Pilot Training | A Student's Tale | The Private Pilot's Licence

The Private Pilot's Licence

There are a number of different types of licence. The European (JAR) Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) and the relatively new National Private Pilot's Licence (NPPL) are the most popular.

The PPL entitles the holder to fly a UK registered aircraft almost anywhere in the world whilst the NPPL restricts you to UK flying in daylight clear weather.

You will be required to pass a medical examination for the full PPL. The NPPL medical requirements are less stringent and requires a minimum of 35 hours flight training. This licence has slight restrictions on how and where you are allowed to fly.

You can start learning at any age though you must be 16 before you fly solo for the first time and 17 before you can obtain your licence.

Training consists of an approved course of flying a minimum of 45 hours covering all aspects of flying. Most people will end up flying more hours than this however. You will also need to learn the theory and law of flying, something you will do both in regular "ground school" sessions and through learning at home.

During flight training you will learn about:

• The basic controls
• Flying straight and level, climbing, descending, turning
• Stalling and slow flight
• Take-off, circuits and landing
• Emergency procedures
• Navigation
• Basic instrument flying
• Precautionary navigation and circuits
• Radio navigation

In addition to flying there is a series of straight forward exams to pass before obtaining your licence. These cover:

• Aircraft Law and Operational Procedures
• Aircraft General and Principles of Flight
• Flight Performance and Planning
• Human Performance and Limitations
• Meteorology
• Navigation and Radio Navigation
• Radio Telephony Communications + Oral