---
title: "FCL.020 Student pilot — Part-FCL · Avioverse"
description: "A student pilot shall not fly solo unless he or she meets the following conditions:"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-a/fcl-020"
---

# FCL.020 Student pilot

ANNEX I (Part-FCL) · Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · EAR revision 16 Oct 2026

Official sources: [EASA Easy Access Rules (opens in a new tab)](https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-aircrew) · [EUR-Lex 2011/1178 (opens in a new tab)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011R1178)

IR Implementing rule

## FCL.020 Student pilot

(a) A student pilot shall not fly solo unless he or she meets the following conditions:

(1) is authorised to do so and supervised by a flight instructor;

(2) prior to receiving the authorisation specified in point (1), has acquired the competence to safely operate the relevant [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) during the intended solo flight.

(b) Before his or her first solo flight, a student pilot shall be at least 16 years of age.

IR · FCL.020 — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · Regulation (EU) 2024/2076 · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 16 Oct 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM1 FCL.020(a) Student pilot

USE OF SEP AEROPLANES WITH DIFFERENT ENGINE TYPES DURING A TRAINING COURSE

A student pilot who undergoes training in an [SEP aeroplane](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/sep-aeroplane) with a particular engine type (as specified in Article 2(8c) of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011) should be authorised in accordance with point FCL.020(a) to undertake the necessary solo flights in an SEP variant with another engine type only after he or she has acquired the competence to safely operate such SEP variants.

GM · GM1 FCL.020(a) — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2025/002/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 16 Oct 2026

[All rules in SUBPART A – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-a)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 16 Oct 2026, extracted 2 Nov 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.