Is the NPPL safe under the plans of EASA?
 

Is the NPPL safe under the plans of EASA?

I believe so
 

I don't think they'd stop a license and right even of someone flying if they have been doing it fine. If they did stop they'd get a lot of sh:mad:t from people (Especially me, Ive already had my wings clipped once (class 2 + PPL) I ain't having them taken away!!) whom are not medically fit to hold a class 2 but can fly on a NPPL. They could even risk facing a discrimination against disabilities case:ugh:. :confused:

They are stopping the IMC! basically EASA will not recognise any countries individual license...such as

IMC
BCPL

NPPL is a UK only license so I am hazarding a guess that this is also on the hit list.

EASA are taking over FCL (Flight Crew Licensing) So anyone with a JAR license will soon have an EASA license. Anyone with the old style UK CAA license is stuffed.

If they stuff me they'd better be ready
 

They'd better not even try to stuff me like a turkey...:mad::O

So why not the NPPL but restricted to UK airspace?

Thats a good question Capt.

Everyone is asking the same about the IMC. But every other state that has signed up to EASA and the airlines want to see the back of it, so it is pretty much a done deal.

Your best bet would be to see if you can get an FAA class 3 medical and an FAA PPL. That way you will get a full PPL + night qualiufication and you will be able to fly G or N reg aircraft in Europe (just not IR in a G reg).

hmmm
 

I am aware though that the CAA etc is going to be close to releasing a version of the NPPL which would allow me to carry passengers based upon the fact I could do so in the USA. However getting a FAA PPL and a Class 3 isnt an option as I still would not be able to carry my friends and family as the restriction placed upon a FAA PPL for a Insulin diabetic is that pax flights (ie friends and family) can only be done in FAA airspace which we have a distanct lack of here in the UK :ugh::(

Split this from the Spare Seats Thread.........

New EASA recreational PPL likely to come in around mid 09. Based on our NPPL with a “similar” medical. Report from the committee should be out very soon. Hoped to give all the advantages of the NPPL without the UK only restriction. Also likely to allow VFR on top as is allowed in most of Europe.

I assume that the NPPL will be discontinued but that grandfather rights will apply, but this is a guess.

Rod1

I think the NPPL will get grandfathered into the LAPL, but the details are unknown - additional training may be required depending on the exact LAPL spec.

Yeah I have heard of the LAPL, so is there any point in me completing my NPPL?

If there is going to be grandfather rights in to the LAPL then definatley go for it. If not then it depends what EASA plan to do.

The NPPL is the product of industry-wide consultation in the UK. It also has an upgrade route to the JAR-FCL PPL(A).

Regrettably, the pointless LAPL has neither a unified industry input, nor any defined upgrade path to the EASA FCL. Moreover, certain UK organisations want to have direct influence on the MDM032 group, rather than agreeing a common way ahead with other UK pilot associations. Perhaps because they see themselves as the 'Light Aircraft' licence facilitator for this stupid licence - and the business opportunity this would bring to them.

Personally I see no point whatever in any 'harmonised' sub-ICAO licence such as the absurd LAPL. There is no guarantee that the NPPL will have any grandfather rights, neither will it be as straightforward for Microlight or SLMG Rating holders to add a SSEArating as it is at present.

My recommendation to everyone would be to respond to the NPA when it appears by saying that EASA must not be permitted to legislate at sub ICAO level - and there is no need whatsoever for the pointless LAPL since the NPPL gives its holders precisely what they want.

Is it any coincidence that the 'PFA' has decided to re-title itself the 'LAA'?

Yes, of course! Don't go on hold for possibilities that may never happen. Get your NPPL gone as conveniently early as possible and enjoy your flying; that's what it's all about!

At present, all your NPPL hours will count towards a JAR-PPL. If EASA decide that the NPPL won't have grandfather rights, then you might well have the time to upgrade to the JAR-PPL and have that converted directly into an EASA-PPL. You might well then be able to down-size into a LAPL.

On the other hand, your NPPL might well convert directly into a LAPL. No-one can say at the moment; it's ALL speculation.

I reckon it's going to be at about 2 years before things are finalised, based on the speed of progress in other areas.

Cheers,
TheOddOne

TheOddOne our chappy Captainkarl has type 1 diabetes and cannot hold a JAR PPL.

My thread was split from another due to thread drift. Basically Captainkarl wanted to get some right hand seat time in as he reached 50 hours and then got diagnosed with diabetes and lost his medical. He then asked about the NPPL which is when I asked about the longevity of the NPPL.

It totaly sucks for the poor guy loose one license and now has the possibilty of loosing his only other chance of being able to fly in UK/European skies.

Yes, agreed. Perhaps EASA medical requirements might become more enlightened, certianly Dr. Peter Saundby is working hard for us in that direction. I also had a medically restrictive position until a couple of years ago. I have a UK BCPL (earned by taking the CPL exams and CPL flight test rather than grandfather rights) but couldn't get a UK or JAR Class 1 medical. Now, they've changed the eyesight correction limits slightly (I was only just outside) and I've a JAR CLass1 and a JAR FI on my BCPL. What'll happen to me? No idea, but I'm just doing what I can now; I'm sure I have some time to enjoy my new career and maybe enough time to make suitable arrangements when the changes start happening. So all I'm saying, don't let worries about the future put you off enjoying flying now.

Cheers,
TheOddOne

In all the confusion, this thread has thrown up one interesting question (well loads actually, but this one is positive) If I'm to loose my UK PPL A :mad: and have to have an EASA one instead, will it allow me to fly VFR on top? If we're loosing UK priveledges, are we also loosing UK restrictions?

SS

Shortstripper

Knowing are beolved leaders we will probably get shafted both ways:eek: But wouldnt it be nice to loose those UK namby pamby restrictions.

Those who are training for the NPPL in the UK at the moment have nothing to worry about. The current position is that the training that is to be completed has to be completed to JAR-FCL standards by JAR-FCL qualified instrucors and the theory exams are also the JAR-FCL PPL theory exams.

Therefore is the NPPL came to a sudden halt and a new European licence replaced it, even with no grandfather rights, you can show evidence of training and testing which will be satisfactory for the issue of such a licence.

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BEagle,

Your anti-European stance clouds your statements.

The NPPL is far from perfect. One example being the requirement for a person holding a microlight rating who will already have completed stall and spin awareness training to complete more of such training that is required by an initial applicant before getting an SSEA rating.

I do not think that you can really say that the NPPL gives everyone what they want except for the microlight pilots who are not limited to the UK as their SSEA rating holders are.

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Well the simple answer is that you will not loose any privileges. You will gain by not having UK restrictions the two main ones being the terretorial restriction and the weather limitations imposed by the CAA.

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I would recomend that everyone take time to read and consider the comment and response documents when they arrive. I would also recomend that individuals make appropriate comments and not simply rely on organisations to represent their position because as can be seen from BEagle's comments regarding anything that does not have a E 2 R stamped on it, many organisations will comment for political or other reasons rather than the simple desire for improvement and harmonisation of aviation in Europe.

Regards,

DFC

SS - the LAPL is years away and nobody knows the details. It is fairly widely speculated that VMC on top will be one of the privileges - simply because that is the ICAO default, on which the UK is the only exception in Europe.

But the LAPL is thought to be sub-ICAO, which means all bets are off. They could have all sorts of silly rules on it, appropriate to whatever (reduced) nav content there might be.

EASA's written proposals so far indicate that EASA wishes to deregulate the private flying scene, which is GOOD, but at the same time they seem to operate by getting the implementation details drafted by various committees which are inevitably staffed by the same old vested interests. And if a committee delivers something barmy (which WILL happen on occassions, due to the people on it and all the politics outside the room and under the table) the EASA executive can override the proposal and start again. And no I don't understand it either. This makes any attempt at guessing the future impossible.

My take is that we will end up with a pan-European VFR license, possibly sub-ICAO (this being required to enable a reduced medical), and the huge question is whether it will have any kind of instrument option (which would then offer a way forward for IMCR holders). Basic VFR seems assured, along with sex, chips, Big Brother, football, fishing, and all the other pillars of british intellectual life.

Legal VMC on top is nice, very nice in fact, but let's be honest - who is flying behind you enroute and videotaping the cloud cover around you with a view to prosecuting you for not being in sight of surface because there were no visible holes in the cloud? The real crunch with being limited to VFR is that you cannot afford to get stuck above a solid overcast when at your destination and you cannot afford to get caught out like that even if you have VMC on top privileges. There are various cheats but the only legal method is a Mayday. So, the enroute issue is moot and I would not lose any sleep over it.

I should have made it clearer that I was referring to the priveledges of the old UK PPL A. Loosing present priviledges such as IMC, lifetime licence, attached SLMG ect would be quite a loss ... but softened if we get things like PPL FIR, and VFR on top as enjoyed by many other Europeans. I know the thread was aimed at NPPL so I drifted a bit.

IO540 .... Point taken!

SS