I found an inconsistency in FCL.210.S SPL — Experience requirements and crediting
The text says:
Crediting. Applicants holding a pilot licence for another category of aircraft, with the exception of balloons, shall be credited with 10 % of their total flight time as PIC on such aircraft up to a maximum of 7 hours. The amount of credit given shall in any case not include the requirements in of FCL.110.S(a)(2) to (a)(4).
So if you hold, for exemple a PPL(A), you can get up to 7 hours of credit to reach the required 15 hours of instruction. It means that you “only” need 8 hours of instruction. But there is no credit for the required 45 launches and landing. So you have to make 45 flights in 8 hours i.e. roughly 45 flights of 10 minutes.
What is the reason ?
Personnaly I was done with my training after 20 flights and needed to do 25 launches lasting 4 minutes each to be legal.
Wouldn’t it be consistent to have proportionally the same launch credit as the flight time credit ?
I also pointed out that if you apply for a LAPL(S), your flight time credit is 50% of the 15 hours of training required {FCL.110.S (a)(2)}, and if you apply for a SPL, the credit is 7 hours {FCL.210.S SPL (b)}. Also not consistent !!
Patrice Portmann
FI-FE
SPL applicant
Dear Patrice,
Thank you for your observation. We are in the final phase of the FCL bit of the Rulebook Sailplanes which will result in a Part-SFCL. Thus we have the possibility to review the crediting again.
However, I need to better understand your comment. What did you achieve in 20 launches, flying solo or ready for examination? Which launch method(s) were you trained in?
Best regards,
Jannes
Dear Jannes,
Thanks for taking my observation into account.
I was ready for examination after 20 flights. Then I filled up my logbook with 4 minutes flights.
I did mainly tow but also 8 winch launches.
Logically, one should get the same proportion of launches credit as flight time credit. I had 50% of flight time credit, I should have had 50% of launches credit.
My personal experience is probably not the average, but I now another PPL in my ATO that had the same issue.
Best regards and fly safe.
Patrice
Dear Patrice,
thanks a lot for your comment and the issue highlighted. We will aim at providing proportionate crediting in these cases with the new FCL rules for sailplanes ('rulebook') that are currenly developed under rulemaking task (RMT) RMT.0701.
Best regards
Christian
Good news but too late for me !!
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