FCL.805 Sailplane towing and banner towing ratings

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

IRImplementing rule

FCL.805Sailplane towing and banner towing ratings

(a)Holders of a pilot licence with privileges to fly aeroplanes or TMGs shall only tow sailplanes or banners when they hold the appropriate sailplane towing or banner towing rating.

(b)Applicants for a sailplane towing rating shall have completed:

(1)at least 30 hours of flight time as PIC and 60 take-offs and landings in aeroplanes, if the activity is to be carried out in aeroplanes, or in TMGs, if the activity is to be carried out in TMGs, completed after the issue of the licence;

(2)a training course at a DTO or at an ATO, including:

(i)theoretical knowledge instruction on towing operations and procedures;

(ii)at least 10 instruction flights towing a sailplane, including at least 5 dual instruction flights; and

(iii)except for holders of an SPL in accordance with Annex III (Part-SFCL) to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976, 5 familiarisation flights in a sailplane which is launched by an aircraft.

(c)Applicants for a banner towing rating shall have completed:

(1)at least 100 hours of flight time and 200 take-offs and landings as PIC on aeroplanes or TMG, after the issue of the licence. At least 30 of these hours shall be in aeroplanes, if the activity is to be carried out in aeroplanes, or in TMG, if the activity is to be carried out in TMGs;

(2)a training course at a DTO or at an ATO including:

(i)theoretical knowledge instruction on towing operations and procedures;

(ii)at least 10 instruction flights towing a banner, including at least 5 dual flights.

(d)The privileges of the sailplane and banner towing ratings shall be limited to aeroplanes or TMGs appropriately to aircraft on which the flight instruction was completed. For banner towing, the privileges shall be limited to the towing method used for flight instruction. The privileges shall be extended if pilots have successfully completed at least three dual training flights covering the full towing training syllabus in either aircraft and towing method for banner towing.

(e)In order to exercise the privileges of the sailplane or banner towing ratings, the holder of the rating shall have completed a minimum of 5 tows during the last 24 months.

(f)When the pilot does not comply with the requirement in (e), before resuming the exercise of his/her privileges, the pilot shall complete the missing tows with or under the supervision of an instructor.

(g)Applicants for a sailplane towing or banner towing rating on TMGs in accordance with this point shall receive full credit towards the requirements of paragraph (b) or (c), as applicable, if they hold a sailplane towing or banner towing rating in accordance with point SFCL.205 of Annex III (PartSFCL) to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976, as applicable, or if they have fulfilled all the requirements for the issue of that rating.

IR · FCL.805 — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · Regulation (EU) 2020/359 · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 FCL.805Sailplane towing and banner towing rating

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THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE AND FLYING TRAINING

(a)The aim of the towing instruction is to qualify licence holders to tow banners or sailplanes.

(b)The DTO or the ATO should issue a certificate of satisfactory completion of the instruction to licence endorsement.

(c)Theoretical knowledge: towing of sailplanes The theoretical knowledge syllabus for towing of sailplanes should cover the revision or explanation of:

(1)regulations about towing flights;

(2)equipment for the towing activity;

(3)sailplane towing techniques, including:

(i)signals and communication procedures;

(ii)take-off (normal and crosswind);

(iii)in-flight launch procedures;

(iv)descending on tow;

(v)sailplane release procedure;

(vi)tow rope release procedure;

(vii)landing with tow rope connected (if applicable);

(viii)emergency procedures during tow, including equipment malfunctions;

(ix)safety procedures;

(x)flight performance of the applicable aircraft type when towing sailplanes;

(xi)look-out and collision avoidance;

(xii)performance data sailplanes, including:

(A)suitable speeds;

(B)stall characteristics in turns.

(d)Theoretical knowledge: banner towing The theoretical knowledge syllabus for banner towing should cover the revision or explanation of:

(1)regulations about banner towing;

(2)equipment for the banner towing activity;

(3)ground crew coordination;

(4)pre-flight procedures;

(5)banner towing techniques, including:

(i)take-off launch;

(ii)banner pickup manoeuvres;

(iii)flying with a banner in tow;

(iv)release procedure;

(v)landing with a banner in tow (if applicable);

(vi)emergency procedures during tow, including equipment malfunctions;

(vii)safety procedures;

(viii)flight performance of the applicable aircraft type when towing a heavy or light banner;

(ix)prevention of stall during towing operations.

(e)Flying training: towing of sailplanes The exercises of the towing training syllabus for towing sailplanes should be repeated as necessary until the student achieves a safe and competent standard and should comprise at least the following practical training items:

(1)take-off procedures (normal and crosswind take-offs);

(2)360° circles on tow with a bank of 30° and more;

(3)descending on tow;

(4)release procedure of the sailplane;

(5)landing with the tow rope connected (if applicable);

(6)tow rope release procedure in-flight;

(7)emergency procedures (simulation);

(8)signals and communication during tow.

(f)Flying training: banner towing The exercises of the towing training syllabus for banner towing should be repeated as necessary until the student achieves a safe and competent standard and should comprise at least the following practical training items:

(1)pickup manoeuvres;

(2)towing in-flight techniques;

(3)release procedures;

(4)flight at critically low air speeds;

(5)maximum performance manoeuvres;

(6)emergency manoeuvres to include equipment malfunctions (simulated);

(7)specific banner towing safety procedures;

(8)go-around with the banner connected;

(9)loss of engine power with the banner attached (simulated).

AMC · AMC1 FCL.805 — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2018/009/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

All rules in SUBPART I – ADDITIONAL 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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