VGC Rally & Rendezvous Licensing for Non-UK Pilots

IMPORTANT UPDATE TO LICENSING.

As you may be aware, if you are intending to fly a UK registered Part 21 glider or powered aircraft at the Rally or the Rendezvous, or you are intending to fly one whilst you are in the UK, you may need to have your licence validated.

If you are Intending to fly non Part 21 aircraft (the old annex 2) then your licence is ok and a LAPL and LAPL medical is sufficient.

If you are intending to fly a Part 21 aircraft from the same state or country that your licence is from, then you are covered by the Recognition of ICAO third county licences in UK Airspace agreement.

This means that you can fly any aircraft that is a non Part 21 one, irrespective of where it is from.

It also means that you can fly any Part 21 aircraft from the state or country that your licence is if the licence has to be ICAO compliant which means that it has to be (In EASA speak) an SPL. If you have a LAPL medical you will have to seek permission from the CAA to use it.

The CAA have a facility on their web site to trigger the validation process. Unfortunately it is complex.