JB007
17th May 2001, 17:20
Hi guys,
I was wondering if anyone had any info on the new NPPL which is available from the end of this year (I think!)
In particular the medical requirements...I heard that it will not be conducted by an AvMed type chap but at your own GP and will be similar to "a medical for a driving licence" !!!!
Any info at all would be much appreciated...which means I don't need to talk to CAA-FCL and that bloody music while on hold !!!!!
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Regards JB007!
[email protected]
Flight Ops,Crewing and Dispatch Moderator
Rallye Driver
17th May 2001, 20:30
The following was taken from the CAA website @
http://www.caa.co.uk/news/section_one/mn_pr976533853.html
"Among the details agreed for the NPPL are:
* Initially the licence’s ground syllabus will be based on the JAR-FCL 1 PPL syllabus. The ultimate aim is that the NPPL will have its own ground syllabus with a multi-choice examination similar to the current FAA licence.
* The minimum flying hours for training have now been set at 32, of which 22 will be instructional or the time taken by the skill test.
* Concern over the lack of instrument appreciation training in the initial proposals has been addressed. A minimum of one hour’s instrument training will be undertaken with the requirement that a student be able to carry out a 180 degree turn by sole reference to instrumentation. This will be included in the skill test.
* After the licence has been granted a pilot will need to obtain an instructor’s approval for the first three land away cross countries undertaken. The briefing of passengers is included in the syllabus and will also be part of the skill test.
* As previously proposed the medical requirements will be based on the DVLA group two licence (for professional driving). An NPPL applicant needs to declare their own fitness, and this must be endorsed by their General Practitioner as meeting the group two medical standards. A copy of this medical certificate will be sent to the relevant organisation to which the pilot belongs e.g. AOPA, PFA etc. The certificate will be valid for the same length of time as the DVLA equivalent. This is from issue to the age of 45, five yearly from 45 to 65 and then annually.
* For applicants who cannot meet these medical requirements there will be an opportunity to gain a medical through the DVLA group one standards (for car driving). However, these are not as well defined as group two, and the CAA will issue appropriate guidance material to GPs. These will be in the form of information leaflets, and will cove conditions which could affect pilots but not drivers. Again a declaration of fitness by the pilot, and an endorsement from his or her GP will be required. A group one medical will allow a pilot to fly solo or with another pilot qualified on that type of aircraft.
As far as the actual privileges of the licence are concerned these have been discussed in more detail and the current provisional NPPL will be:
* Restricted to flights within UK airspace during daytime under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) with a minimum in-flight visibility of 5kms, or 10kms under Special VFR.
* Restricted to single engine piston aeroplanes with a maximum take-off weight of 2,000kgs.
* Restricted to a maximum of three passengers plus the pilot.
* Restricted to simple aircraft types. Differences training will be required for more complex features such as retractable undercarriage and variable pitch propellers.
* Revalidated automatically by the pilot flying a minimum of six hours per year, four of which must be as pilot in command. A flight with an instructor must be carried out every two years."
Hope this helps
RD