Youngest pilots
 

As far as I can see, the big players (EASA, FAA) are all the same:

Logging at 14 years, solo at 16, licence at 17.

The French microlighters can have a 'limited' licence issued at 15 years, limited to flights within 30km of departure aerodrome and solo.

Anyone know of anywhere younger? Other variations?

Thanks, Sam.

Slight difference in UK gliding, Sam. Earliest first solo is 14th birthday, but earliest bronze badge (without which you can't claim a cross country endorsement or therefore fly outside gliding range of the home airfield or get an NPPL(S) ) is 16th birthday. As I understand it, we in the UK fell into line with German practice when we adopted these age thresholds a couple of years ago.

Sorry, yes - looking at powered flight (excluding balloons!)...

No minimum age to log hours under EASA unless individual ATO has minimum age for training in their manuals.

The minimum age of 14 years to log hours applied to JAR but not EASA - this has been discussed on another thread in PPrune.

Canada Permits & Licences
 

Hi Sam,
Canada certifies power pilots as follows:
Student Pilot Permits at 14 for all categories. Therefore solo flight is possible at that age.

Ultralight Pilot Permit minimum age is 16.
Recreational Pilot Permit minimum age is 16.
(Both Permits are only valid in Canada. RPP limited to carrying one passenger only, Day VFR only, in an airplane certified for no more than four seats. Only additional rating available is for seaplanes.)
Glider Pilot Licence minimum age is 16.
Private Pilot Licence minimum age is 17.
Typed on my phone, so spelling errors are standard issue.

jamesel

So, so far, the French are winning with a microlight licence at 15...?!

"winning"?

Yes, they offer earliest opportunity for someone to hold a pilot licence.

Though Sam is looking at powered. Worth noting also that we have gliding instructors in the UK as young as 16 and flight examiners as young as 19 thanks to the fantastic support of the Honourable Company of Air Pilot's funding, excellent for the CV! Next challenge, youngest CFI?

A quick 'ditto' for the HCAP bursaries on offer - go for it, you'd be surprised how many people don't bother 'because I don't have a chance'! Actually, you do.

I could not agree more. At the local flying club where I teach one of the young students got onto the short list last year. He wasn't selected but learned a lot from entering. I mention the HCAP bursaries to all the young budding pilots - you have to be in it to win it!