This information might be interesting for private individual with recent instrument rating related experience seeking for the  for revalidation of his IR(A) without attending the proficiency check with EASA IRE examiner.

 ⚠️ What is IR revalidation by experience ✈️

Under certain circumstances, the instrument rating for single engine single pilot aeroplanes and multi enringe single pilot aeroplanes can be revalidated without necessity of the class related proficiency check. That option is open for the pilots holding more ratings, especially flying MEP(land) aeroplanes under IFR or any kind of multi pilot aeroplane - such as Boeing 737 or Bombardier CRJ seriesRevalidation of IR based on previous experience, is called cross crediting of the IR part of class rating or type rating proficiency check.

How the Instrument rating cross credit works ✅

Cross-crediting of the instrument rating part of a class rating or type rating proficiency check is described in Appendix 8 to Part FCL. It is important to mention that credits for instrument rating proficiency check shall be granted only if holders are revalidating or renewing IR privileges for single-pilot single engine and single-pilot multi-engine aeroplanes, as appropriate.

Multi pilot and single pilot typerating 

Following applies if you are a holder of any multi pilot typerating such as Boeing 737 300-900 or Bombardier CL65 or you are a holder of single-pilot high performance complex aeroplane type rating such as Cessna 525 Citation.

In that case you can use the instrument rating cross credit for single engine instrument rating and multi engine instrument rating under following conditions:

  • SE class rating (*)  - such as SEP(Land)
  • SE type rating (*)  - such as Pilatus PC12
  • SP ME class or type rating except for high-performance complex  type ratings - such as MEP(land) only credits for Section 3B of the proficiency check in point B.5 of Appendix 9 to Part FCL 

* Provided that within the preceding 12 months you have flown at least 3 IFR departures and approaches exercising PBN privileges, including at least one RNP APCH approach on an single pilot class rating or type rating of aeroplane in single pilot operations, or, for multi-engine, other than HP complex aeroplanes, the applicants have passed Section 6 of the skill test for single pilot, other than high performance complex aeroplanes flown solely by reference to instruments in single pilot operations.

Single pilot class rating SPO

Following applies if you are a holder of any single pilot multi engine class rating - such as MEP(land).

In that case you can use the instrument rating cross credit for single engine instrument rating and multi engine instrument rating under following conditions:

  • SE class rating  - such as SEP(Land)
  • SE type rating  - such as Pilatus PC12
  • SP ME class or type rating except for high-performance complex aeroplane type ratings

In case you have successfully passed the EASA instrument rating proficiency check on the multi engine piston aeroplanes - MEP(land)/IR, this proficiency check allow to fly also the single-engine piston aeroplanes SEP(Land) IFR.

Single pilot class rating MPO

Following applies if you are a holder of any single pilot multi engine aeroplane class rating or type rating except for high performance complex aeroplane type ratings, restricted to multi-pilot operations

In that case you can use the instrument rating cross credit for single engine instrument rating and multi engine instrument rating under following conditions:

  • SE class rating (*)  - such as SEP(Land)
  • SE type rating (*)  - such as Pilatus PC12
  • SP ME class or type rating except for high-performance complex  type ratings(*) 

* Provided that within the preceding 12 months you have flown at least 3 IFR departures and approaches exercising PBN privileges, including at least one RNP APCH approach on an single pilot class rating or type rating of aeroplane in single pilot operations, or, for multi-engine, other than HP complex aeroplanes, the applicants have passed Section 6 of the skill test for single pilot, other than high performance complex aeroplanes flown solely by reference to instruments in single pilot operations.

Single engine class rating SPO

Following applies if you are a holder of any single pilot single engine aeroplane class rating or type rating.

In that case you can use the instrument rating cross credit for single engine instrument rating under following conditions:

  • SE class rating - such as SEP(Land)
  • SE type rating  - such as Pilatus PC12

Validity of Instrument rating 

Instrument rating if revalidated considering previous experience is valid for 12 months (1 year). Instrument rating can be again revalidated within period of 90 day immedieately preceding the expiry date. 

Specific case is in case of single engine class ratings. Class rating e.g. SEP(land) has a validity of 24 months (2 years) whilst single engine related instrument rating has validity only for 12 months (1 year). This is usually done by endorsing stand-alone IR(A)/SE(SPA) with the validity period of 1 year (12 months) and stand-alone class rating SEP(land) for 2 years (24 months). Both revalidations can be done by experience (no actual flight is needed).