Above: CAA offices, Gatwick.
Copyright CAA
 
EASA has advised Member States that they can issue a temporary exemption to allow existing National pilot licence and medical arrangements to continue after 8 April 2018, (this will not affect the conversion terms as published in CAP804, Part I, Section 4, Part P).  This allows pilots to continue to fly EASA aircraft as they do now.  This latest change is expected to be included in the delayed Aircrew Regulation amendment and details are being finalised by EASA.

 
As a temporary arrangement from 8 April 2018 until 7 June 2018, the CAA will issue an exemption which will enable GA pilots holding appropriate UK National pilot licences and medical certificates (not currently medical declarations) to fly certain EASA GA aircraft with Light Aircraft Pilot’s Licence (LAPL) privileges (see below) in the UK but without holding an EASA pilot licence.
 
This mostly affects fixed wing pilots as an EASA helicopter type rating can only be added to a Part-FCL pilot licence and not a UK National licence.
 
Pilots are reminded that the continued use of UK National pilot licences under this new exemption is restricted to LAPL privileges only.  If a pilot wishes to fly an EASA aircraft with PPL privileges then they will need to hold a valid Part-FCL PPL.  Pilots towing or flying aerobatics within LAPL privileges may continue to do so.
 
This is a temporary arrangement until 7 June 2018 and the CAA will receive further details from EASA to see if this can be extended.  The CAA will update its website and publications once further details are available.
As a reminder to pilots, LAPL privileges are restricted to:
 
• for aeroplanes: to act as Pilot in Command (PIC) on single-engine piston aeroplanes-land or Touring Motor Gliders (TMGs) with a maximum certificated take-off mass of 2 000 kg or less, carrying a maximum of 3 passengers, such that there are never more than 4 persons on board of the aircraft.
 
• for helicopters: to act as PIC on single-engine helicopters with a maximum certificated take-off mass of 2 000 kg or less, carrying a maximum of 3 passengers, such that there are never more than 4 persons on board.
 
The CAA will publish the UK exemption on its website as an official record and pilots are strongly recommended to read them here .
 
GA pilots already holding Part-FCL PPL and LAPL pilot licences are reminded of the new exemption arrangements allowing them to operate certain EASA aeroplanes, helicopters and TMGs up to LAPL privileges in the UK with a Medical Declaration.  Details are here.  This exemption will be updated shortly with agreement from the Department for Transport to also allow UK National licence conversions to EASA equivalents using a medical declaration: allow flights within the Crown Dependencies (with their permission); and Medical Declarations to be used with EASA PPL and LAPL pilot licences issued before 8 April 2018.