A query reference PPL student instruction and hours flown...

Prior to EASA taking over flight training for an Student PPL pilot.
The the then rules were governed by JAR.

The requirements for a PPL under JAR was for 42 hours (which included a Skills test).

When EASA took this over they changed this to 45 hours. but in the end its actually nearer 47.

Why well its all in the wording..

A student PPL has to completed a course of instruction before he can take a skills test.
The skills test can take up to 2 hours to complete.
Therefore adding these 2 hours onto the 45 hours.
Under JAR once a student had completed a course of instruction he could then do the skills test, and that could be done within the 42 hours.

So i believe the wording being used by EASA has been interpreted incorrectly from what was originally meant.

IE the NAA,s are saying that the way that EASA has worded the rules means that the instructor cannot put forward a student for a skills test until he,s completed the course i not before 45 hours.

We are finding that some really good PPL students are getting to the point were they are ready for a skills test as early as 35 hours of instruction but as above their instructors cannot put them forward for skills test until they have done 45 hours.

The 45 hours requirement should be only for prior to the issuing of a pilots license.
We believe that this 45 hours before going for a skills test was not EASA,s intention when the rules were made.

So i am asking EASA to either review this requirements and change the wording or issue an AMC to say that the Skills test can be taken before the 45 hours..

Secondly

There seems to a query between different NAA,s on the Night Rating.
Under JAR a student pilot could do a Night rating as part of a PPL course IE if the student had hours left prior to a skills test or license issuing.
Now some NAA,s say the student cannot do the Night rating prior having a been issued a pilots license.

Again the interpretation of the rules differs.
I suggest a AMC to the night rating stating that this could be undertaken as part of the PPL course.

Ts....