Aircraft variant is a model
EASA has issued the document called EASA Type Ratings and Licence endorsement lists. All the class ratings and type ratings that can be possibly endorsed into the EASA license are listed in that documents. There is a common license endorsment that usually covers wide range of the models constituting into one license entry.
As an example, common licence endorsment for Boeing 737 is license entry called B 737 300-900. That entry covers all models
- Boeing 737-300
- Boeing 737-400
- Boeing 737-500
- Boeing 737-600
- Boeing 737-700
- Boeing 737-800
- Boeing 737-900
- Boeing 737 MAX
There might be additional training required to fly multiple models within same type. So referred to the example, the Boeing 737-300 is an variant of Boeing 737.
Single-engine variants
Same analogy applies for all single pilot non-complex aeroplanes. In this case, the common license endorsement that covers all single pilot single engine aeroplane with piston engine is SEP(land).
All aircraft models falling into the single engine single pilot piston aeroplanes are so-called variants of SEP(Land) class rating - e.g.:
- Cessna 172 is variant of SEP(land) class
- Cessna 152 is variant of SEP(land) class
- Zlin 142 is variant of SEP(land) class
- Piper 28 is variant of SEP(land) class
Multi-engine variants
In this case, the common license endorsement that covers all single pilot multi engine aeroplane with piston engine is MEP(land).
All aircraft models falling into the multi engine single pilot piston aeroplanes are so-called variants of MEP(Land) class rating - e.g.:
- Diamond DA42 is variant of MEP(land) class
- Let L-200 is variant of MEP(land) class
- Piper PA34 is variant of MEP(land) class