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AEROPLANES

Special Ratings — Aeroplanes

A practical guide to additional EASA pilot ratings beyond licences, class ratings, type ratings and instrument ratings: night flying, aerobatics, mountain operations, towing and flight testing.

OVERVIEW

What are additional pilot ratings?

Additional pilot ratings authorise specific activities that are not automatically included with a normal licence, class rating or type rating. They are operation-specific: flying at night, aerobatics, mountain operations, towing or flight testing.

They do not replace the underlying licence or aircraft rating. The pilot must still hold the correct licence, valid aircraft class or type rating, medical certificate, recency and any required operational approval.

Key point: These ratings add privileges for specific activities. They do not make a pilot commercial unless the underlying licence and operation allow commercial privileges.

RATINGS

Additional ratings explained

This page covers the additional pilot ratings requested for the aeroplane pathway.

VFRN

Night Rating — Aeroplanes
What it covers

Allows VFR flight at night in aeroplanes when attached to the appropriate licence and class/type privileges. It is commonly added after PPL(A) or during professional training.

Typical use

Private night flying, CPL preparation, better operational flexibility.

AR

Aerobatic Rating
What it covers

Required to undertake aerobatic flights in aeroplanes or TMGs. It develops unusual attitude handling, energy management, G-awareness and safe aerobatic manoeuvre planning.

Typical use

Aerobatic flying, advanced handling, display progression.

MOUNTAIN

Mountain Rating
What it covers

Required for operations to certain designated mountain sites where specific mountain-flying skills are necessary. It may be completed with wheel or ski privileges depending on the course.

Typical use

Alpine operations, mountain aerodromes, ski-equipped aircraft.

SAILPLANE TOW

Sailplane Towing Rating
What it covers

Allows the pilot to tow sailplanes using aeroplanes or TMGs, subject to appropriate training and aircraft privileges.

Typical use

Gliding clubs, aerotow operations, specialist club flying.

IR ON TYPE RATING

Banner Towing Rating
What it covers

Allows the pilot to tow advertising banners or similar loads with aeroplanes, subject to specific training and operational procedures.

Typical use

Aerial advertising, specialist towing operations.

FTR CAT 1/2

IR linked to an aeroplane type rating
What it covers

Required for certain categories of flight testing. Category 1 and Category 2 cover higher-level flight-test privileges and require significant experience and specialised training.

Typical use

Experimental, production, certification or development flight testing.

ISSUE, VALIDITY AND RENEWAL

Requirements for each additional rating

Each rating has a different purpose and different currency logic. Some do not have a fixed rating expiry, while Flight Test Rating privileges are normally validity-based and require periodic revalidation.

VFRN — Night Rating

VFR night privileges for aeroplanes

TO OBTAIN
  • Hold an eligible aeroplane licence, normally PPL(A), LAPL(A), CPL(A) or higher.
  • Complete the required night training course at an ATO or DTO.
  • For aeroplanes, training normally includes at least 5 hours at night, including dual instruction, navigation and solo take-offs and full-stop landings.
  • Meet medical colour-vision requirements where applicable.
VALIDITY
  • The rating itself does not normally have a separate expiry date.
  • The pilot must still hold a valid licence, medical and aircraft class/type rating.
  • Night recency and passenger-carrying rules must be respected.
REVALIDATION
  • No normal rating revalidation check if the rating is already endorsed.
  • Maintain general licence, medical, class/type rating and night recency.
  • Refresh with an instructor if not recently active at night.
RENEWAL
  • If privileges are not shown or accepted by the authority, complete required training or administrative endorsement.
  • If skills are stale, complete refresher night training before acting as PIC.
  • Check national authority procedures for endorsement and medical requirements.

AR — Aerobatic Rating

Aerobatic privileges for aeroplanes or TMGs

TO OBTAIN
  • Hold a pilot licence with privileges for aeroplanes or TMGs.
  • After licence issue, complete at least 30 hours as PIC in aeroplanes or TMGs.
  • Complete an aerobatic training course at a DTO or ATO.
  • The course includes theoretical knowledge and aerobatic flight instruction appropriate to the privileges.
VALIDITY
  • The rating does not normally have a fixed expiry date.
  • Privileges depend on holding a valid licence, medical and aircraft class/type rating.
  • Aircraft approval and operational limitations must be respected.
REVALIDATION
  • No standard periodic revalidation check for the rating itself.
  • Maintain currency through regular aerobatic practice and instructor refreshers.
  • Follow club, aircraft, insurance and national requirements.
RENEWAL
  • If skill level is stale, complete refresher training before solo aerobatics.
  • If documentation is incomplete, consult the authority or training organisation.
  • A proficiency or competence assessment may be required by local procedures or operator/club rules.

Mountain Rating

Privileges for designated mountain sites and mountain operations

TO OBTAIN
  • Hold an appropriate aeroplane licence and class/type privileges.
  • Complete mountain-rating theoretical and flight training at an approved organisation.
  • Training may be completed for wheels, skis, or both depending on privileges sought.
  • Pass the required assessment or skill test for the rating.
VALIDITY
  • The rating remains usable only if recency requirements are met.
  • Wheel and ski privileges may need to be considered separately.
  • The pilot must hold valid licence, medical and class/type rating.
REVALIDATION
  • Maintain required recent mountain-site experience.
  • If recency is not met, complete required refresher training or assessment.
  • Check whether wheel or ski privileges require separate recent experience.
RENEWAL
  • If privileges lapse due to lack of recency, complete refresher training and/or assessment as required.
  • If the rating is not current for wheels or skis, restore the specific privilege needed.
  • Follow national authority and mountain-site procedures.

Sailplane Towing Rating

Privileges to tow sailplanes with aeroplanes or TMGs

TO OBTAIN
  • Hold a licence with privileges for aeroplanes or TMGs.
  • Complete the required PIC experience after licence issue.
  • Complete a towing training course at a DTO or ATO.
  • Training includes theoretical knowledge and towing flights appropriate to sailplane towing.
VALIDITY
  • The rating itself does not normally have a fixed expiry date.
  • Privileges require valid licence, medical and aircraft class/type rating.
  • Pilot must remain competent and current for towing operations.
REVALIDATION
  • No standard periodic revalidation check for the rating itself.
  • Maintain club/operator towing currency and recent towing practice.
  • Complete refresher training if not recently active.
RENEWAL
  • If skill or recency is insufficient, complete refresher towing training.
  • If records are incomplete, consult the training organisation or authority.
  • Club/operator check flights may be required before resuming towing.

Banner Towing Rating

Privileges to tow banners with aeroplanes

TO OBTAIN
  • Hold a licence with privileges for aeroplanes.
  • Complete required PIC experience after licence issue.
  • Complete a banner towing course at a DTO or ATO.
  • Training includes theoretical knowledge and practical banner pickup, towing and drop procedures.
VALIDITY
  • The rating itself does not normally have a fixed expiry date.
  • Privileges require valid licence, medical and aircraft rating.
  • Commercial banner towing may require operator approvals and additional requirements.
REVALIDATION
  • No standard periodic revalidation check for the rating itself.
  • Maintain practical towing currency and operational competence.
  • Follow operator procedures, aircraft limitations and risk controls.
RENEWAL
  • If not recently active, complete refresher training before towing.
  • Operator or authority checks may be required.
  • Renew any expired underlying aircraft rating first.

FTR — Flight Test Rating Category 1 and 2

Specialised flight-test privileges for aeroplanes

TO OBTAIN
  • Hold the appropriate pilot licence and aircraft category privileges.
  • Meet the significant flight experience prerequisites for the flight-test category sought.
  • Complete approved flight-test training for Category 1 or Category 2 as applicable.
  • Pass the required assessment of competence.
VALIDITY
  • Flight test ratings are normally valid for 12 months.
  • Category 1 and Category 2 privileges are different and must be checked carefully.
  • Privileges depend on aircraft category, test category and pilot qualifications.
REVALIDATION
  • Revalidate before expiry by meeting recent flight-test experience and/or assessment requirements.
  • A proficiency or competence assessment may be required depending on the category and activity.
  • Maintain underlying licence, medical and aircraft ratings.
RENEWAL
  • If expired, complete assessment by an approved organisation or authority-accepted process.
  • Complete refresher training if required.
  • Pass the required competence assessment before exercising privileges again.
Reminder: Before exercising any of these privileges, check the underlying licence, aircraft rating, medical, aircraft approval, insurance, club/operator procedures and national authority requirements.

PILOT PATHWAY

Where each instrument rating normally appears

STAGELIKELY CLASS RATINGWHY IT MATTERS
VFRN / Night RatingAfter PPL(A) or during CPL preparationTo fly VFR at night and prepare for professional training.
Aerobatic RatingAfter gaining PIC confidenceTo fly aerobatics legally and safely.
Mountain RatingAfter solid aircraft handling and navigation experienceTo operate at designated mountain sites.
Sailplane TowingAfter sufficient PIC experienceTo support gliding operations and aerotow activity.
Banner TowingAfter sufficient PIC experience and specialist trainingTo conduct banner towing operations.
Flight Test Rating Cat 1/2Advanced professional stageFor specialised flight-test roles in development, certification or production testing.

REGULATORY BASIS

Check the current rules before acting

Last reviewed: 8 July 2026

This page is based on EASA Part-FCL Subpart I additional ratings, including FCL.800 Aerobatic Rating, FCL.805 Sailplane Towing and Banner Towing, FCL.810 Night Rating, FCL.815 Mountain Rating and FCL.820 Flight Test Rating. National authority procedures, operational approvals and club/operator requirements can vary.