28 May 2020
EASA has allowed fixed-wing microlights to be used to maintain an EASA PPL or LAPL, opening up microlight flying to pilots who want to retain their EASA licence.
Until now, hours flown in fixed-wing microlight did not count towards an EASA PPL. The change in attitude by EASA has taken 17 years, with Europe Airsports, the group which represents recreational flying on EASA committees, plugging away to change members’ minds.
Rudi Schuegraf, Senior Vice President of Europe Air Sports, explains, “At the start of EASA in 2003…the microlight movement was about to become a grown up player in airsports and GA.
“The aeroplanes had reached high quality and safety standards, but the authorities of the EASA member states did not yet want to face and accept the reality of the technical progress of three-axis microlight aeroplanes.
“It took many years to convince the regulatory system that hours flown on aeroplanes that are generally called microlights require the identical skills and airmanship as traditional SEP aeroplanes.
“The regulator and the authorities of the member states have acknowledged the contribution of the microlight movement and development to the improvement of aviation safety.
The full statement from Europe Airsports is here.
Microlight aircraft have come a long way: this is the Blackshape Prime
It’s welcome news for the British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) Chief Executive Geoff Weighell said, “This is a great boost for us, as it means there is an incentive for EASA-licensed pilots to fly microlights. The more the merrier.”
10 comments
Wonder if the CAA will follow EASA and allow Microlight time to count on a UK PPL?
Would I be correct in understanding this means that I could now train for and gain my PPL (A) in a microlight? If so, this will mean a great cost reduction for myself and for so many other wishing to gain a PPL!
Reply to “Jerry”‘s interest as to when UK will follow:
UK has allowed 3-axis microlight hours to count to UK non-Easa PPL SEP revalidation since 2016! Easa are way behind, and less liberal, as UK allows ALL revalidation hours to be 3 axis microlight and I think when detail emerges, Easa will only let p1 in microlight to be used towards sep reval, meaning it cannot all be microlight, and certainly not for peof check reval.
Reply to Jessie- no, this is all about using P1 3 axis microlight hours AFTER you have a PPL and SEP rating to count towards some of the biennial revalidation requirements
So it means that now I can count it to my general flight hours ? For example if there would be requested by airline to have 1000 hr of flight hours, can I count flight hours from microlights to it if it isn’t specified otherwise ?
Reply to Isnan, re microlight hours for CPL “counting”: If you have an airline wanting candidates to have not only correct qualifications, but also “x” hours for employment, that is not anything to do with legality, it is just an airline wanting “x” hours as an employment policy, so it would be up to you to convince them that microlight hours were as good. When you look at the often quoted example of a Eurostar with a fuel pump being sep and one without being a microlight, clearly there are arguments to be had, but not on the legal side, only only the company employment policy side.
I agree that for an airline requiring ‘x’ hours then hours in a 3 axis microlight could be argued towards this however I believe that for issue of a CPL in the first place you require 200 hours (100 of which as P1). Do we know if these hours must be in a group A aircraft or could 3 axis microlight hours contribute
Would SSDR hours count?
If I spent a few years just flying a SSDR 3 axis microlight would this now keep a PPL current?
Hi All, I’ve a question about this.
I have an IAA issued EASA PPL (A) I am going into my 2nd year of owning my license.
Does this new rule mean that i can now use Microlights, like an Ikarus C42 to maintain my IAA issues EASA PPL (A) license?
I was told that “It could keep LAPL rating current or SEP on UK licences, but not on an IAA PPL”
thanks!
I would like to upgrade my LAPL to a PPL and then do a Class Rating Instructor course, here`s the grey area. I have 220 hrs LAPL SEP AND 500 hrs 3 axis microlights, does this mean I now have the required 300hrs to do my CRI, or am I still 80 short? finding it difficult to get an answer to this.