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NPPL(A) Microlight licence

The training we do is for the NPPL(A) Microlight licence which is the cheapest way to get your wings in a 3 axis fixed wing aircraft and has the shortest training requirement.

It does come with a few restrictions – as the name suggests, it is a national licence and is only valid for VFR flights within the UK, although there are reciprocal arrangements with some EU countries which allow you to fly within their airspace.

Our initial flight training is conducted in a Comco Ikarus C42a aircraft but we also have a tailwheel Eurofox for advanced training and tailwheel conversions. See our fleet here.

The minimum licence requirement is 25 hours of flight training. In addition, you must complete five exams and pass a General Skills Test (GST). All training, examinations and skills tests are conducted in-house at Popham Airfield.

Still deciding?

Our trial lessons are available for anyone who’s unsure or still deciding if flying is for them. The time spent with the instructor and in the aircraft will allow you to find out first-hand how much fun can be had, and how achievable gaining your wings can be.

If you would like to discuss your options for gaining your NPPL(M), or you’d just like to have a look around our school, feel free to drop in for chat or give us a call on 01256 398254.

Training costs

Unlike some flight schools, we are open and transparent about your training costs. We do not offer package deals, instead opting for a pay-as-you-go system which is generally preferred by our students.

Flying with an instructor in a C42 costs £170 (incl. VAT) per flight hour, which includes home-based landing fees.

For any one-to-one ground school sessions you require, we charge £45 per hour.

Flight training requirements

The Microlight Class Rating can be issued with either of two options: Without Operational Limitations or With Operational Limitations.

The minimum flight training required for the grant of a NPPL with a Microlight Class Rating Without Operational Limitations is:

Minimum total flight time under instruction25 hours
Minimum flight time solo10 hours
Minimum total navigation flight time5 hours
Minimum solo navigation flight time3 hours

The minimum flight training required for the grant of a NPPL with a Microlight Class Rating With Operational Limitations is:

Minimum total flight time under instruction 15 hours
Minimum flight time solo 7 hours

The Operational Limitations at initial issue are:

  1. The pilot may not carry any passenger;
  2. The pilot may not fly with a cloud base less than 1,000 feet above ground level or with less than 10 kilometres visibility;
  3. The pilot may not fly further than 8 nautical miles from take-off.

As part of your flight training, you must take and pass a test with an authorised flight examiner to demonstrate your ability to fly a microlight through all the manoeuvres that you will have learned during training.

The test is called a General Skills Test (GST). The flight time of the GST can count towards the minimum total flight time required to obtain the NPPL but not towards the minimum solo time.

To ensure that when your licence is issued your skill level and knowledge is current, you must have completed the minimum solo flight time and all the navigation flight training within the twenty-four month period immediately prior to applying for your licence. The GST must be taken and passed within the nine-month period immediately prior to applying for your licence.

Ground training requirements

The training syllabus lists the subject matter that an applicant for a Microlight Class Rating must understand. There is no minimum requirement for training by an instructor to achieve this knowledge, but the applicant must have demonstrated a knowledge of the subject matter by passing examinations.

There are written examinations in five subjects:

  • Meteorology
  • Navigation
  • Aviation law
  • Human factors
  • Aircraft technical subjects

The examinations must have been passed within the twenty four month period immediately prior to applying for your licence.

There is one further examination to complete, which is a demonstration of your knowledge of the aircraft type that you have used to complete your GST. This examination is an oral examination and must be conducted by a flight examiner entitled to examine on microlight aircraft. It is usual, but not mandated, that the examination is conducted at the same time as the GST by the same examiner. The ground oral examination must have been passed within the nine month period immediately prior to applying for your licence.

Allowances for holders of other licences and ratings

Pilots holding licences or ratings for other classes of aircraft, current or expired, may be entitled to allowances against the minimum hours required for the NPPL(M). Student pilots with uncompleted courses may also be eligible. For further details, see the ‘cross-credit’ document on the BMAA website here.

Medical requirements

A pilot may only fly microlights as Pilot in Command in the UK if they are considered physically and mentally fit to do so.

For the NPPL there is provision for a pilot to declare themselves as physically fit to fly. The Declaration is made on-line on the Civil Aviation Authority web site. There are a number of disqualifying medical conditions that mean a pilot is unable to declare themselves as medically fit. If a pilot suffers from or has a history of these conditions or illness, then they must obtain a Medical Certificate from a UK CAA Approved Medical Examiner (AME). Details of disqualifying conditions are published on the CAA website here.

Pilots must be aware of their responsibilities if they suffer from a decrease in medical fitness. The BMAA strongly recommends that student pilots make their medical declaration or obtain a Medical Certificate at the start of their training to ensure that they will be able to meet the required medical standards and do not wait until just before they are ready to fly solo, by which time they MUST have made a declaration or hold a valid Medical Certificate.

Personal flying logbook

This is an important document – look after it! You must produce this logbook as evidence of your training when you apply for your licence at the end of your course. Once qualified, you must continue to record all your flights. Your Pilot Rating needs to be revalidated every two years and your logbook contains the evidence of the necessary experience to do so. Your instructor will give you guidance when making the first line entry. Guidance is also provided on the BMAA website here.

Everything else

Licence application

Application for the grant of a NPPL with a Microlight Class rating must be made in writing on the NPPL Microlight Licence application form through the BMAA Licence Administration Centre at the BMAA office address.

To remove the passenger carrying limitation, the licence holder must have completed at least 25 hours of total flying in microlights (either under training or as a licensed pilot) and at least 10 hours solo flying in microlights. The holder’s experience is certified in their logbook by a flight examiner and the limitation ceases to apply from that time.

To remove the other limitations the holder must have completed at least 25 hours of total flying in microlights (either under training or as a licensed pilot) including at least 10 hours solo flying in microlights. Additionally, the holder must have completed the navigation training requirements specified in the syllabus within the twenty-four-month period immediately prior to applying to have the limitations removed.

Application to have these limitations removed must be made in writing on the NPPL Microlight Licence application form through the BMAA Licence Administration Centre at the BMAA office address.

Book now

Give us a call on 01256 398254.

Drop us an email at learn2fly@airbourneaviation.co.uk.

Or fill in our web form below.

Let’s get you off the ground.

Call us to chat through your options or answer any questions you have – we’re a friendly bunch!

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