EASA GA Brief

EASA GA Brief

Same briefing spine as the airline line, under EASA Part-NCO and your national AIP. There is no UK-style Frequency Monitoring Code scheme here.

Educational mentoring only. Confirm operational information with the original publisher before flight.

Authority: EASA · Change authority

Dark flight deck instruments before departure

PLATE 01 · HOW WE BRIEF

Brief like the line

Must know

Threats, weather, NOTAMs, fuel, alternate, who does what. Say it before you start. Part-NCO expects real flight preparation, not a shrug at the hold-short line.

Source: Part-NCO · NCO.OP.135 Flight preparation. European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Annex VII (Part-NCO) · NCO.OP.135. Reviewed 2026-09-07. Open source

Fun fact

If your brief only says “looks fine,” you have not briefed. Airline crews would not accept that either.

PLATE 02 · BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

Weather, NOTAMs, AIS

Must know

Before you go, the pilot-in-command must know the meteorological picture and have a plan B when weather can stop the trip.

Before commencing a flight, the pilot-in-command shall be familiar with all available meteorological information appropriate to the intended flight. Preparation for a flight away from the vicinity of the place of departure, and for every flight under IFR, shall include: (1) a study of available current weather reports and forecasts; and (2) the planning of an alternative course of action to provide for the eventuality that the flight cannot be completed as planned, because of weather conditions.

Source: Part-NCO · NCO.OP.135 Flight preparation. European Union Aviation Safety Agency. NCO.OP.135(b) · meteorological preparation and alternate action. Reviewed 2026-09-07. Open source

Must know

Facilities and navaids on the route must be adequate for the operation you intend.

Before commencing a flight, the pilot-in-command shall ascertain by every reasonable means available that the ground and/or water facilities including communication facilities and navigation aids available and directly required on such flight, for the safe operation of the aircraft, are adequate for the type of operation under which the flight is to be conducted.

Source: Part-NCO · NCO.OP.135 Flight preparation. European Union Aviation Safety Agency. NCO.OP.135(a) · adequacy of ground/water facilities. Reviewed 2026-09-07. Open source

Tidbit

Pull NOTAMs and AIP amendments from the State AIS / EAD path for the countries you cross. Cross-border VFR still needs each State’s picture.

Source: Easy Access Rules for Air Operations. European Union Aviation Safety Agency. EASA document library · Easy Access Rules for Air Operations (Part-NCO living in Air Ops). Reviewed 2026-09-07. Open source

Try this

Pick a club, then brief that State’s AIP and weather.

Airfields

PLATE 03 · RULES THAT KEEP YOU LEGAL

Part-NCO and your licence

Must know

Non-commercial operations with other-than-complex motor-powered aircraft sit under Part-NCO. Read the Easy Access Rules, not a forum summary.

Source: Easy Access Rules for Air Operations. European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Easy Access Rules hub · Air Operations including Part-NCO. Reviewed 2026-09-07. Open source

Tidbit

Medical and licence privileges still come from your competent authority. EASA ops rules do not replace that State’s licensing desk.

Try this

Map your EASA route from first lesson toward commercial ratings.

Follow the steps

PLATE 04 · AIRSPACE AND LISTENING

Transponder conspicuity

Must know

A squawk is the Mode A code your SSR transponder replies with so ATC and ACAS-equipped traffic can see you. Mode C/S adds altitude. There is no pan-EASA “listening squawk” scheme like the UK FMC card. Use the conspicuity or assigned code published for the airspace you are in, and talk to the unit when the AIP or RMZ/TMZ rules require it.

Source: Airspace usage requirements (SPI / Mode S FAQ). European Union Aviation Safety Agency. EASA FAQ · Airspace usage requirements · Mode S / ADS-B equipage context. Reviewed 2026-09-07. Open source

Must know

Where airspace or the aircraft rules require an SSR transponder, Part-NCO points you at the installed equipment requirements. Follow the State AIP for when to select codes and when two-way contact is mandatory.

Source: Part-NCO · NCO.IDE.A.200 Transponder. European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Annex VII Part-NCO · Subpart IDE · NCO.IDE.A.200 Transponder. Reviewed 2026-09-07. Open source

Tidbit

Listening out on a busy frequency without a clearance is still good airmanship when the AIP allows it. It is not a substitute for an RMZ call or a clearance into controlled airspace.

PLATE 05 · AT THE AIRCRAFT

Walk-round, fuel, performance

Must know

Mass, CG, equipment, and AFM limits are PIC responsibilities under Part-NCO general operating rules. Brief the numbers before the prop turns.

Source: Part-NCO · NCO.GEN.105 Pilot-in-command responsibilities. European Union Aviation Safety Agency. NCO.GEN.105 · instruments/equipment, mass and CG, AFM limits. Reviewed 2026-09-07. Open source

Try this

Practise runway crosswind maths before the brief.

Crosswind helper

Try this

Hold the track you planned.

Track & drift

PLATE 06 · MONEY AND CLUB CRAFT

Train smart, stay current

Money saver

Share legs with another PPL when club rules allow. Pay for the sector you fly as PIC.

Try this

Price modular training in euros if that is your currency.

Budget planner

Try this

EU and UK schemes when you are ready to apply.

Scholarships

PLATE 07 · KEEP SHARP

Stay current, stay curious

Must know

Keep the Easy Access Rules bookmarked. Amendments land there first.

Source: Easy Access Rules for Air Operations. European Union Aviation Safety Agency. EASA Easy Access Rules for Air Operations landing page. Reviewed 2026-09-07. Open source

Try this

RMZ, TMZ, FIS, and the rest, in plain words.

Glossary

Try this

More links and study tools when you want a deeper dive.

Resources