Merely yesterday I had a pilot seek information about what was imperative when renewing a type rating and it gave me the stimulus to note down this post and illuminate a few things.
When you get a PPL(H) licence, it is official for a period of 5 years. If it expires, you cannot take to the air. Yet it is a plain sailing affair to renew the licence. Just phone up the Irish Aviation Authority Licencing Office (or the relevant Organization for your country) and pay them the needed tariff and they will dispatch you with a new license - simple.
Any type ratings on your license are only binding for 12 months. Type ratings are "revalidated" or "renewed" to hold them present on your licence. It is referred to as "renewed" when it has expired and as "revalidated" when the type rating has not expired.
To revalidate a type rating, you ought to have flown at least two hours in the preceeding 12 months and pass a License Proficiency Checkneed to) up to 90 days before the expiry date of the rating. If the License proficiency check is failed, you must not take to the air as PIC until you finally pass it. If the Licence proficiency check is passed, the expiry date will be extended 1 year from the date when it was due to expire.
A License Proficiency Check is imperative for each type rating on your license if you wish to keep flying each type. keep in mind that Ireland implements SFAR 73 safety awareness training if you fly Robinson R22 or R44 helicopters and this must be signed off in your log book before doing the Licence proficiency check (if applicable).
To renew a type rating means that you have let the type rating lapse and it needs to be renewed. This is not a dilemma as long as it has not expired more than 5 years. If the type rating has expired for less than 5 years, all you need to do is take to the air with an instructor for a minimum of 2 hours and then do the Licence proficiency check. You may be required to take to the air greater than 2 hours to meet the test criteria of the License proficiency check if you have not flown for a long period.
If the type rating has expired for more than 5 years, you will have to do the complete helicopter type rating course again.
The License Proficiency Check (LPC)
The Lpc will require a flight check with an examiner. The flight will normally be between 45 minutes and 1 hour duration. The following flight exercises are included:
Descents and climbs
Straight and level flight
Steep turns (min 30 degrees angle of bank) left and right
Vortex ring recovery
Confined area operations
Autorotations (combinations of "S" turns, datum and/or 360 degree turns) to 500' agl with recovery
Simulated IMC flight (straight and level, turns onto predetermined headings)
Hydraulics off landings
Full down autorotation(s)
Hovering
Spot turns (left and right)
Sideways and backwards flight
Takeoffs and landings (in all wind directions)
Sloped ground takeoffs and landings
Limited power takeoffs and landings
Quickstops
Make sure you know the emergency procedures for the category of aircraft you are flying as you will be quizzed on these. Make sure that you are accustomed with the daily pre-flight checks
It is an effortless procedure to renew or revalidate a type rating. If you are in any doubt about what is involved, talk to your local school or instructor.
Further information may be found at my Helicopter Training Blog. http://helicopterblog.com/?p=455
Author Resource:
John Toal is a very experienced, professional helicopter pilot and instructor with over 6000 hours flight time. For further information on this subject, visit http://helicopterblog.com/?p=455
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