Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL)

Choosing between the different types of licence might seem daunting at first, but with the right advice it is fairly straightforward. We offer the two main licences available in the UK, the Light Aircraft Pilots Licence (LAPL) and the Private Pilots Licence (PPL).

Both licences have various minimum requirements. Unlike learning to drive, you will fly the aircraft on your own (solo) in various different scenarios, one being a qualifying cross country flight during which you will land at at least one other airfield. They also require the same theoretical knowledge and so the ground exams are the same.

The LAPL can be a shorter course as it requires a minimum of 30 hrs flying to complete. It has slightly more restrictions than the PPL in flight terms after you have achieved the licence, but also benefits from a less stringent medical  and is cheaper to obtain if completed in the minimum hours.

The LAPL will allow you to fly with a total of 4 persons on board in a single-engine aircraft up to 2000 kgs, which covers the majority of light aircraft and certainly all of our single-engine fleet. You are also restricted to flying within the UK.

The PPL course is longer than the LAPL at 45 hours but offers greater opportunities for the future. The PPL is an ICAO licence meaning that it is recognised worldwide and also allows the addition of ratings such as an instrument rating.

The PPL requires a Class 2 medical and also has a slightly more detailed test at the end. It is also less restrictive allowing you to fly most single-engine piston aeroplanes unless they require extra ratings/training.

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