Class and Type Ratings — FCL.700, FCL.725

General (ICAO)

ICAO Annex 1 requires pilots to hold, in addition to the basic licence, ratings for the aircraft classes or types flown:

Class rating: for an aircraft class (e.g. SEP = single-engine piston).
Type rating: for a specific aircraft type (e.g. A320, B737).

Europe (EASA / EU)

SEP (land) — class rating

SEP (land) rating for single-engine piston land aircraft — most PPL trainers (C172, PA-28, DA40, Aquila).

A SEP (land) rating is renewed with a proficiency check with an examiner if the pilot does not meet the required flight time:

Standard renewal (FCL.740.A): 12 flight hours within the 12 months before expiry + 1 h refresher training with an instructor.
Without the required flight time: proficiency check with FE/FCL.740 examiner.

Other class ratings

MEP (land) = multi-engine piston.
TMG = touring motor glider.
SES = single-engine sea.
MES = multi-engine sea.

Type ratings

Complex aircraft (turbojet, > 5700 kg MTOM, > 19 pax) require type rating.
E.g. A320, B737 — separate rating per type.

Glider-towing rating

Applicants for a glider towing rating must have at least 30 hours of flight time as PIC and 60 take-offs and landings in aeroplanes or TMG after license issuance, alongside training at an ATO:

30 hours PIC after licence issue.
60 take-offs + landings after licence issue.
Training at an ATO (Approved Training Organisation).

Night rating

The minimum requirement, among other, to acquire a rating for VFR night flights is: at least 5 hours of night flight time for the VFR night rating, including a minimum of 3 hours of dual instruction (with at least 1 hour of dual cross-country navigation) and 5 solo take-offs and full-stop landings.

Instrument Rating (IR)

Full IR: for IFR in IMC.
IR(R) / restricted: for limited IFR operations.
Requirements: theoretical and practical exam significantly more complex than PPL.

Germany (national)

In Germany Part-FCL ratings apply directly. National rules in LuftPersV are largely aligned with Part-FCL.