Private Pilot Licence – PPL (A)

The Private Pilot Licence (PPL) allows holders to fly anywhere in Europe with family and friends. It is also the pre-requisite for gaining a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL).

We offer training towards both PPL (A) and the National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL) licenses. We also provide in-house ground school and theoretical knowledge support, including options for non-members.

PPL (A) Privileges

A PPL (A), together with a valid vlass or type rating, allows you to act as pilot in command on non-commercial flights in aeroplanes covered by your licence.

• To act as pilot in command on ANY single engine piston aircraft for non-commercial operations (subject to differences training).
• Fly passengers (Subject to currency requirements).
• Able to fly anywhere in Europe and outside of Europe (State Dependent).
• Ability to gain additional ratings such as Instrument, Aerobatics, Multi Engine, Instructor.

PPL (A) Pre-Requisites

To obtain a PPL(A), you must:

• Be at least 17 years old when the licence is issued.
• Be at least 16 years old before completing your first solo flight.
• Hold a valid UK Part-MED Class 2 medical certificate before flying solo.
• Complete the required theoretical knowledge training and examinations.
• Be able and willing to commit to a certain amount of self study at home in addition to flying lessons and ground school.

There is no need to wait until you are 16 or 17 before discussing training with us. The appropriate age to begin lessons will depend on the individual student, their maturity and their ability to operate the aircraft safely.

Training For Your Private Pilot Licence

Wherever practical, we aim to provide continuity of aircraft and instructors while giving you the experience needed to become a confident, adaptable pilot.  The applicant must have a minimum of 40 hours to apply for a licence. These hours are to be made up as follows:

• Dual flight instruction sufficient to reach the required standard.
• At least 10 hours of supervised solo flying.
• At least five hours of solo cross-country flying.
• One solo cross-country flight of at least 270 km or 150 nautical miles.
• Full-stop landings at two aerodromes other than the aerodrome of departure.

These hours are an absolute minimum. As we all learn at different paces some people may need more time in order to obtain the standard required for skills test.

PPL Theoretical Knowledge

There are 9 theoretical exams which must be passed in order to start practical lessons and ultimately apply for your PPL. These are multiple choice and not as bad as they sound! We can help you prepare with our theoretical exam courses and one to one training.

PPL Medical Requirements

Before you can fly solo and apply for your PPL licence you will need to pass the appropriate medical requirements. Follow this link for more information.

PPL Skills Test

Once you have completed the required training, passed your theoretical examinations and reached the appropriate flying standard, your instructor will recommend you for a skill test.

The test is completed with an authorised flight examiner (we have our own examiners!) and assesses areas including:

• Flight planning and preparation.
• Aircraft handling.
• Navigation and en-route procedures.
• Take-offs, approaches and landings.
• Abnormal and emergency procedures.
• Airmanship, judgement and decision-making.

The skill test is a formal assessment, but you will already have practised each element during your training. We will only recommend you when your instructor believes that you are properly prepared.

PPL – Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a PPL cost?

The total cost depends on several factors, including:

• Whether you choose the PPL or NPPL route.
• The aircraft used for training.
• How regularly you fly.
• The number of hours you need to reach skill-test standard.
• Landing and navigation charges.
• Ground school and examination fees.
• Medical, examiner and CAA application fees.
• Membership, books, charts, headset and other equipment.

The legal minimums are 40 hours for the standard PPL(A) course and 32 hours for an NPPL(A). Many students require additional training.

Have a look at our FREE Learn to Fly guide for an up-to-date personalised estimate based on our current aircraft and instruction rates. We will explain what is included and help you plan a realistic training budget.

How often should I fly?

The simple answer to this is as often as possible! The more often you fly the more consistent your training will be. Instructors find that students who fly infrequently will spend much of their lesson revising skills that have learnt previously. This will obviously take a lot longer and flying is an expensive activity. Therefore we recommend you come as often as you can afford.