There are currently two types of licence for UK pilots, the UK CAA PPL (Aeroplane), and the UK CAA LAPL (Aeroplane). Both the licence requirements and the privileges differ.
PPL (A) or LAPL (A)?
Choosing which licence to go for is simple – if you want to fly with more than three passengers, in marginal weather conditions, you need the UK CAA PPL (A) licence. The PPL (A) has few restrictions and allows you to add the IR(R) instrument rating to your licence. The LAPL (A) is restricted to single engine aircraft, with a maximum take of weight of 2000kg and no more than 4 persons on board including the pilot.
Both licences are valid throughout Europe and can include the Night qualification.
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Our Student Licence Packages
PPL All Inclusive Package*: £11,995
Save over £1700
- UK CAA PPL Dual Flight Training (45 Hours) (Cherokee 140)
- 10 hours Ground Instruction
- 5 hours Solo Simulator Hire (inc. checkout)
- CATS Aviation Ground Training Package
- All required equipment
- All 9 CAA Theory Ground Examinations
- RT Practical Exam
- PPL Final Skills Test (inc. a/c hire)
PPL Flight Package: £10,975
A saving of £855
- UK CAA PPL Dual Flight Training (45 Hours) (Cherokee 140)
- Ground Instruction (10hrs)
LAPL Flight Package: £7,330
A saving of £630
- UK CAA LAPL Dual Flight Training (30 Hours) (Cherokee 140)
- Ground Instruction (7hrs)
PPL Starter Package: £1235
Saving of £200– makes a great gift!
- UK CAA PPL Dual Flight Training (5 Hours) (Cherokee 140)
- Ground Instruction (2hrs)
- Equipment: Log book, Checklist, Kneeboard, PPL Book 1
Course Details
Before you can apply for your licence, there are requirements that have to be met before the licence can be issued.
The first is a medical. If you are applying for the EASA PPL (A) or LAPL (A) licence, you will need to have passed a Class 1 or Class 2 medical certificate, issued by a CAA authorised medical examiner (AME).
There is also a minimum age for the licences to be issued. This is currently 17, although training can be started before this time.
The two courses are similar in subject, but the hours required before the licences can be issued vary depending on which you choose to apply for. The EASA PPL (A) requires a minimum of 45 hours, 25 of which will be dual instruction, and 10 hours will be solo including at least 5 hours of cross-country flying.
The LAPL (A) course requires 30 hours flying, 22 of which are dual and 10 are solo incorporating 4 hours of solo cross-country flying.
Both licence types require the student to have passed multiple choice exams on the following 9 subjects:
- Aviation Law
- Operational Procedures
- Human Performance & Limitations
- Navigation & Radio Aids
- Meteorology
- Aircraft (General)
- Principles of Flight
- Flight Performance & Planning
- Communications
There will also be a radiotelephony practical exam for the Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence, which allows you to operate the VHF radios in an aircraft in UK airspace.
Further Training
The IR(R) IMC course teaches the pilot to fly in marginal weather conditions including cloud, radio navigation and instrument approaches. The IR(R) IMC is a national rating – the CAA will only add an IR(R) rating to a UK issued PPL licence. Minimum requirements for the IR(R) course are at least 25 hours experience following PPL issue (10 of which are as Pilot In Command and 5 hours of cross-country flying). The IR(R) course is a 15 hour course – 15 hours of dual instruction of which 10 hours is flying solely on instruments.