A320 Type Rating Renewal in Bangkok

Renewal or revalidation — which one applies to you

The distinction matters because it changes both the process and the cost. If your A320 rating is still valid and expires within the next three months, you need revalidation — one proficiency check, one day. If the expiry date has already passed, you need renewal, which adds an individually-assessed refresher block before the check.

Renewal restarts the twelve-month validity from the date of the successful check, rather than preserving the original expiry month.

How the process works

1. You send your licence, medical, logbook and last check records to info@aerowa.com.
2. We assess the case under AMC1 FCL.740(b)(1) and propose a refresher plan with hours and a schedule — normally within two working days.
3. You receive a pre-course study package covering systems, performance and normal procedures.
4. In Bangkok: ground refresher, the agreed Full Flight Simulator training block, then the renewal proficiency check with an EASA-authorised Type Rating Examiner.
5. The paperwork package is submitted to your State of Licence Issue and a copy is sent to you.

What the refresher block covers

• Systems and normal procedures revision, scaled to the length of the lapse.
• Flow and scan rebuilding — the part that degrades fastest away from the aircraft.
• Non-normal and emergency handling across the Appendix 9 item set.
• Line-oriented scenarios to restore crew coordination and decision-making under load.
• RNP APCH where the Instrument Rating also requires renewal.

For the detail of how the training block itself is designed and assessed, see A320 Type Rating Refresher.

Regulatory basis

Renewal of an expired multi-pilot aeroplane type rating is governed by EASA Part-FCL.740(b), with the assessment method described in AMC1 FCL.740(b)(1). The fixed three, five and seven year tier tables were removed in the 2020 amendment; assessment is now case by case, based on the individual pilot's recency and experience.

Refresher training and the renewal check are delivered through EASA-approved partner ATOs on Full Flight Simulator, with examiner certificates and privileges appropriate to the check and the applicable authority requirements.

Who this is for

• Pilots whose EASA A320 rating expired while out of work, on medical leave or between contracts.
• Pilots returning to the Airbus after a period on another type.
• Pilots holding a current A320 rating on a non-EASA licence who need the EASA rating restored.
• Pilots preparing for an airline selection process that requires a current type rating.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between renewal and revalidation?

Revalidation applies while the rating is still valid and is achieved by passing a proficiency check within the three months preceding expiry. Renewal applies once the rating has already expired: it requires refresher training at an ATO, assessed individually, followed by a proficiency check. Renewal restarts the twelve-month validity from the date of the check.

My A320 rating expired — can it still be renewed?

Yes. There is no cut-off date beyond which an EASA A320 type rating cannot be renewed. What changes is the amount of refresher training required, which the ATO assesses case by case under AMC1 FCL.740(b)(1) based on how long the rating has been expired and your recent experience.

How much refresher training will I need before the check?

It depends on the length of the lapse and your recency on type or on similar aircraft. A typical range is eight to sixteen Full Flight Simulator hours plus ground study. The exact figure is quoted after we review your logbook, last check records and any current ICAO ratings you hold on another licence.

Do the old three, five and seven year tiers still apply?

No. Those fixed tier tables were removed from the regulation in 2020. Since then the ATO assesses each pilot individually under AMC1 FCL.740(b)(1) and designs training proportionate to recency and experience, which in many cases means less training than the old tables prescribed.

I hold a current A320 rating on a non-EASA licence — does that help?

Significantly. If you hold a current ICAO A320 rating on an FAA, GCAA, DGCA or other authority licence, refresher training is usually waived for the EASA renewal and only the proficiency check is required, subject to confirmation by your State of Licence Issue.

Does my Instrument Rating also need renewing?

If the IR has also expired it must be renewed alongside the type rating, and the proficiency check must include an RNP APCH to restore PBN privileges. We assess both together so you leave with a single consistent paperwork package.

How long does the whole renewal take in Bangkok?

For a short lapse with good recency, two to three days including the check. For longer lapses requiring a larger refresher block, typically four to six days. We give you a realistic schedule with the quote, before you book flights.

What documents do I need to send for the assessment?

EASA Part-FCL licence, valid Class 1 medical, pilot logbook covering the last twenty-four months, your last LPC and OPC records, and any current ICAO type rating you hold on another licence. A logbook screenshot is enough to start.