Only theoretical difference between skill test and proficiency check.

Tim-Peter Voss • 1 October 2019

in community General Aviation

1 likes

I found an strange case in Part FCL.

I was just doing my CPL SE skill test and wanted to have my Class Ratings SEP and TMG renewed together with issuing of my CPL licence. My skill test CPL was on a C172RG - a clear SEP aircraft. Because a skill test is a skill test and not a proficiency check the authorities tell me I still have to show the flight hours to renew the CRs. The skill test CPL SEP has more or less no different content than a proficiency check SEP. I would expect it to be sufficient to renew my CRs but it has a different name than proficiency check - that is the problem. The EASA definition of both terms is the same!!

See COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 1178/2011 :

‘Skill test’ means the demonstration of skill for a licence or rating issue, including such oral examination as may be required.

‘Proficiency check’ means the demonstration of skill to revalidate or renew ratings, and including such oral examination as may be required.

Hard to understand!

Remark: I have the flight hours needed to renew my CRs but I am just frustrated about this strange definition.

Comments (10)

Salvatore Valenza • 4 years ago

I think that the difference is that the "Skill test" is applicable to an ISSUE of the licence or rating (ref to requirement on FCL.235), and the "profieciency check" is for the "REVALIDATION" or "RENEW" of a rating (Class or Type) as per FCL.740..

If for example you read the table in appendix 9 section B point 5 sub (K) you see the difference between Initial iussue (Skill test) and Revalidation/Renewal (Proficiency).

It's just my interpretation.... Probably you are right.

Martina De Coster Hunova • 4 years ago

You're right Salvatore, the definition is not the same at all, one applies to new licences whilst the other one to revalidations/renewals

Jürgen Tantau • 4 years ago

Where does it say, that the skill test and the proficency check can not be done at the same time by the same examiner on the same flight?

Tim-Peter Voss • 4 years ago

That would be interesting to get an official statement about doing it in one flight. Now I saw that a proficiency check CR IR/SEP also is valid for CR VFR/SEP that makes me assume that a skill test IR/SEP should also be valid for renewal of the CR PIC/SEP - but in my license they kept the validity from before...

Xavier • 4 years ago

What to you mean by "I have the flight hours needed to renew my .." If your SEP is lapsed, the flight hours are not relevant anymore. If not, then your hours + skill test grant you the right to a SEP revalidation
FCL.740.A Revalidation of class and type ratings – aeroplanes
(...)(b) Revalidation of single-pilot single-engine class ratings.
(1) Single-engine piston aeroplane class ratings (...). For revalidation of single-pilot single-engine piston aeroplane class ratings (...) the applicant shall:(...)
(ii) within the 12 months preceding the expiry date of the rating, complete 12 hours of flight time in the relevant class, including:
— 6 hours as PIC,
— 12 take-offs and 12 landings, and
— refresher training of at least 1 hour (...)with a flight instructor (FI) (...). Applicants shall be exempted from this refresher training if they have passed a (...) skill test

Tim-Peter Voss • 4 years ago

I understand all this - it just makes no sense for me!

Thomas Dietrich • 4 years ago

What a mess, and look how simple the FAA solved that!

Tim-Peter Voss • 4 years ago

Maybe I dont understand it correctly.
When I get my CPL-Licence - will they set the validity of my CR SEP to the date of issuing of the CPL or will they keep going with the validity I had in my PPL from before?
For me it would be so much nonsense that after all that training this year (IR/SEP and CPL) I should need more to renew my CR PIC SEP now!?

Harry Karlsson • 4 years ago

The examiner should have performed the items required for BOTH the skill test AND the (CR) proficiency check, then filed both forms to the NAA. Then the NAA would dispense You a with new CPL with a recently endorsed CR. If this has not been done, Your new CPL will have the "old" CR validity. Now You have to revalidate You SEP(land) as it is an independent rating, ie the SEP/IR rating validity continues on its own validity cycle.

Tim-Peter Voss • 4 years ago

Yes, I got it. The strange thing is that the form for the examiner report of the skill test and the proficiency check is the same... From my point of view it would just make sense to accept a skill test CPL/SE also for revalidation of the PIC SEP rating... but I will never have this issue again. Yes I solved it by having the examiner filling the form a second time to be the profichiency check - with regards to content it is nonsense IMHO.

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