So you want to fly a small plane yourself? Good news: you don’t need to be a genius or rich (okay, a bit of savings helps). In Europe there are two main licences for flying for fun, and both start the same way: with a trial flight and a big grin.
LAPL or PPL?
The LAPL is the lighter, quicker licence. The PPL takes a bit more training but lets you do more, and it’s recognised worldwide.
| LAPL(A) | PPL(A) | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum flight training | 30 hours (at least 15 dual, 6 supervised solo) | 45 hours (at least 25 dual, 10 supervised solo) |
| Solo cross-country | 3 hours, including one trip of at least 150 km (80 NM) with a full-stop landing at another airfield | 5 hours, including one trip of at least 270 km (150 NM) with full-stop landings at two other airfields |
| Aircraft | Up to 2,000 kg maximum take-off mass, max. 4 people on board | Any single-engine piston aeroplane you’re rated for, more ratings possible later |
| Where you can fly | Mainly in EASA countries | Worldwide (ICAO licence) |
| Medical | LAPL medical | Class 2 medical |
| Minimum age | 17 (first solo from 16) | 17 (first solo from 16) |
One extra rule for LAPL holders: you can take passengers only after 10 hours as pilot in command once you have the licence.
From first flight to licence
- Book a trial flight. Most flight schools offer one. You sit in the left seat, an instructor sits next to you, and you’ll know within ten minutes whether you’re hooked.
- Get your medical. Do it early, before you spend money on lessons. An aero-medical examiner checks that you’re fit to fly.
- Pick a flight school. In EASA land that’s an ATO or a DTO. Visit a few, look at the aircraft, ask how long students wait for a slot.
- Ground school. Nine theory subjects: air law, human performance, meteorology, communications, principles of flight, operational procedures, flight performance and planning, aircraft general knowledge, and navigation. Each one ends with an exam.
- First solo. One day your instructor gets out and says “off you go”. It’s a circuit you’ll remember forever.
- Cross-country and skill test. You fly to other airfields on your own, then take the skill test with an examiner. You’ll also need a language proficiency endorsement for using the radio.
A few tips
- Fly often. Two lessons a week is cheaper in the end than one a month, because you forget less.
- Start the theory early. Studying on rainy days keeps you moving when you can’t fly.
- Not sure which licence? Many people start with the LAPL and upgrade to the PPL later.
Hours and limits are from EASA Part-FCL (Easy Access Rules for Aircrew), points FCL.105.A, FCL.110.A and FCL.210.A. Rules change, so always check the details with your flight school and your national aviation authority.
Header photo: Blashblam / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0