The Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) is the gold standard licence for people interested in recreational, non-commercial flying. It is an immensely powerful licence that allows you to fly as Pilot in command worldwide with up to 19 passengers in aeroplanes up to a Maximum Take-off Weight of 5750Kg.
You can add an instructor rating to a PPL, which allows you to carry out flight instruction for the PPL and Light Aircraft Pilot’s Licence (LAPL). You can also add an examiner rating, which allows you to conduct skill tests for the PPL and LAPL and any associated ratings. This means you can instruct and examine for hire and reward with just a PPL You can also add a multi-engine rating, a night rating and an instrument rating.
The minimum age to commence training for a PPL is 14, the minimum age for first solo flight is 16 and the minimum age for licence issue is 17 years. A PPL when issued is issued for life but to exercise the privileges of the licence a valid medical certificate is required or in certain circumstances the pilot can make a Pilots Medical Declaration (PMD) in accordance with the Medical Requirements for Private Pilots, as detailed in the Civil Aviation Authority’s web site.
As you can see, the rules are complex, but we can help ensure you comply with them. Firstly, before you are ready for first solo, and before you have spent any significant amount of money on your training, you must get a medical. This needs to be at least a Class Two medical and would normally be provided by an Aeromedical Examiner (AME). The school can supply a list of local AME’s who would be able to carry out your medical.
The flight training requirement for the PPL involves a minimum of 45 hours training of which 10 hours will be solo, including 5 hours of solo cross country incorporating a cross country flight of at least 150 nautical miles including two full stops landing at airfields other than the departure airfield. The ground school element is identical to the LAPL see our Ground School page and includes 9 written exams and a practical Radio Telephony Test. The training culminates in a Flight Skills Test.
The addition of a multi engine rating and instrument rating make the PPL a profoundly serious, ‘go anywhere’ licence, capable of being used in Class A airspace down to the same weather minima that airline crew operate to.
At first when you are the holder of a brand new PPL you will be restricted to daytime-only visual flight rules flying, but through the course of training for your PPL you will have laid the foundation of a set of skills and airmanship which will allow you to build hours and experience gradually and will be well placed to tackle additional courses of training for more advanced Licences and Rating if you choose to do so.