NPPL
Introduction
National Private Pilots Licence (Aeroplanes) (NPPL) is a licence that is issued by the Civil
Aviation Authority. All the training for this can be done at Lasham. This section explains what is
involved.
Background
The NPPL came into effect at the end of July 2002. This licence is aimed purely at those wishing
to fly for fun rather than those who want a PPL as a stepping stone to a commercial licence and a
career in aviation. It is a response to the increasingly bureaucratic and expensive nature of the
JAR-regulated PPL and its associated medical requirements which, while they might be
appropriate for commercial aviation, impose an excessive burden on recreational pilots.
The NPPL provides a Single Engine Piston (SEP) aeroplane rating. With the SEP rating you will
be able to fly aircraft of up to 2,000kg (Piper PA-28s, Cessna 172s etc.) as long as they are socalled simple aircraft types. That essentially means no retractable undercarriages, variable-pitch
props, forced induction engines, pressurised cabins, or aircraft which cruise in excess of
140knots.
All of these limitations can be removed by doing extra "Differences" training. The same will apply
to the difference between tailwheel and nosewheel aircraft - you will have to be specifically
trained on whichever one (or both) you want to fly.
Medical Requirements
The medical requirements for the NPPL will merely a sign-off by your own GP to a standard
equivalent to the DVLA's Group 2 (professional driver) standards. Those who don't meet that, but
do meet the Group 1 (private driver) standard, may be able to get a licence limited to flying
without passengers, or with another qualified pilot.
The NPPL medical certificate, once issued, does not need to be renewed until your 45th birthday.
Between then and your 65th birthday it must be renewed every five years, and after that,
annually. The same NPPL medical certificate covers all the NPPL ratings.
Limitations
The NPPL will be limited to:
• VFR only (no IMC or IR ratings can be added), minimum visibility 5kms (10kms under
Special VFR)
• UK-registered aircraft only
• Flight in UK airspace only
• Simple aircraft types only (can be extended with extra training)
• Maximum of three passengers
The NPPL, being by definition a national licence, is not designed to allow you to fly in any foreign
country. NPPL
2 1 December 2006
Currency requirements
To keep the NPPL current will require 6 hours per year (4 of them as PIC) plus a check flight with
an instructor every two years. There is a 90-day rule which means that you must have done
three take-offs and landings within the last 90 days as sole manipulator of the controls before you
can fly with a passenger.
Training at Lasham
All the training for the NPPL can be done at Lasham using the Motor Falke. Flying costs £1.45/min - £87 per
hour. As an ab initio, you need 32 flying hours plus flying tests. As someone with gliding
experience up to and including cross-country endorsement, you only need ten hours training and
so it is cost effective. The licence is issued for life, with no renewal charges. Note, the medical is
extra.
Exam
NPPL SLMG applicants are required to pass the JAR-FCL PPL theoretical knowledge
examinations. There is a web site with all the details of the NPPL syllabuses and application forms which you can print out at http://www.nppl.uk.com/
