Age and Medical Requirements

Minimum Age: You can start PPL at any age, but you must be at least 16 to fly solo and 17 to be issued the license.

Medical Certificate: You must hold a valid UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Class 2 Medical Certificate if training for the initial application of an FCL.PPL, which must be issued by an Aeromedical Examiner (AME). You should secure this before your first solo flight.

Flight Training Hours

The UK CAA requires a minimum of 40 flight hours, which must include:

  • Dual flight instruction as required to pass the licence skill test.

  • At least 10 hours of supervised solo flight time.

  • At least 5 hours of solo cross-country flying, which must include one flight of at least 270 km (150 NM) with full-stop landings at two aerodromes different from the departure aerodrome.

Theoretical Knowledge Exams

As part of the application for a private licence, you will need to take and pass exams in the following subject areas:

Common subjects

  • Air law

  • Human performance

  • Meteorology

  • Communications

  • Navigation

Exams specific to the aircraft category

  • Principles of flight

  • Operational procedures

  • Flight performance and planning

  • Aircraft general knowledge

Practical Skills Test

At the end of your training, you will need to take a skill test with an examiner in the relevant aircraft type to demonstrate that you can competently carry out the procedures and manoeuvres that you have been taught, while acting as pilot in command (PIC).

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 our Piper PA28-180 costs £285 (incl. VAT) per flight hour, which includes home-based landing fees.

For any one-to-one ground school sessions you require, we charge £60 per hour.

Call 07958 368544 to book today!

Personal Logbook

Your logbook serves as the official, verifiable proof of your training and so must meticulously document your training, hours, and flights.

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.