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FCL.720.A Experience requirements and prerequisites for the issue of class or type ratings – aeroplanes

ANNEX I (Part-FCL) · Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

IRImplementing rule

FCL.720.AExperience requirements and prerequisites for the issue of class or type ratings – aeroplanes

Unless otherwise determined in the operational suitability data established in accordance with Annex I (Part-21) to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 (OSD), applicants for the issue of a class or type rating shall comply with the following experience requirements and prerequisites for the issue of the relevant rating:

(a)Single-pilot aeroplanes

(1)Single-pilot multi-engine aeroplanes Applicants for the issue of a first class or type rating on a single-pilot multi-engine aeroplane shall have completed at least 70 hours as PIC in aeroplanes.

(2)Single-pilot high-performance non-complex aeroplanes Before starting flight training, applicants for the issue of a class or type rating for a single-pilot aeroplane classified as a high-performance aeroplane shall:

(i)have at least 200 hours of total flying experience, of which 70 hours as PIC in aeroplanes; and

(ii)comply with one of the following requirements:

(A)hold a certificate of satisfactory completion of a course for additional theoretical knowledge undertaken at an ATO; or

(B)have passed the ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge examinations in accordance with this Annex (Part-FCL); or

(C)hold, in addition to a licence issued in accordance with this Annex (Part-FCL), an ATPL(A) or CPL(A)/IR with theoretical knowledge credit for ATPL(A), issued in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention.

(3)Single-pilot high-performance complex aeroplanes Applicants for the issue of a type rating for a complex single-pilot aeroplane classified as a high-performance aeroplane shall, in addition to meeting the requirements in point (2), comply with all of the following:

(i)they shall hold or have held a single- or multi-engine IR(A), as appropriate and as established in Subpart G;

(ii)for the issue of the first type rating, they shall, before starting the type rating training course, meet the requirements in point (b)(5).

(b)Applicants for the issue of the first type rating for a multi-pilot aeroplane shall be student pilots currently undergoing training on an MPL training course or shall, before starting the type rating training course, comply with the following requirements:

(1)have at least 70 hours of flight experience as PIC in aeroplanes;

(2)hold or have held a multi-engine IR(A);

(3)have passed the ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge examinations in accordance with this Annex (Part-FCL);

(4)except when the type rating course is combined with an MCC course:

(i)hold a certificate of satisfactory completion of an MCC course in aeroplanes; or

(ii)hold a certificate of satisfactory completion of MCC in helicopters and have more than 100 hours of flight experience as pilots of multi-pilot helicopters; or

(iii)have at least 500 hours as pilots of multi-pilot helicopters; or

(iv)have at least 500 hours as pilots in multi-pilot operations on single-pilot multi-engine aeroplanes, in commercial air transport in accordance with the applicable air operations requirements; and

(5)have completed the training course specified in point FCL.745.A, unless they comply with any of the following:

(i)they completed, within the preceding 3 years, the training and checking in accordance with points ORO.FC.220 or ORO.FC.230 of Annex III (Part-ORO) to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012;

(ii)they have completed the training specified in point FCL.915(e)(1)(ii).

(c)Notwithstanding point FCL.720.A(b), applicants who comply with Section B, point 6(i), of Appendix 9 shall be issued with a type rating with restricted privileges for a multi-pilot aeroplane that allows holders of such a rating to act as cruise relief co-pilots above Flight Level 200, provided that two other members of the crew have a type rating in accordance with point FCL.720.A(b). To remove the restriction, applicants shall comply with all of the following:

(1)undergo an assessment at an ATO which shall determine their training needs to have the restriction removed;

(2)based on the assessment specified in point (1), complete, at that ATO, training which shall allow them to reach the level of proficiency to safely operate the aircraft;

(3)after the completion of the training specified in point (2), complete a skill test in accordance with Appendix 9;

(4)after the completion of the skill test specified in point (3), meet one of the following conditions:

(i)comply with point ORO.FC.220(e) of Annex III (Part-ORO) to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, provided that they meet the experience requirements specified in point FCL.730.A of this Annex;

(ii)complete flight training in the aircraft which includes manoeuvres on take-off, landing and go-around.

(d)When so determined in the OSD, the exercise of the privileges of a type rating may be initially limited to flight under the supervision of an instructor. The flight hours under supervision shall be entered in the pilots' logbook or equivalent record and signed by the instructor. The limitation shall be removed when pilots demonstrate that the hours of flight under supervision required in the OSD have been completed.

IR · FCL.720.A — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · Regulation (EU) 2024/2076 · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 FCL.720.A(a)(2)(ii)(A) Experience requirements and prerequisites for the issue of class or type ratings – aeroplanes

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ADDITIONAL THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR A CLASS OR TYPE RATING FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE SINGLE-PILOT (SP) AEROPLANES

(a)A number of aeroplanes certificated for SP operation have similar performances, systems and navigation capabilities to those more usually associated with MP types of aeroplanes, and regularly operate within the same airspace. The level of knowledge required to operate safely in this environment is not part of, or not included to the necessary depth of knowledge in the training syllabi for the PPL, CPL or IR(A) but these licence holders may fly as PIC of such aeroplanes. The additional theoretical knowledge required to operate such aeroplanes safely is obtained by completion of a course at an ATO.

(b)The aim of the theoretical knowledge course is to provide the applicant with sufficient knowledge of those aspects of the operation of aeroplanes capable of operating at high speeds and altitudes, and the aircraft systems necessary for such operation.

COURSE SYLLABUS

(c)The course will be divided in a VFR and an IFR part, and should cover at least the following items of the aeroplane syllabus to the ATPL(A) level: FOR VFR OPERATIONS:

Subject ref.:Syllabus content:
021 00 00 00AIRCRAFT GENERAL KNOWLEGDE: AIRFRAME, SYSTEMS, AND POWER PLANT
021 09 01 03 021 09 03 00 021 09 03 02 021 09 03 03 021 09 04 00 021 09 04 01 021 09 04 03 021 09 04 04Alternating current Generation AC generation Constant speed drive (CSD) and integrated drive generator (IDG) systems Distribution General AC distribution Electrical load management and monitoring systems: automatic generators and bus switching during normal and failure operation, indications and warnings
021 06 01 01Piston-engine air supply
021 06 01 02Gas turbine engine: bleed-air supply
021 10 10 01 021 11 03 01 021 10 04 01 021 03 01 09Performance Engine fuel system Carburettor: design, operation, degraded modes of operation, indications and warnings Mixture
021 11 00 00 to 021 11 01 04Turbine engines
021 13 00 00Oxygen systems
032 03 00 00Performance class B: ME aeroplanes
032 03 03 01 032 03 03 02 032 03 03 04 032 01 03 00 032 01 04 00 032 01 05 00 032 02 04 00Take-off Climb Landing Level flight, range and endurance Climbing Descending Climb, cruise and descent
040 00 00 00HUMAN PERFORMANCE
040 02 01 00 to 040 02 01 03Basic human physiology and High-altitude environment
050 00 00 00METEOROLOGY
050 02 07 00 050 02 05 00Jet streams Standing waves
050 09 01 00 to 050 09 04 05Flight hazards Icing and turbulence Thunderstorms
062 03 00 00Basic radar principles
062 03 00 01 to 062 03 04 00Basic radar principles Airborne radar SSR
081 00 00 00PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT: AEROPLANES
081 02 01 00 081 02 02 00 081 02 03 00Speeds Shock waves Effects of exceeding MCRIT

FOR IFR OPERATIONS

Subject ref.:Syllabus content:
010 00 00 00AIR LAW
010 06 07 00Simultaneous operation on parallel or near-parallel instrument runways
010 06 08 00Secondary surveillance radar (transponder) operating procedures
022 00 00 00AIRCRAFT GENERAL KNOWLEDGE - INSTRUMENTATION
022 01 02 00Temperature sensing
022 03 04 00Flux valve
022 12 00 00ALERTING SYSTEMS, PROXIMITY SYSTEMS
022 12 07 00Altitude alert system
022 12 08 00Radio-altimeter
022 12 10 00ACAS/TCAS principles and operation
022 13 03 01Electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) — Design, operation
050 00 00 00METEOROLOGY
050 02 06 03Clear-air turbulence (CAT) - Description, cause and location
050 10 02 03Upper-air charts
062 00 00 00RADIO NAVIGATION
062 02 05 04ILS — Errors and accuracy

(d)Demonstration of acquisition of this knowledge is undertaken by passing an examination set by an ATO. A successful pass of this examination results in the issue of a certificate indicating that the course and examination have been completed.

(e)The certificate represents a ‘once only’ qualification and satisfies the requirement for the addition of all future high performance aeroplanes to the holder’s licence. The certificate is valid indefinitely and is to be submitted with the application for the first HPA type or class rating.

(f)A pass in any theoretical knowledge subjects as part of the HPA course will not be credited against meeting future theoretical examination requirements for issue of a CPL(A), IR(A) or ATPL(A).

(g)The applicant who has completed a competency-based modular IR(A) course in accordance with Appendix 6 Aa or, before 8 September 2021, an EIR course in accordance with point FCL.825 needs to complete both VFR and IFR parts of this course.

(h)The applicant who has completed a modular IR(A) course according to Appendix 6 A only needs to complete the VFR part of this course.

AMC · AMC1 FCL.720.A(a)(2)(ii) — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2025/002/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC2 FCL.720.A(a)(2)(ii)(A) Experience requirements and prerequisites for the issue of class or type ratings – aeroplanes

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ADDITIONAL THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR A CLASS OR TYPE RATING FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE SINGLE-PILOT (SP) AEROPLANES An applicant for an additional class or type rating for a single-pilot aeroplane classified as a high-performance aeroplane (HPA), who:

(a)has held a single-pilot HPA class or type rating prior to the application of Commission Regulation (EU) No 245/2014; and

(b)has completed a competency-based modular IR(A) course in accordance with Appendix 6 Aa or, before 8 September 2021, an EIR course in accordance with point FCL.825; and

(c)does not fulfil the requirements of points (B) or (C) of point FCL.720.A(a)(2)(ii), should pass the theoretical knowledge instruction and examination for the VFR and IFR parts of the course required in accordance with point FCL.720.A(a)(2)(ii)(A).

AMC · AMC2 FCL.720.A(a)(2)(ii) — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2025/002/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 FCL.720.A(c)(4)(ii)Experience requirements and prerequisites for the issue of class or type ratings — aeroplanes

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TRAINING ON TAKE-OFF, LANDING AND GO-AROUND MANOEUVRES The ATO where the pilot is undergoing the training in accordance with point FCL.720.A (c)(4)(ii) should determine the number of take-off, landing and go-around manoeuvres, which should in any case comply with point (k) of AMC2 ORA.ATO.125.

AMC · AMC1 FCL.720.A(c)(4)(ii) — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2025/002/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

All rules in SUBPART H – CLASS AND TYPE RATINGS

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 25 Nov 2025, extracted 17 Aug 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

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