL.740.A(b)(1)(ii), you are exempted from flying the proficiency check with EASA Examiner.

To meet the FCL.740.A(b)(1)(ii) means to have the following flight experience within last 12 months of SEP(land) validity:

• 12 hours of flight time in the SEP(land) aircraft such as Cessna 152, Diamond DA40 or similar, including:
  • 6 hours as pilot-in-commande,
  • 12 take-offs and 12 landings, and
  • refresher flight training of at least 1 hour of total flight time with a flight instructor (FI) or a class rating instructor (CRI)

If you have flown any checkride with an examiner - even the LPC in simulator with TRE, you do not need to fly the refresher training with instructor.

Content of the SEP(land) training flight

Training flight required by FCL.740.A(b)(1)(ii) is described further in AMC1 FCL.740.A(b)(1)(ii). Training flight items are based on the SEP(land) proficiency check items, as deemed relevant by the instructor, and depending on your previous experience.

Before the training flight, the instructor should hold a briefing and a discussion on all of the following:

• TEM with special emphasis on decision-making when encountering adverse meteorological conditions or unintentional IMC
• navigation flight capabilities
• recovery strategies for different stall scenarios

Checkride with SEP(land) Examiner

If you do not meet the recency requirements for SEP(land) revalidation by experience, you have to attend the proficiency check with examiner to keep yourself SEP(land) current. Revalidation LPC can only be done by appropriately qualified Class Rating Examiner - CRE SEP(land). It has to be done within 3 months before your SEP(land) expiry date.

You will have to demonstrate ability to perform maneuvers, procedures on that particular variant (e.g. DA20, C152, C172) of single-engine piston aeroplane with competency appropriate to the privileges granted as an pilot in command (PIC).

The duration of SEP(land) license proficiency check is approximately 45-60 minutes. 

EASA SEP(land) proficiency check is subject to FCL.740.A(b)(1). The scope of the SEP(land) LPC is described in Appendix 9 of Part-FCL, Regulation (EC) 1178/2011 and covers following Sections:

• SECTION 1 - PRE-FLIGHT/DEPARTUE 
  • Pre-flight check, including: Documentation, Mass and Balance, Meteological briefing, Review of theoretical knowledg
  • Aeroplane external/internal visual inspection
  • Taxiing
  • Pre-departure checks: Engine run-up (if applicable)
  • Take-off procedure: normal, with flap settings as recommended by the flight manual, crosswind (if conditions available)
  • Climbing: Vx/Vy, turns onto headings, levelling off
  • ATC liaison - Compliance, R/T procedures
• SECTION 2 - AIR WORK
  • Straight and level flight at various airspeeds including flight at critically low airspeed with and without flaps (including approach to Vs)
  • Steep turns (360° left and right at 45° bank)
  • Stalls and Recovery
  • Use of Radio Navigation aids (if applicable)
• SECTION 3 - ARRIVAL AND LANDINGS
  • Aerodrome arrival procedure
  • Two landings (different configurations)
  • Go-around from minimum height
• SECTION 4 - ABNORMAL AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
  • Simulated forced landing without power
  • Simulated Emergencies: System malfunctions, as appropriate (e.g. fire, smoke, electrical equipment failure)

Cross-credit of SEP(land) class rating

If you are a holder of both - SEP(land) and TMG class ratings, it is sufficient to pass an EASA license proficiency check (LPC) in one class only and the other one will be revalidated as well.

Single-Engine Instrument Rating

Nice thing on single-engine flying is that you can easily keep your ratings and privileges current without necessity to fly the checkride with examiner. Similarly like the SEP(land) class rating revalidation by experience, you can also revalidate your single-engine instrument rating. 

You only need to perform 3 approaches within the validity period of IR-SE as a pilot-in-command. This could be as a instrument instructor or simply as a leisure pilot. If you perform 3 approaches in SEP(land) aircraft, even your TRE during simulator LPC of multi-pilot aeroplane can revalidate your IR-SE based on Appendix 8 to Part-FCL.