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The privileges of a Synthetic Flight Examiner (SFE) certificate for aeroplanes allows an examiner to carry out the following privileges in an FFS, or for the assessments in point (5) below on the applicable FSTD:

  • Skill tests and proficiency checks for the issue, revalidation or renewal of type ratings for aeroplanes as applicable
  • Proficiency checks for the revalidation or renewal of IRs if combined with the revalidation or renewal of a type rating, provided they have passed a proficiency check for the aircraft type including the instrument rating within the last year
  • Skill tests for ATPL(A) issue
  • Skill tests for MPL issue
  • Assessments of competence for the issue, revalidation or renewal of an SFI certificate in the relevant aircraft category

The privileges of a Synthetic Flight Examiner (SFE) certificate for helicopters allows an examiner to carry out the following

  • Skill tests and proficiency checks for the issue, revalidation and renewal of type ratings;
  • Proficiency checks for the revalidation and renewal of IRs if those checks are combined with the revalidation or renewal of a type rating, provided that the SFEs have passed a proficiency check for the aircraft type including the instrument rating within the last year preceding the proficiency check
  • Skill tests for ATPL(H) issue
  • Assessments of competence for the issue, revalidation or renewal of an SFI(H) certificate

Please note, there are specific requirements to be met which allows the examiner to carry out the above individual privileges.

Prerequisites

SFE(A)

Multi-pilot aeroplanes (MPA)

An applicant for an SFE (A) MPA certificate shall:

  • Have at least 1,500 hours of flight time as a pilot on multi-pilot aeroplanes.
  • Hold or have held an ATPL(A) and a type rating for the applicable type of aeroplane.
  • Hold a current SFI(A) certificate for the applicable type of aeroplane.
  • For the initial issue of an SFE certificate, have completed at least 50 hours of synthetic flight instruction as a TRI(A) or an SFI(A) on the applicable type.

Single-pilot high-performance complex aeroplanes (SPHPCA)

An applicant for an SFE (A) SPHPCA certificate shall:

  • Have at least 500 hours of flight time as pilot of single-pilot aeroplanes.
  • Hold or have held a CPL(A) or an ATPL(A) and a type rating for the applicable type of aeroplane.
  • Hold a current SFI(A) certificate for the applicable class or type of aeroplane.
  • For the initial issue of an SFE certificate, have completed at least 50 hours of synthetic flight instruction as a TRI(A) or an SFI(A) on the applicable type.
Close SFE(A)

SFE(H)

An applicant for an SFE (H) certificate shall:

  • Have at least 1,000 hours of flight time as pilot of multi-pilot helicopters.
  • Hold or have held an ATPL(H), and a type rating for the applicable type of helicopter.
  • Hold an SFI(H) certificate for the applicable type of helicopter.
  • For the initial issue of an SFE certificate, have completed at least 50 hours of synthetic flight instruction as a TRI(H) or an SFI(H) on the applicable type.
Close SFE(H)

Guidance

Training

You will be required to attend an examiner standardisation course provided by the UK CAA or at an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) approved by the UK CAA to conduct the specific examiner standardisation course.

Applicants must have approval granted by the UK CAA before commencing any course of examiner standardisation training.

The standardisation course shall consist of theoretical and practical instruction and shall include, at least:

  • The conduct of 2 skill tests, proficiency checks or assessments of competences for the licences, ratings or certificates for which the applicant seeks the privilege to conduct tests and checks.

  • Instruction on the applicable requirements in this part and the applicable air operations requirements, the conduct of skill tests, proficiency checks and assessments of competence, and their documentation and reporting.

  • A briefing on the national administrative procedures, requirements for protection of personal data, liability, accident insurance and fees.

  • A briefing on the need to review and apply the items in point (3) above, when conducting skill tests, proficiency checks or assessments of competence of an applicant for which the competent authority is not the same that issued the examiner's certificate.

  • An instruction on how to get access to these national procedures and requirements of other competent authorities when needed.

For further guidance on the course syllabus please refer to AMC1 FCL.1015 Examiner standardisation on the UK Regulations link in the 'Related Information' section.

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Examiner Assessment of Competence (EAoC)

Applicants for an examiner certificate will be required to demonstrate their competence to a UK CAA inspector or a senior examiner specifically authorised to do so by the UK CAA, while performing a skill test, proficiency check or assessment of competence in the examiner role for which privileges are required.

The EAoC will include briefing, conduct of the skill test, proficiency check or assessment of competence, and assessment of the person to whom the test, check or assessment is given, debriefing and recording documentation.

For further guidance please refer to AMC1 FCL.1020 Examiners assessment of competence on the Easy Access Rules link in the 'Related Information' section

Close Examiner Assessment of Competence (EAoC)

Revalidation and renewal

An Examiner Certificate is issued with a validity of 3 years. However, a revalidation can be completed within the last 12 months of the expiry date. Therefore, the new expiry date of a further 3 years will be calculated from the current expiry date of the Examiner Certificate when completed within the revalidation period.

To revalidate an examiner certificate, holders shall comply with all the following conditions:

  1. Before the expiry date of the certificate, have conducted at least six skill tests, proficiency checks or assessments of competence within the validity.

  2. Within the last 12 months of the certificate expiry date, have completed an examiner refresher course provided by the UK CAA or an ATO approved by the UK CAA.

  3. One of the skill tests, proficiency checks or assessments of competences conducted in accordance with point (1) above shall take place within 12 months of the certificates expiry date and be assessed by an UK CAA Inspector or by a senior examiner specifically authorised to do so by the UK CAA. This will be used as your EAoC.

If applicants for the revalidation hold privileges for more than one category of examiner, all examiner privileges may be revalidated if applicants comply with the requirements in points (1) and (2) above and point (3) for one of the categories of examiner certificates held, in agreement with the UK CAA.

If applicants for the revalidation hold privileges for more than one category of examiner, all examiner privileges may be revalidated if applicants comply with the requirements in points (1) and (2) above and point (3) for one of the categories of examiner certificates held, in agreement with the UK CAA.

If the certificate has expired, the examiner shall comply with the requirements in point (2) above and the EAoC as referenced in FCL.1020 in the period of 12 months immediately preceding the application for the renewal.

All applicants for the revalidation or renewal of SFE privileges will have their EAoC conducted by a UK CAA inspector or by a senior examiner specifically authorised to do so by the UK CAA. The EAoC can be conducted at any point within the last 12 months of the validity period of your examiner certificate or 12 months preceding a renewal application.

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How to apply

Initial issue

  • Submit application form SRG3102, a certified current copy of your Part-FCL Licence/Licensing Certificate and the relevant fee. For application fees please refer to the UK CAA Scheme of Charges.

  • Once your application has been successfully assessed by the UK CAA, your details will then be passed over to our Resource Scheduling team or the Helicopter Inspector to arrange a suitable date/time for your EAoC.

  • You will be required to attend an UK approved SFE Examiner Standardisation Course. On successful completion of the course, please submit a copy of the Course of Completion Certificate (CCC) to the UK CAA to support your application

  • On successful completion of your EAoC, the UK CAA inspector or senior examiner authorised by the UK CAA will submit a TS10 report (SRG1845) to us and issue you with an SRG1100A temporary licensing certificate. SRG1100A will be valid for 8 weeks from the date of your EAoC to allow you to exercise the examiner privileges until you receive your PART-FCL Licensing Certificate
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Revalidation and renewal

  • Submit application form SRG3104A, a certified current copy of your Part-FCL Licence/Licensing Certificate and the relevant fee. For application fees please refer to the CAA Scheme of Charges.

  • Your details will be passed over to our Resource Scheduling team or the Helicopter Inspectors to arrange a suitable date/time for your EAoC.

  • On successful completion of an examiner refresher course, please submit a copy of the Course of Completion Certificate (CCC) to the UK CAA to support your application

  • On successful completion of your EAoC, the UK CAA inspector or senior examiner authorised by the UK CAA will submit a TS10 report (SRG1845) to us and issue you with an SRG1100A temporary licensing certificate if required. SRG1100A will be valid for 8 weeks from the date of your EAoC to allow you to exercise the examiner privileges until you receive your PART-FCL Licensing Certificate.

Before the revalidation/renewal can be issued we will require evidence that all the requirements have been met.

The above can be submitted to the UK CAA either by the postal service to the Gatwick Office or to licenceapplications@caa.co.uk.

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During the current Covid-19 pandemic, we ask that all paperwork is sent to us electronically.

Contact us

If you have any queries, please contact the Examiners team at examiners@caa.co.uk or on 0330 022 1972 between the hours of 08:30 and 16:30 Monday to Friday.

Related Information

Regulations

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Schools and training

Please ensure that your training provider is approved to conduct the specific course that you are undertaking.

We strongly recommend you check that your instructor and examiner hold the relevant privileges to conduct the training and any flight test, examination or assessment of competence that is being carried out.

How to find a UK examiner or UK approved school

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Guidance

For questions relating to paperwork, such as how to obtain certified copies of documents, please refer to Guidance on documentation.

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