EASA instrument rating revalidation and renewal (FCL.625)

How long an EASA IR lasts and when to revalidate

FCL.625(a): "An IR shall be valid for 1 year." FCL.625(b)(1): "An IR shall be revalidated within the 3 months immediately preceding its expiry date by complying with the revalidation criteria for the relevant aircraft category." FCL.625(b)(2): "If applicants choose to fulfil the revalidation requirements earlier than prescribed in point (1), the new validity period shall commence from the date of the proficiency check."

Read together, a check inside the 3-month window carries the IR forward from its old expiry date, and an earlier check restarts the year on the day of the check. FCL.625(b)(4) gives full credit for the IR proficiency check when you complete EBT practical assessment related to the IR at an EBT operator.

Part-FCL has no rolling approach count for the IR, unlike the FAA 6-approaches rule in 61.57(c). The proficiency check is what keeps an EASA IR valid. A valid IR also removes the night takeoff and landing requirement for PIC under FCL.060(b)(2).

Combining the IR with your type or class rating check

FCL.625.A(a) requires you to "(1) hold the relevant class or type rating, unless the IR revalidation is combined with the renewal of the relevant class or type rating; (2) pass a proficiency check in accordance with Appendix 9, or complete EBT practical assessment in accordance with Appendix 10, if the IR revalidation is combined with the revalidation of a class or type rating". FCL.740.A(a)(4) confirms from the rating side that the IR(A) revalidation "may be combined with a proficiency check for the revalidation of a class or type rating".

This is how most airline pilots keep the IR: the annual licence proficiency check in the simulator covers both. Keep the two expiry dates in view, because the rating and the IR can drift apart after an early check or a renewal.

If you fail the IR part, FCL.625(b)(3) says you "shall exercise the IR privileges only if they have passed the IR proficiency check". For a stand-alone revalidation on single-pilot aeroplanes, FCL.625.A(a)(3) needs section 3b and the relevant parts of section 1 of the Appendix 9 check, or, for multi-engine aeroplanes, section 6 flown by sole reference to instruments. An FNPT II or FFS may be used, "provided that at least each alternate proficiency check for the revalidation of an IR(A) is performed in an aeroplane".

Cross-crediting a multi-pilot IR to single-pilot aeroplanes (Appendix 8)

Appendix 8 credits the IR part of one check toward another. A check including the IR on a multi-pilot type rating gives credit toward the IR part of the proficiency check for an SE class rating, an SE type rating, and single-pilot multi-engine class or type ratings (Section 3B only), all marked with an asterisk in the table.

The asterisk carries a condition: "Provided that within the preceding 12 months the applicants have flown at least three IFR departures and approaches exercising PBN privileges, including at least one RNP APCH approach on an SP class or type of aeroplane in SP operations". An airline captain who flies a private single under IFR needs those 3 PBN departures and approaches, including 1 RNP APCH, in a single-pilot aeroplane in the last 12 months before the credit applies. For single-pilot multi-engine aeroplanes the footnote also accepts a pass in Section 6 of the single-pilot skill test flown by sole reference to instruments.

If your IR has expired: renewal and the 7-year rule

FCL.625(c) sets the renewal steps: an assessment "at an ATO" or "at an EBT operator that is specifically approved for such refresher training", refresher training if that organisation finds it necessary, then a proficiency check under Appendix 9 or EBT practical assessment under Appendix 10. You must also hold the relevant class or type rating, and FCL.625(f) lets the IR renewal check be combined with the renewal of that rating. AMC1 FCL.625(c) has the ATO size the training to your experience and the time since you last used the rating.

FCL.625(d): "If the IR has not been revalidated or renewed in the preceding 7 years, applicants for the IR shall pass again the IR theoretical knowledge examination and skill test." FCL.625(e) exempts holders of a valid IR on an ICAO licence from a third country from the assessment, the refresher training and the 7-year rule when renewing.

The IR date also drives your ATPL theory credit. FCL.025(c)(2) keeps ATPL theory passes valid for 7 years from the last validity date of an IR entered in the licence, so a pilot still short of the ATPL hours should keep the IR alive.