Differences Training
Q. When do I need differences training?
A. If you hold an SEP Class Rating on a UK FCL licence and want to fly an SEP aeroplane with any of the following:
- VP prop
- Retractable landing gear
- Tailwheel
- Pressurisation
- Super- or turbo-charging
- EFIS
- Single lever power control (SLPC) – eg a Da40
- Electric aeroplane
- Microlight
- Autopilot/Electric trim
- Moving from SLPC to conventional throttle
- Moving from EFIS to conventional instruments (recommended)
- Moving to a different EFIS – eg Garmin to Avidyne (recommended)
A. If you hold an SEP or SSEA Class Rating on a UK National Licence or NPPL and want to fly an SEP aeroplane with any of the following:
- VP prop
- Retractable landing gear
- Tailwheel
- Tricycle undercarriage
- Pressurisation
- Super- or turbo-charging
- Maximum continuous cruise speed of greater than 140 kt IAS (NPPL only)
- Electric aeroplane
- Microlight
Q. Do I need to go to a ATO or DTO for differences training?
A. No, differences training for SEP, SET and MEP can be done outside of an ATO or DTO by a suitably qualified FI or CRI.
Q. What does differences training entail?
A. Legally, ‘Training on an aeroplane or suitable training device’. The instructor will decide exactly what form the training should take. There is extensive guidance in Part-FCL
Q. How is differences training recorded?
A. The instructor’s signature in your logbook. The CAA provide stickers for this purpose, although a handwritten entry is fine.
Q. How long does differences training last?
A. In an SEP aeroplane it lasts indefinitely.
Q. Do I need differences training moving from a C152 to a Pa28?
A. No. You need familiarisation. That does not require training by an instructor, but it is probably advisable.
Q. Is differences training the same for MEP aeroplanes?
A. No. Each type within the MEP class requires differences training. So, if you’re qualified on the Seneca and want to fly the Seminole, you need differences training. Also, MEP differences training lapses after 2 years unless you stay in flying practice on the type.
Q. What sort of systems require EFIS differences training?
A. An Integrated EFIS Display requiring differences training is an electronic presentation of the primary flight instruments that presents gyroscopic instrument, pressure instrument and navigation information, that is used by the pilot as a primary reference for control of the aircraft in flight. If only the AI and DI have been replaced by electronic instruments (like a G5), this is not an EFIS display.
Q. If I have done EFIS differences training, do I have to do it again if I want to fly an aeroplane with a different design of EFIS?
A. Pilots should undergo further differences training if they are converting to another Integrated EFIS Display, whether or not the same manufacturer produces the new system. Instructors should undergo familiarisation if they are converting between EFIS systems.
UK FCL Licence with a SEP or TMG class rating – revalidation and renewal
Q. What’s the difference between ‘revalidation’ and ‘renewal’?
A. Revalidation takes place while the rating is still current. Renewal happens once the rating has expired.
Q. When can I revalidate my SEP or TMG class rating by experience?
A. At any time during the last 12 months of the rating’s validity, once you have achieved the necessary experience.
Q. What experience do I need?
A. In the 2-year period of the rating’s validity you must:
- Fly 12 hours in the class
- Of which 6 hours in the final 12 months
- Of which at least 6 hours in the 2 year period must be PIC
- Including 12 take-offs and landings
- Within the 12 hours, fly one hour of refresher training with an instructor
Q. What if I hold both a current TMG and a current SEP class rating?
A. You can use flying on either class to meet the revalidation by experience requirements for both.
Q. I hold a TMG rating. Can I use this rating to fly self-launching sailplanes that are not TMG?
A. No. To fly a self-launching sailplane which is not a TMG, you need an SPL with sailplane and self-launch endorsements.
Q. For an SEP class rating, must all of the experience be in Part 21 SEP aeroplanes?
A. No. The hours may be flown in a non-Part 21 aeroplane, including 3-axis microlights.
Q. Can I use a non-Part 21 aeroplane for the one hour of refresher training?
A. Yes. You can use a non-Part 21 aeroplane, including a 3-axis a microlight.
Q. I’ve done four 15-minute club checkouts with an instructor in the last 2 years, do they count as my one hour of dual training?
A. No. The requirement is now that it should be a single, one-hour flight. It may be split into 2 flights for operational or aircraft reasons, but no more than that
Q. Are there alternatives to the one hour of refresher training?
A. It can be replaced by any skill test, proficiency check or assessment of competence for a Part-FCL type/class rating or certificate in any other class or type.
Q. If I meet all of the requirements, who can sign my licence?
A. Any UK FCL examiner can sign your licence and help you to complete the form that needs to be sent to the CAA (SRG1107). Most UK instructors can also do this (if they have FCL.945 in their licence), but they must have flown at least some of the one-hour refresher flying with you.
Q. I have both an SEP and TMG class rating. Does the instructor or examiner who signs my licence for revalidation by experience also need to hold both ratings?
A. No.
Q. What if my SEP or TMG rating has expired or I can’t meet the experience requirements?
A. You cannot renew by experience; you need to fly a proficiency check with an examiner (a Flight Examiner or a Class Rating Examiner).
Q. If my rating has expired, are there any other requirements?
A. Yes. You will need to go to a DTO or ATO (or a CRI or FI if the rating has expired by less than 3 years) for them to assess if you need any retraining. Even if you don’t, they will need to sign a form saying that.
Q. My SEP rating is current but my TMG rating has expired. Can I still revalidate both by experience?
A. No, once a rating has expired, it can only be renewed by proficiency check.
Q. What’s the content of a SEP or TMG proficiency check?
A. It has 5 sections:
- Departure: pre-flight planning including - met, NOTAMS, mass and balance, performance, TEM; pre-flight checks; start-up; taxy; take-off
- Airwork: steep turns and stalling
- Navigation: a leg of around 15 minutes
- Circuits: normal; flapless; go around; maybe a glide
- Emergencies: rejected take-off; EFATO; PFL; maybe a system failure or fire
Q. Will the examiner sign my licence if I pass?
A. Normally ‘Yes’. However, if your old SEP or TMG class rating is not shown in Section XII on the front of the licence, you will need to apply for a new licence from the CAA, with the appropriate fee. However, in that case the examiner can give you a temporary class rating certificate valid for 8 weeks.
Q. What happens if I do the proficiency check before my rating expires and I fail?
A. You cannot exercise the privileges of the rating until you fully pass the proficiency check.
Q. If I’m revalidating my rating by proficiency check, what expiry date will the examiner write in my licence?
A. If you fly the check within 3 months of the expiry date of the current rating, then the new rating will run to 2 years after that expiry date. If you fly the check earlier than 3 months before the expiry date, the new expiry date will be 2 years after the check date, extended to the end of the month.
UK National (ie not FCL) PPL (Aeroplane) with a SEP, SSEA, Microlight, TMG or SLMG class rating – revalidation and renewal
Q. What are the rules for revalidating or renewing my ratings on a National PPL?
A. They are essentially the same as for a Part FCL PPL except:
ORS4 1651 allows an FCL examiner or an FCL.945 instructor to sign your Certificate of Revalidation when you revalidate by experience. Additionally, an ‘R’ or ‘GR’ examiner can sign.
UK NPPL with an SSEA, SEP, SLMG, TMG class rating – revalidation and renewal
Q. What are the rules for revalidating or renewing my SSEA/SEP rating on a NPPL?
A. They are similar to those for an SEP rating on other UK licences. But see the following FAQs
Q. Are the NPPL class rating revalidation experience requirements the same as for other National licences?
A. Yes.
Q. Section XII of my licence says that I hold SSEA and SLMG ratings but my revalidation instructor/examiner has written SEP and TMG on the certificate of revalidation. Is that correct?
A. Yes. As of 1st October 2025, all SSEA ratings were deemed to be SEP ratings and all SLMG ratings were deemed to be TMG ratings. You can no longer fly self-launching sailplanes that are not also TMGs.
Q. What if I hold a current SSEA/SEP class rating and one or more of a current SLMG/TMG and Microlight class rating?
A. You can revalidate all of the ratings together by experience. Experience in any of the classes will count towards the 12 hour and 6 hour totals required. The dual training flight can be in any one of the classes.
Q. What happens if I have not flown 1 hour of refresher training with an instructor?
A. Your ratings can still be revalidated, but they will be endorsed “single seat only”
Q. If my rating is endorsed “single seat only”, can I fly solo in a 2-seater aeroplane?
A. No. “Single seat only” means exactly that – the aeroplane only has one seat.
Q. If I meet the revalidation by experience requirements, who can sign my licence?
A. ORS4 1651 allows an FCL examiner or an FCL.945 instructor to sign your Certificate of Revalidation when you revalidate by experience. Additionally, an ‘R’ or ‘GR’ examiner can sign.
Q. If my SSEA/SEP rating has expired or I am not going to meet the experience requirements, what do I need to do?
A. You need to fly a General Skill Test (GST) with an examiner (a Flight Examiner or a Class Rating Examiner).
Q. If I’m revalidating my rating by GST, what expiry date will the examiner write in my licence?
A. If you fly the GST within 3 months of the expiry date of the current rating, then the new rating will run to 2 years after that expiry date. If you fly the GST earlier than 3 months before the expiry date, the new expiry date will be 2 years after the GST date, extended to the end of the month.
Q. Both my SSEA/SEP and SLMG/TMG ratings have expired. How many GSTs do I need to do?
A. You need a separate GST for each rating, each flown with an appropriately certified examiner.