Frequently asked questions

They will come into force on 1 April 2026.

An information circular has been issued on this matter.

An application will be submitted to AESA (until 31/3/2026 included) where the interested party proves, in his flight time record or by certificate issued by an ultralight flight school, 5 hours of flight in the previous 12 months (to the application).

If the qualification expires on the same day 31/3/2026 and the application is submitted later, the completion of a proficiency check with an authorised examiner will be required for its processing.

An application must be submitted to EASA attesting in the last 24 months prior to the expiry of the rating that the pilot has fulfilled any of the following conditions [a) or (b)] in each of the corresponding ratings:

a) have completed at least 12 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command, or of flight time in double command or only under the supervision of an instructor, in the relevant ultra-light aircraft category or, if qualified, in equivalent aircraft of maximum take-off mass at higher take-off; The 12 flight hours referred to above shall include:

• 12 take-offs and 12 landings; y
• The successful completion of 1 flight with a qualified instructor if, in the last 12 months prior to the expiry of the rating, 5 of the 12 flight hours required to demonstrate recent experience have not been completed or if, in the last 24 months, at least 1 flight in the relevant ULM aircraft category has not been completed.

b) Have passed a proficiency check with an authorized examiner. The verification shall be based on the programme for obtaining the rating for the category of ULM aircraft in which it intends to exercise its privileges.

In case of compliance with a) or b), AESA will issue the ULM licenses with the appropriate ratings with indefinite validity (without expiration date).

From that moment, the previous ratings will remain in force (without formality before AESA), if the pilot complies with a) or b) in the last 24 months before the planned flight in ULM.

The following shall be required:

• Successfully passing additional training flights with a qualified instructor until complying with point (a) of the previous question; or
• Pass a proficiency check with an authorized examiner. The verification shall be based on the programme for obtaining the rating for the category of ULM aircraft in which it intends to exercise its privileges.

The above points are under the responsibility of the pilot (without formality before AESA), since they do not already have the authorization of expiration date.

An application for renewal of the rating shall be submitted to EASA, attesting that a proficiency check has been passed with an authorised examiner.

Once the above has been verified, AESA will issue the ULM license with the corresponding qualification without an expiration date. This would maintain a validity of at least 24 months (but no flight will be made in that period).

The flights and tests reflected in the above questions conducted under the supervision of an instructor or an authorised examiner shall be recorded in the pilot's flight time record and signed by the instructor responsible for the flights or by the authorised examiner responsible for the test, clearly identifying the instructor or examiner.

In that sense, AESA may check its compliance at any time by requiring the pilot to show the original of its flight log.

An application shall be submitted to EASA stating that the person concerned has passed a flight test before an authorised examiner.

From 1 April 2026 (included), when an FI rating is revalidated or renewed, it will become valid for 3 years (instead of 2 years as before). The requirements to revalidate or renew remain.

Therefore, if an application for revalidation or renewal is submitted until 31 March 2026 (inclusive), the FI rating will be noted on the national ULM licence, with a validity date of 2 years.

On the other hand, if the application is submitted from 1 April 2026 onwards, the validity of the annotated FI rating would be 3 years.

The following shall be required:

• be able to exercise the privileges of an LAPL, PPL, CPL or ATPL licence, as applicable, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No º 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011;
• Have a valid rating to fly an equivalent category and class of aircraft, and be able to exercise those privileges;
• A qualified ultralight instructor shall have verified that the pilot has adequate knowledge of the applicable regulations and a level of practical expertise, performing a minimum of 1 flight training flight with the instructor of a duration of at least 1 hour, in which the operational and emergency procedures corresponding to the type of ULM aircraft to be flown shall be practiced. This flight shall be recorded in the pilot's ULM flight time record and signed by the instructor responsible for the flight, who shall be clearly identified in the record; and
• Have a separate flight time record for ULM flights, where flights made on this type of aircraft will be recorded.