I started as a staunch opponent of the NPPL idea. I am now a total advocate.
I believe the NPPL to be just about perfect. It restores in the UK the situation we had prior to JAA. It makes being a pilot cheaper and more accessible whilst maintaining high standards. It also recognises that aviation has changed and now incorporates a lot of microlight, SLMG and other 'sport' flying.
I would like to congratulate the CAA and the NPPL steering committee for arriving at such a sensible British decision.
A class 2 is an unnecessarily stringent requirement foisted upon us by our continental cousins.
The skill test is the same (bar radio aid fixing) and the instructors will be professionally qualified. Some able students are perfectly safe at 35hrs for toodling about the UK in VMC.
To be honest the JAA PPL requirement for Navaid useage almost invites disaster. It embues some PPL's with a notion of confidence in a skill that they have received scant training in. I have seen people far too often get themselves back to front with VOR and NDB navigation.
They forget to ident, engage the wrong mode or miss-read the instrument. They would be far better off in most cases asking for either a Radar service, a position fix on 121.5 or a flicking on a GPS...
The NPPL restores us to the level of training we had from the mid 50's through to pre-JAA. It makes sensible provision for experience in other areas of aviation. It will be good for UK GA.
For all those the whinge - think on to your older age - the NPPL might extend your ability to fly by many years...
WWW