SPO.SPEC.MCF.115 Flight crew requirements for a ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight

(a) The operator shall select adequate flight crew members considering the aircraft complexity and the level of the maintenance check flight. When selecting flight crew members for a ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight with a complex motor-powered aircraft, the operator shall ensure all of the following:

(1)  that the pilot-in-command has followed a training course in accordance with point SPO.SPEC.MCF.120; if the training has been conducted in a simulator, the pilot shall conduct at least one ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight as a pilot monitoring or as an observer before flying as a pilot-in-command on a ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight;

(2)  that the pilot-in-command has completed on aircraft of the same aircraft category as the aircraft to be flown a minimum of 1000 flight hours, of which at least 400 hours as a pilot-in-command in a complex motor-powered aircraft and at least 50 hours on the particular aircraft type.

Notwithstanding point (2) of the first paragraph, if the operator introduces a new aircraft type to its operation and has assessed the pilot’s qualifications in accordance with an established assessment procedure, the operator may select a pilot having less than 50 hours experience on the particular aircraft type.

(b) Pilots holding a flight test rating in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 shall be given full credit for the training course stipulated in point (a)(1) of this point, provided that the pilots holding a flight test rating have obtained the required initial and recurrent crew resource management training in accordance with points ORO.FC.115 and ORO.FC.215 of Annex III.

(c) A pilot-in-command shall not perform a ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight on a complex motor-powered aircraft unless the pilot-in-command has carried out a ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight within the preceding 36 months.

(d) Recency as pilot-in-command on a ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight is regained after performing a ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight as an observer or a pilot monitoring, or after acting as the pilot-in-command in a ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight in a simulator.