SEP class rating revalidation by experience (FCL.740.A) explained
12 hours, 6 PIC, 12 landings and a 1-hour flight with an instructor: how to keep your SEP rating valid without a check flight.
A single-engine piston (SEP) class rating is valid for 24 months. To keep it, you either fly a proficiency check with an examiner, or you revalidate by experience, which most private pilots prefer.
The requirements (FCL.740.A(b)(1))
To revalidate an SEP or TMG rating by experience, within the 12 months before the rating expires you need:
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Flight time in the class | 12 hours |
| of which as pilot in command | 6 hours |
| Take-offs | 12 |
| Landings | 12 |
| Refresher training with an FI or CRI | 1 hour of flight time |
The alternative is a proficiency check with an examiner within the 3 months before expiry.
Pilots who passed a proficiency check, skill test or assessment of competence in another class or type of aeroplane in that period can be exempt from the refresher training flight. Check the current wording for your situation.
SEP and TMG together
If you hold both an SEP (land) class rating and a TMG rating, you can meet the requirements in either class or with a combination of both, and both ratings are revalidated.
A worked example
Your SEP rating expires on 30 June 2027. The 12-month window therefore runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. During that time you log:
- 14:20 hours on SEP aeroplanes, 8:05 of them as PIC ✓
- 15 take-offs and 15 landings ✓
- A 1:10 training flight with your FI in March 2027 ✓
You meet all requirements, so your rating can be revalidated for another 24 months.
Getting the new date into your licence
How the revalidation is entered depends on your authority. In many states an examiner checks your logbook and signs the revalidation section of your licence; some authorities process it themselves. Ask your authority or your club’s examiner, and bring a logbook printout that clearly shows the hours, take-offs and landings in the window.
Common pitfalls
- Counting the wrong window. The 12 months end on the expiry date, not on the day you look.
- Forgetting the training flight. Hours alone are not enough; the 1-hour flight with an FI or CRI is required unless an exemption applies.
- Mixing classes. MEP or helicopter hours do not count towards an SEP revalidation.
Let the logbook count for you
flightlogbook.cloud checks FCL.740.A SEP/TMG revalidation by experience automatically: it shows your hours, PIC time, take-offs and landings in the current window, whether the training flight is logged, and what is still missing before your expiry date. It also tracks your 90-day passenger recency and medical validity.
Frequently asked questions
Does the training flight count towards the 12 hours?
Yes. The refresher training flight with an FI or CRI is flight time in the class and counts towards the 12 hours and the take-offs and landings you fly yourself.
Can I combine SEP and TMG hours?
Yes. If you hold both an SEP (land) class rating and a TMG rating, you may meet the requirements in either class or a combination of both, and revalidate both ratings.
What happens if my SEP rating has expired?
Then you need a renewal instead of a revalidation: refresher training as required, followed by a proficiency check with an examiner.
This guide explains the rules in plain language and is not legal advice. Regulations change and national authorities may add requirements, so always check the current text in EASA’s Easy Access Rules for Aircrew and ask your authority if in doubt.