An amendment to the Aircrew Regulation* has been published as Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/539. It includes three important updates. The first update provides new pilot training and checking provisions for Performance Based Navigation (PBN) linked to pilot instrument ratings (IR). The update caters for the PBN procedures and equipment that are being deployed at an increasing rate throughout Europe. The second update to the regulation provides greater flexibility to holders of multi-pilot licence (MPL) and the airline operator with whom they are allowed to exercise their MPL privileges. Both the PBN and MPL amendments align the Aircrew Regulation further with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards. The third amendment provides an extension to the deadline for one additional year for those pilots holding a third country licence thereby allowing them to continue to operate in non-commercial operations subject to Member State opt-outs. The extension was necessary as negotiations with the US, over the bilateral agreement (BASA), to facilitate the conversion of such licences was further delayed.
*Regulation (EU) 1178/2011)
