Hey!
I was just wondering if anyone knows what I need to get my Student Pilot Licence? How many hours do I need logged ? and How many exams ( and which ones ) do I need to take?
Thanks alot
Dan

Hi Dan. The PPL Course requires you to complete the following:
45 Hours flying Instruction including at least 10 hours flying solo
7 Ground Examinations
A Solo Qualifying Cross Country flight, landing at two airfields and covering 150 nautical miles.
1 Flight Test (Skills Test)

If you think you may have problems obtaining a medical, there is now a new version of the licence, called the NPPL, the National Private Pilots Licence.

The licence relies on the pilot producing a declaration of fitness to fly that is signed by their doctor. If you don't meet all the requirements of that declaration, then you still may be eligible to fly with a safety pilot.

Take a look at the Popular Flying Association's website on www.pfa.org.uk to find out more about the medical and specific health condition limits.

The NPPL is a 32 hour course as opposed to the 45 of the PPL, but it restricts the holder to flying during the day, within the boundaries of the united kingdom, and in good meteorological conditions.

Have a look at any flying club web site, all the info plus more will be on their pages.

Find your local club at this website. (http://www.flyingzone.co.uk/flyingschools/flyingschools.htm)

Thanks very much for the info!!! And thanks for the links!

No problem. Let us know who you decide to go with and keep us updated. Also, have a quick look at the thread currently running here, From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=138022)

Don't be afraid either to ask questions here, even the silly ones, there are some amazing people here who will give you a lot of time if you have any problems.

Good luck. :)

Ive had a trial lesson like 1 years ago from Barton Aerodrome, which is where im now going to learn from, ( http://www.bartonaerodrome.co.uk and the school which i will learn from there is http://www.lancsaeroclub.co.uk/school/ ) and about 2 months ago from Manchester School of Flying i had another trial lesson to see if i prefered Manchester to Barton . Im only 14 so im not gonna get too stuck into it until im 15- My dream is to solo at 16 . Ive decided that im gonna learn from Barton. After a talk with them today im going to learn with the Grob G115 as they said: even though its a harder aircraft to fly and not a standard training aircraft, it will make me a better pilot. Learning from Barton is better for me as i save like £50 per hour on each flight!!m I also dont have to dish out £8000 for my PPL , ill save about £1000. which i can then spend on getting night licences and instrument licences , making me more qualified. My ultimate dream is to end up in the left seat of a commercial jet, and i hope u guys here can help me with that!
Dan

I wonder how many years ago it was that the specific "student pilots licence" actually disappeared? There is no such thing these days of course, but it did actually exist ... just curious?

SS

Welcome to the world of aviation Dan.

There is actually no such thing as a student or provisional licence, you simply apply for your ppl after passing the skills test.
That said, maybe there is room for one, and it would make sense, however in the cold light of day, I wonder how much the CAA would charge for such an item????

As for training, you will find that we are all loyal to our own clubs (within reason) and on that basis you may hear somene tell you that a particular club is better or cheaper and so-on. For instance I learn at Liverpool, and therefore regard Barton as a small grass strip, whereas I can enjoy the delights of full Air Traffic Control and a 200m+ runway made of tarmac. This is a great advantage in the rain you know.

Just remember that one mans meat is another mans poison, but I certainly do advocate having a thorough look around before totally commiting yourself, and a great deal of money, to any particular club. I also have to say that using MSF for a trial lesson, whilst they are an outstanding training organisation, wont really do you any good unless you like practising holding. That said every school has its merits, and you could do a whole lot worse.

Once you start training there are a few things to keep in the back of your mind. Firstly consistency. Are you getting the same instructor every week. Make allowances for holidays etc, but if you are flying with a different guy every week then there are issues to be addressed.
Also, as anyone here will tell you, DO NOT think that you will qualify at 45 hours. Hardly anyone does, 50 - 60 is more realistic, and use this figure when working out your finances.

My biggest problem with flying (apart from having run out of money due to kids, wife, mortgage etc, I wish I'd started at your age instead of getting drunk with my mates every weekend) is some of the maths involved. You see I am not thick by any stretch of the imagination, but was really laxy at school, and had teachers that couldn't care less. I can now often be heard uttering those great words
"I wish I'd paid more attention at school, I might be able to do this".
Instead I have to work things out the hard way. My advice, pay attention at school. Get the teacher involved, take a navigation text book in and ask them to explain the trickier elements of the maths required. I am sure they will help. As for me, I have to work twice as hard now, to achieve the same results as a 20 year old who did pay attention in school.

The two very final pieces of advice are, I am sure, what absoloutly anyone on this forum will tell you.

1. DO NOT WHATSOEVER PAY UPFRONT. A small amount may attract a discount something like pay £500 for 5 hours when the normal rate is £110. Something like that. These offers are allright to a point, but be aware that you will lose your money if the school folds. For that reason DO NOT pay for a complete course upfront, perhaps with the exception of the American schools, but be wary here as well. Certainly, any school that wants a full upfront payment in the UK is to be avoided at all costs.

2. Whatever you do with aviation, be that remain a ppl, or become an airline captain, just remember these little worlds
ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again, welcome to the world of aviation, there is nothing like it in the world and remember to have fun, remain safe, but have fun!!

Cessna L Plate

Thanks so much for the information and the very warm welcome. I really have to start working next year!

"There is actually no such thing as a student or provisional licence"

There is!
Its called a Medical Certificate! The old UK medical certificate contained a section, Privileges of a Student Pilot.

Even the JAA Medical Certificate makes reference to student pilots.

You cannot fly solo without a medical certificate so it is still a student pilots licence/certificate.

Thankfully I never had the privelege of having a CAA medical, and I hold a JAA class 2. Although I appreciate the point about solo flying, I am sure that you would agree that a medical certificate is exactly that, even though it extolls priveleges on a student pilot.

A provisional licence is something totally different.

Don't put any ideas into their heads, students would end up having to fork out more money for a provisional licence as well as the exhorbitant fees that are currently charged.

Good luck with the training and remember that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Enjoy!

From the posting above by Cessna l plate1. DO NOT WHATSOEVER PAY UPFRONT. A small amount may attract a discount something like pay £500 for 5 hours when the normal rate is £110. Something like that. These offers are all right to a point, but be aware that you will lose your money if the school folds. For that reason DO NOT pay for a complete course upfront, perhaps with the exception of the American schools, but be wary here as well. Certainly, any school that wants a full upfront payment in the UK is to be avoided at all costs. I can only reinforce the first part of the suggestion not to pay upfront especially what you can't afford to lose. DO NOT PAY UP FRONT to a US school, it is impossible to get your money back if the school folds and very difficult to get your money back if either you find that flying is not for you or you fall out with the school or simply want to move. Getting your money back from any flying school either side of the atlantic is like trying to get chewing gum out of the carpet! Be warned!!!

In FAA land (ie America) there is a specific "Student Pilots Licence" which one must ask for at the time of the medical for its printed ont he back of medical certificates.

The instructor endorses the certificate for solo flight... there are specific FARs that stipulate what has to be completed and when.

However coming back to this side of the pond, we in Britain don't have such things anymore...

With the exception of your JAA Class 2, the first licence you'll obtain is the not-very-nice-to-the-eye brown coloured wallet containing your JAA PPL.

Anyway....

Hello Dan and welcome to PPRUNE.

I'll agree with what has been said above. Do not pay up front. No matter how attractive the discount package may seem.

Another thing to mention and that is Medicals. To be a first officer or captain of an airliner you must have a valid JAA Class 1 medical certificate. This costs something like £420 for the initial medical and must be undertaken at the CAA headquarters at Gatwick. Get this medical as soon as you are able. The Class 1 medical is very thorough, a lot more thorough than the Class 2.

Without a Class 1 medical you can give up any hope of flying for the airlines. I don't want to sound too harsh and if you are a fit and healthy young chap then you should have no problems with the medical itself. Glasses are permitted as long as they are within prescribed limits.

Have a look at:

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?categoryid=49
http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?categoryid=49&pagetype=68&groupid=211

The second link contains direct links to eyesight requirements etc.

If you fall outside of the initial requirements but fall within the renewal standards then all is not lost - speak to the CAA medical team, they are lovely and helpful and we don't say that too often about the CAA here! :D

All the best.

Charlie Zulu.

Very interesting point regarding the student pilot licence!

Many countries have the student pilot licence but the UK has used the Medical certificate as an authorisation for the student to act as pilot in command provided certain restrictions are met.

In recent times, many students have opted for the NPPL which only requires a self declaration of medical fitness countersigned by the person's GP. There are no student pilot privileges associated with this declaration.

Has something been missed in the NPPL system or was the ANO amended to remove the requirement for the student pilot privileges that formed part of the pilot medical?

Regards,

DFC