Addendum – EASA Part-FCL & Part-MED — Page 548, Lesson 729

Let's pick up with the privileges and obligations that sit on top of your licence. These are the rules that govern you the moment you hold a licence and start using it. First, the exercise of privileges. The privileges granted by a licence — meaning the things you're allowed to do with it — are only valid if two things are valid: the ratings it contains, and your medical certificate. So if a rating has lapsed, or your medical has expired, you cannot exercise the privileges of that licence. The licence itself might be current, but the privileges are locked behind the validity of those two elements. Next, the obligation to carry and present documents. While you are exercising the privileges of your licence — that is, while you're actually flying — you must always carry three things: your licence, your medical certificate, and an identification document containing your photograph. And there's a fourth obligation: you must, without undue delay, present your flight time record when requested by an authorised representative or a competent authority. So the flight time record isn't carried, but it must be produced promptly when asked for. Then we have the recording of flight time. All pilots must keep a reliable record of the details of all flights flown, in the manner established by the competent authority. So it's not just a personal logbook of your choice — the format and manner is set by the authority, and it must be reliable. Now, language proficiency. This is graded by EASA into three levels that matter here. Expert is Level 6. Extended is Level 5. Operational is Level 4. Every pilot must have attained English language proficiency to the standard of Operational — that's Level 4 — and this must be endorsed in the licence. So it's not enough to speak English; it must be formally endorsed. Then re-evaluation. If you hold Level 4, Operational, you must be re-evaluated every 4 years. If you hold Level 5, Extended, you must be re-evaluated every 6 years. But if you've attained Level 6, Expert, re-evaluation is not necessary — that's a lifetime endorsement. Finally, recent experience. This is the currency rule. A pilot is not to operate an aircraft in commercial air transport, or carry passengers, unless certain recent experience is met. As PIC or Co-pilot, you must have carried out, in the preceding 90 days, at least 3 take-offs, approaches and landings — and note the wording: 3 take-offs, approaches and landings — in an aircraft of the same type, or a Full Flight Simulator, an FFS, representing that type or class. Then there's a separate, stricter rule for PIC at night. To operate as PIC at night, you must have carried out, in the preceding 90 days, at least 1 take-off, approach and landing at night, as pilot flying, in an aircraft of the same type or an FFS representing that type or class — or alternatively, you hold an Instrument Rating. So the Instrument Rating is an alternative to that night currency. Notice the contrast: the day rule requires 3 of each in 90 days; the night rule requires just 1 of each in 90 days, but it's specifically at night and as pilot flying, and it can be satisfied by holding an Instrument Rating instead. So the whole picture is: your licence privileges rest on valid ratings and a valid medical; you carry your licence, medical, and photo ID; you present your flight time record on request; you keep a reliable record of all flights; you hold at least Level 4 English endorsed in the licence with re-evaluation at 4 or 6 years depending on level; and you maintain recent experience — 3 take-offs, approaches and landings in 90 days for day operations, and 1 at night in 90 days or an Instrument Rating for night PIC.