New Sailplane Pilot Rules published

Jannes Neumann • 5 March 2020

in community General Aviation

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The new Sailplane Pilot licensing rules have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union today.

In order to simplify operational and licensing requirements for balloons and sailplanes, EASA decided to remove these requirements from the more complex regulatory framework of Regulation (EU) No. 965/2012 and Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, and to establish stand-alone regulations exclusively for balloons and sailplanes.

Air sport federations, industry, and national authorities supported EASA in developing the rules, resulting in the new regulations on air operations for sailplanes (Regulation (EU) 2018/1976, in force from 9 July 2019). This regulation has been amended now to include the revised flight-crew licensing requirements for sailplanes (Part-SFCL) and will enter in to force on 8 April 2020.

The regulation, including applicable operational and flight crew licensing requirements, is tailored to the respective activity: they are less complex, more flexible, and proportionate to the low complexity required for the operation and training for sailplanes. For example, the onerous air operator approval for commercial operations has been replaced by a declarative system. As regards flight crew licensing, the light-aircraft pilot licence (LAPL) for sailplanes was deleted. Among a number of achieved improvements, this change simplifies the overall licensing system allowing SPL holders to hold an LAPL medical certificate for non-commercial flights.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/357 of 4 March 2020

The possible combinations of a SPL with a LAPL or a Class 2 medical can be found in the amended Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 - Point MED.A.030 of Annex IV (Part-MED)

An modified definition of Touring Motor Glider (TMG) is available in the amended Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 - Point FCL.010 (d).

Comments (16)

Pete Stratten • 4 years ago

Good work, Jannes. When will the AMC/GM be published?

Jannes Neumann • 4 years ago

The circulation for signature has been initiated today, thus a publication the next days can be expected.

Jannes Neumann • 4 years ago

Published today: https://www.easa.europa.eu/regulations#regulations-aircrew

Frank Schellenberg • 3 years ago

[~703] other coutries that have difficulty with AMC1 SFC.135?
Dealing with this in The Netherlands at the moment. The Pass rate for lots of subject becomes 80% due to this AMC. Instead of 75% required.

Jannes Neumann • 3 years ago

[~2016] thank you for mentioning this point. I understand when using e,g, 12 questions it woulld be possible to meet exactly 75%. We have put it on our list to be discussed but no quick fix available, unfortunately.

Frank Schellenberg • 3 years ago

[~703] thanks for that. As discussed by email. Great. Posted this question before obtaining your direct email address.

Magnus Axelsson • 4 years ago

Thank you all, great job :)

Thomas Rudolf Wendl • 4 years ago

The link above is for balloon pilots!? Maybe this is the right link for sailplane pilots:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1583423223840&uri=C…

Jannes Neumann • 4 years ago

Thank you! Fixed!

caf28035@yahoo.com • 4 years ago

Thank you !, I found some errata in some translations different from English, as references to BPL instead of SPL, (In Spanish or German version). I hope it will be amended soon.

Jannes Neumann • 4 years ago

Thank you. I found another one in the Lithuanian translation. We are informing the Commission for the publication of a Corrigendum.

Jannes Neumann • 3 years ago

The Sailplane Rule Book - Easy Access Rule - new edition includes Part-SFCL now!
https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/easy-access-rules/sailplane…

The Gliding Section of the German Aero Club (DAeC) has published a similar version - official German text of the Implementing Rule & courtesy translation of the respective AMC/GM
https://www.daec.de/fileadmin/user_upload/files/2020/Sportarten/Segelfl…

Hanna Horváth • 3 years ago

Hello Everyone, I'd have some questions regarding SPL's when obtained only on TMG. I haven't found anything on theoretical knowledge requirements or the minimum duration of the practical exam neither in the rule itself nor in the AMC. If it's the very first time one decides to obtain a license and they go for an SPL on TMG, do they need to take a theoretical exam at their CAA? The question regarding the minimum duration of the skill test also arose as in the AMC I can only see that the navigation part should be at least 30 minutes, but what about the rest? Thanks in advance for the response.

Jannes Neumann • 3 years ago

Hello Hanna,
The training has to cover AMC1 SFCL.130 and AMC3 SFCL.130 (that calls for AMC3 SFCL.150 (b) - where you find the TMG related topics). Basically, it is the basic syllabus plus a TMG extension.
The theoratical exam is with the competent authority (CAA).
The practical skill test needs to cover the elements listed in AMC1 SFCL.145 (d) (1) + (2) that drives the time. As you noted, the navigation section of the skill test should have a duration of minimum 30 minutes as per AMC1 SFCL.145 (b) (1).
I recommend using the easy access rule that incorporates the AMC and GM: https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/easy-access-rules/sailplane…

Hanna Horváth • 2 years ago

Thank you, Jannes.
I'd have another question. In Part-FCL there's a point (FCL.725 (f)), which says if one has an SPL with TMG extension, TMG can be written in their PPL(A) license as well without anything to do, only an application for the authority and it's done.
What about the reverse? Can someone with a PPL(A) with a TMG rating get an SPL restricted to TMG's without anything but an administrative procedure?

Jannes Neumann • 2 years ago

Hi Hanna, SFCL.150 (c) should answer this question with yes.

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