Licence Requirements & Privileges – PPL

About the Private Pilot Licence
The EASA PPL, European Aviation Safety Agency Private Pilot Licence entitles the holder to fly EASA registered aeroplanes registered in the EU and non-EASA registered aircraft in the UK providing the holder has the correct ratings. However, as suggested in the title of the licence, it is a ‘Private’ licence and is purely for private flying only, not for commercial operations that lead to remuneration.
Privileges
A Private Pilot Licence will allow you the holder to act as the Pilot In Command (PIC) of a non-commercial aeroplane or touring motor glider (TMG).
There are a number of exceptions to the ‘non-commercial’ part of the privileges, whereby the holder can be paid for the following:
- Flight Instruction
- Conducting Skills Tests & Proficiency Checks for the LAPL(A) or PPL(A) and any associated ratings and endorsements.
Requirements For Issue
Minimum age for aeroplanes & helicopters 17
Before applying you must have:
- Completed a training course at an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) or a DTO (Declared Training Organisation) which should include the following:
- 25 hours or dual instruction
- 10 hours of supervised solo flight time, including 5 hours of solo cross country flight as a minimum and one cross country flight of at least 150NM with full stop landings at TWO different aerodromes (aside from the departure airfield)
- Passed 9 theoretical examinations:
- Air Law
- Aircraft General Knowledge
- Flight Planning & Performance
- Human Performance & Limitations
- Meteorology
- Navigation
- Operational Procedures
- Principles of Flight
- Communications
- Fulfilled the requirements for the class or type rating for the aircraft used in the skill test
- EU Class Two Medical Certificate (More Details Here)
- Skills Test pass with an approved CAA Examiner (list of examiners here)
If you already hold a LAPL(A) then you must complete the following training (which is less than that detailed above for a first time applicant):
- At least 15 hours of flight time on aeroplanes after the issue of the LAPL (A), of which at least 10 hours should be flight instruction at an ATO.
- This flight instruction must include 4 hours of supervised solo flight, of which at least 2 hours must be solo cross country, with at least 1 cross country flight of 270km (150NM) or more, plus full stop landings at 2 aerodromes different from the departure airfield.
Currency Requirements
Your EASA PPL is valid for lifetime as long as you hold a valid medical certificate. Along with your licence however, you will hold a class rating, such as a Single-Engine Piston Rating, which has different currency requirements, more of which can be found here.
What can I add to a Private Pilot Licence?
Single-Engine Piston Rating
Multi-Engine Piston Rating
Night Rating
Instrument Rating
Instructor Rating
Aerobatics Rating