If 1 or more of your helicopter pilot licence ratings are about to expire, you can apply to revalidate them. You can apply for revalidation a rating in the Netherlands through the Civil Aviation Authority the Netherlands (CAA NL), part of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT).

If your instructor or examiner is authorised to do so, they can revalidate the rating themselves by endorsing your licence. Your instructor or examiner will then write the new expiry date on the back of your licence and send all the necessary documents to CAA NL. If your instructor or examiner does not do this, you will need to submit an application for revalidation.

Revalidating ratings

You can revalidate a rating based on a proficiency check or refresher training. If your examiner has not endorsed your licence, then apply for revalidation.

After submitting your application

When applying for the revalidation of 1 or more ratings the following applies:

  1. You will receive an automatic confirmation email from CAA NL including the registration number of your application.
  2. You will receive a payment request by email. Please pay within 4 weeks of the date on the payment request.
  3. If any information is missing, CAA NL will ask you to provide additional details.
  4. Once your application is complete and the fee has been paid, CAA NL will begin processing your application. Please take into account that the processing time may be longer than you are used to. Read more about the expected application processing time.
  5. You will receive the decision by post. If your application is approved, you will receive a new licence. The new rating or ratings' expiry date(s) are stated on the front of your licence.

If you disagree with the decision, you can submit an objection.

Costs

If the examiner endorses your current valid licence by writing the new expiry date of the rating or ratings on the back of your current licence, the revalidation will be free of charge.

If the examiner has not endorsed your licence, the revalidation of a rating costs €141. These amounts are legally determined in the Regeling tarieven transportsectoren (Transportation Sectors Tariffs Scheme, in Dutch). 

If your employer is covering the costs you can indicate this during the application process.

How to apply when your licence has been endorsed by an examiner

If your examiner is authorised to do so, they can revalidate your rating(s) and remark(s) themselves by endorsing your licence. This is done as follows:

  1. You successfully complete a proficiency check or refresher training with an authorised examiner.
  2. The examiner writes the new expiry date on the back of your licence.
  3. The examiner sends all necessary documents to CAA NL. You do not pay any costs for this application
  4. Once your application is complete CAA NL will begin processing your application.
  5. CAA NL will take approximately 30 working days to process your application.
  6. CAA NL will add the new expiry date of your rating or ratings to the register. You will not be notified of this, nor will you receive a new licence.

Validity

A class or type rating is valid for 1 year. An exception applies to class ratings for single-pilot single-engine aircraft. These class ratings are valid for 2 years.

If you choose to revalidate earlier than specified in FCL.740.A, the expiry date will be calculated from the date of the proficiency check.