Requirements

Microlight pilots require a National Private Pilot’s Licence for Microlights (NPPL (M)) to fly unsupervised within the UK.  Training can be carried out in the UK or abroad with a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rated flying instructor.  It is issued by the CAA upon completion of the training and examination standards stated below.  Anyone aiming to fly solo should pass the Airlaw Examination and hold a completed NPPL Declaration Of Medical Fitness To Fly (DVLA Group 1) countersigned by their doctor.  Furthermore, in order to carry passengers, they need to hold a valid licence and have a DVLA Group 2 medical.  The form is downloadable from the NPPL website or directly at the Medical Requirements page on the CAA website or even quicker here: NPPL Medical Declaration Form.      

The Licence is issued in two forms:

The Restricted Licence requires the student to complete a minimum of 15 hours flight instruction including 7 hours solo supervision although in practice, this realistically takes between 25 and 35 hours tuition including 10 to 15 hours solo supervision.  Multiple choice type Examinations must be passed in Aviation Law, Navigation, Meteorology, Aeroplanes General, Human Performance & Limitations and a General Skill Test (GST) must be completed with a CAA Flight Examiner.

The Unrestricted Licence requires, in addition to the above, a minimum of 5 hours navigational training including 2 solo cross country flights and their total flight tuition time to be 25 hours.

Note. The Restricted Licence allows pilots to fly no further than 8 nautical miles from their take-off site with a cloudbase of not less than 1000 feet, a wind of less than 15 knots and a flight visibility of not less than 10 km.  Furthermore, they can only carry passengers when they have at least 25 hours total experience including 10 hours solo, which has been signed off by an Examiner.

Age Restrictions

Potential pilots can start training at the age of 14 but those aiming to fly solo must be at least 16 years old and to hold a licence they need to be at least 17 years of age.

A guide to the microlight syllabus

For a full and complete breakdown of the syllabus open the Adobe version below: 

[Printable version]

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Click here to download (free).