--- title: "FCL.815 Mountain rating — Part-FCL · Avioverse" description: "Privileges. The privileges of the holder of a mountain rating are to conduct flights with aeroplanes or TMGs to and from surfaces which are designated to…" url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-i/fcl-815" --- # FCL.815 Mountain rating 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.815 Mountain rating (a) Privileges. The privileges of the holder of a mountain rating are to conduct flights with aeroplanes or TMGs to and from surfaces which are designated to require such a rating by the appropriate authorities designated by the Member States. Holders of an LAPL or a PPL with privileges to fly aeroplanes or TMGs may obtain the initial mountain rating either on: (1) wheels, to grant the privilege to fly to and from such surfaces when they are not covered by snow; or (2) skis, to grant the privilege to fly to and from such surfaces when they are covered by snow. (3) The privileges of the initial rating may be extended to either wheel or ski privileges when the pilot has undertaken an appropriate additional familiarisation course, including theoretical knowledge instruction and flight training, with a mountain flight instructor. (b) Training course. Applicants for a mountain rating shall have completed, within a period of 24 months, a course of theoretical knowledge instruction and flight training at a DTO or at an ATO. The content of the course shall be appropriate to the privileges of the mountain rating applied for. (c) [Skill test](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/skill-test). After the completion of the training, the [applicant](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/applicant) shall pass a skill test with an FE qualified for this purpose. The skill test shall contain: (1) a verbal examination of theoretical knowledge; (2) 6 landings on at least 2 different surfaces designated as requiring a mountain rating other than the surface of departure. (d) In order to exercise the privileges of the mountain rating, the holder of the rating shall, during the last 2 years, have complied with either of the following conditions: (1) completed at least six landings on a surface designated to require a mountain rating; (2) passed a [proficiency check](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/proficiency-check) that complies with the requirements in point (c). The completion of the proficiency check shall be entered in the logbook of the pilot and signed by the responsible examiner. IR · FCL.815 — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · Regulation (EU) 2024/2076 · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 16 Oct 2026 AMC Acceptable means of compliance ## AMC1 FCL.815 Mountain rating THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE AND FLYING TRAINING | THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | WHEEL | SKI | | 1. Equipment | | | W\.1.1 Personal equipment for the flight | S.1.1 Personal equipment for the flight | | W\.1.2 [Aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) equipment for the flight | S.1.2 Aircraft equipment for the flight | | 2. Take-off techniques | | | W\.2.1 Technique for approach and landing on a mountain surface | S.2.1 Technique for approach and landing on a mountain surface S.2.2 Landing technique on skis | | W\.2.2 Rolling techniques of the aircraft on various runway profiles | S.2.3 Rolling techniques of the aircraft on skis about the snow nature | | W\.2.3 Take-off technique | S.2.4 Take-off technique on surfaces covered with snow | | W\.2.4 Aircraft and engine performances about altitude | S.2.5. Aircraft and engine performances about altitude | | 3. Rules | | | W\.3.1 Mountain rating | S.3.1 Mountain rating | | W\.3.2 Overflight rules | S.3.2 Overflight rules | | W\.3.3 Surfaces classification | S.3.3 Surfaces classification | | W\.3.4 PIC responsibilities | S.3.4 PIC responsibilities | | W\.3.5 Responsibilities of the surface manager | S.3.5 Responsibilities of the surface manager | | W\.3.6 Flight plan | S.3.6 Flight plan S.3.7 Certification of the ski mounted aeroplanes | | 4. Meteorology | | | W\.4.1 Movements of the air mass | S.4.1 Movements of the air mass | | W\.4.2 Flight consequences | S.4.2 Flight consequences | | W\.4.3 Relief effect on the movement of the air masses | S.4.3 Relief effect on the movement of the air masses | | W\.4.4 Altimetry | S.4.4 Altimetry | | 5. Human Performance and Limitations | | | W\.5.1 The cold | S.5.1 The cold | | W\.5.2 The food | S.5.2 The food | | W\.5.3 The hypoxia | S.5.3 The hypoxia | | W\.5.4 The radiance | S.5.4 The radiance | | W\.5.5 The thirst | S.5.5 The thirst | | W\.5.6 The tiredness | S.5.6 The tiredness | | W\.5.7 Turbulence effects in altitude | S.5.7 Turbulence effects in altitude | | 6. Navigation | | | W\.6.1 Progress of the flight | S.6.1 Progress of the flight | | W\.6.2 Dead reckoning | S.6.2 Dead reckoning | | W\.6.3 The path over the relief | S.6.3 The path over the relief | | W\.6.4 Progress in the valleys | S.6.4 Progress in the valleys | | W\.6.5 Detection of obstacles (high voltage lines, chairlifts, cables, etc.). | S.6.5 Detection of obstacles (high voltage lines, chairlifts, cables, etc.) | | 7. Specific items | | | | S.7.1 Knowledge of the snow and assessment of the snow nature in-flight S.7.2 Knowledge of the glacier S.7.3 Life of the glacier S.7.4 Formation of the cracks S.7.5 Snow bridges S.7.6 Avalanches | | 8. Survival | | | | S.8.1 Ways of survival (psychological aspects) S.8.2 Use of the equipments S.8.3 Removal of snow from the aircraft S.8.4 Building of a shelter S.8.5 How to eat and feed | | FLIGHT INSTRUCTION | | | WHEEL | SKI | | I.- Navigation | | | W\.I.1 Flight techniques in the valleys W\.I.2 Flight over mountain passes and ridges. W\.I.3 U-turn in narrow valleys W\.I.4 Choice of the flight path of aerology W\.I.5 W\.I.5 Map reading | S.I.I Flight techniques in the valleys S.I.2 Flight over mountain passes and ridges S.I.3 U-turn in narrow valleys S.I.4 Choice of the flight path of aerology S.I.5 Map reading | | II. – Arrival and reconnaissance | | | W\.II.1 Choice of the altitude of arrival | S.II.1 Choice of the arrival altitude | | W\.II.2 Choice of the arrival and overflight pattern | S.II.2 Choice of the arrival and overflight pattern | | W\.II.3 Choice of the landing pattern | S.II.3 Description of the circuit pattern | | W\.II.4 Aerology awareness | S.II.4 Aerology awareness | | W\.II.5 Evaluation of the length of the runway | S.II.5 Evaluation of the runway length | | W\.II.6 Evaluation of the runway profile (slope and banking) | S.II.6 Evaluation of the runway profile (slope and banking) | | W\.II.7 Collision avoidance. | S.II.7 Collision avoidance | | W\.II.8 Definition of the references for the landing (touchdown point) | S.II.8 Definition of the references for the landing (touchdown point) | | W\.II.9 Determination of the circuit pattern altitude | S.II.9 Determination of the circuit pattern altitude | | W\.II.10 Choice of the final speed depending on the runway profile | S.II.10 Choice of the final speed depending on the runway profile S.II.11 Choice of the take-off axis S.II.12. Choice of the landing axis S.II.13 Choice of the parking area S.II.14 Observation of the obstacles on the ground (cracks, snow bridges, avalanches) S.II.15 Estimation of the snow nature S.II.16 Observation of the way to reach a refuge from the landing area | | III – Approach and landing | | | W\.III.1 Landing pattern altitude | S.III.1 Landing pattern altitude | | W\.III.2 Precision of flight along the landing path | S.III.2 Precision of flight along the landing path | | W\.III.3 Corrections on the landing path (accuracy and effectiveness) | S.III.3 Corrections on the landing path (accuracy and effectiveness) | | W\.III.4 Landing (precision of the flare and of the touchdown point) | S.III.4 Landing (precision of the flare and of the touchdown point) | | W\.III.5 Taxiing (use of the engine power) on various profiles | S.III.5 Taxi of the aircraft on various snows and various runway profiles | | W\.III.6 Parking of the aircraft (depending on the runway profile, the traffic, etc.) | S.III.6 Parking of the aircraft (depending on the snow nature and the profile of the apron) S.III.7 Turns on various snow nature and various ground profiles | | IV. – Take-off | | | W\.IV.1 Safety checks before take-off | S. IV.1 Safety checks before take-off. | | W\.IV.2 Lining up on the runway | S.IV.2 Lining up on the runway | | W\.IV.3 Control of the runway axis during take-off | S.IV.3 Control of the runway axis during take-off | | W\.IV.4 Choice and use of the visual references of the take-off axis | S.IV.4 Choice and use of the visual references of the take-off axis S.IV.5 Acceleration depending on the nature of the snow S.IV.6 Short take-off S.IV.7 Take-off avoiding the skid of the skis | | V. - Survival | | | | S.V.1 Use of the snowshoes S.V.2 Use of the markings | AMC · AMC1 FCL.815 — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2011/016/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 16 Oct 2026 AMC Acceptable means of compliance ## AMC2 FCL.815 Mountain rating [SKILL TEST](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/skill-test) AND [PROFICIENCY CHECK](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/proficiency-check) The skill test for the issue or the proficiency check for the revalidation or renewal of a mountain rating should contain the following elements: (a) oral examination This part should be done before the flight and should cover all the relevant parts of the theoretical knowledge. At least one question for each of the following sections should be asked: (1) specific equipment for a mountain flight (personal and [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft)); (2) rules of the mountain flight. If the oral examination reveals a lack in theoretical knowledge, the flight test should not be done and the skill test is failed. (b) practical skill test During the flight test, two sites different from the departure airport should be used for recognition, approach, landing and take-off. For the mountain rating ski or the extension from wheel to ski, one of the two different sites should be a glacier. AMC · AMC2 FCL.815 — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2011/016/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 16 Oct 2026 [All rules in SUBPART I – ADDITIONAL RATINGS](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-i) 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.