BLW - look under 'Licence Allowances' at www.nppl.uk.com . You'll find that, with a BGA glider pilot's licence, you'll need not less than 10 hrs dual instruction, the exams, the medical, the 2 skill tests and that's about it!

To go from NPPL (SEP) to JAR-FCL PPL after qualifying for the NPPL (SEP) via this route has yet to be resolved; I will raise the point at our next NPPLSC meeting.

BEagle,

Please could you see if you can get an statement on the requirements for those who want to upgrade an NPPL SEP gained on the basis of cross-credited microlight hours to a JAR PPL.

I passed my NPPL SEP tests a fortnight ago, but since my original microlight training was not done by JAR instructors I don't get the 30-hour credit towards the JAR licence. I have asked the CAA but haven't found anybody there who can tell me what I would have to do to upgrade.

Many thanks.

FS.

Yes - I'll do that.

My proposal will be that the upgrade for NPPLs obtained through non-ab initio SEP training with JAR FIs (such as those with glider, microlight etc accreditation) should follow the same requirements as PPLs from non-JAA member states applying for the JAR-FCL PPL.

BEagle, I would be interested on your view as an examiner on my comments below.

I have recently completed a JAR PPL with the 10 hour credit that I am eligible for as a Silver C +500 hours glider pilot. I have considerable cross country experience (about 1000km per year) and also hold an instructors rating.

My JAR PPL was completed in 38 hours. That is 3 hours above the minimum and most of my flying was concentrated in a 3 week period, so no backtracking.

My points are:-

1. As an experienced (glider) pilot, I still had to complete key lessons to a suitable standard therefore the 10 hours conversion for a glider pilot is a red herring. No flying school will let anybody take an aircraft away solo without the basics in place.

3. As I took 38 hours before my skills test doing everything 'Right First Time', 32 hours training for a NPPL is impossible. Flying schools will still train to a standard.

4. A beginner will take at least 45 hours to complete all lessons to the required standard, which is the JAR requirement.

Conclusion.

If health is not a problem, the cost of a Class 2 medical is small compared to the cost of flying. Therefore the better licence would be JAR for both Silver C glider pilots and beginners.

P.S. Try putting a TMG rating on a JAR SEP licence and you really hit a brick wall. No JAR TMG instructors and JAR TMG examiners are like gold-dust.

One thing in favour of NPPL is that the medical requirements are not so stringent.

The NPPL medical can be done by your GP and equates IIRC to the standard of one of the HGV driving licences. (Don't know which but someone on PPRUNE will know.)

This might be useful if there is any doubt about getting the full medical from an AME.

Still the LFAT Channel Islands idea mentioned earlier is very appealing once you've clocked up a few hours especially if you are based darn sarf, so don't bin the PPL idea without serious thought.


Whatever you choose, one thing is certain: you are guaranteed to love it and be hooked for life.

Hooked for life???

You mean there is no hope for us!!!

FP - I'm a little surprised that a Silver C holder took 38 hours to complete the JAR-FCL PPL. That's no reflection on your skills, but 5 years ago you would only have needed about 10 hours plus the NFT/GFT for a UK PPL if I recall correctly. Perhaps you were being trained to a somewhat 'gold standard' rather than a 'bare minimum' standard - but no doubt you have benefitted (apart from financially!) as a result? Some schools will train up to their own standards, others down to the base level - and regrettably it'll be a case of people 'paying their money and taking their choice'. But that's what industry said that they wanted, so that's what we've delivered - and the CAA are happy with it.

I have always viewed the idea of 32 hours plus NPPL NST and GST as very optimistic; originally it would have been even less and some of us thought that the original proposals would have been tantamount to fraud. But 32 plus tests was the absolute minimum that we were all happy with - so if someone can complete their NPPL in that time, then good for them!

I note that in 1968 it took me 20:20 dual and 14:40 solo between 25 Mar and 19 Apr to obtain my UK PPL - but there was no NFT and 3:30 of that was on my qualifying cross-country (which was the only time I'd ever landed away from my home aerodrome!). I had a (very) few gliding hours, plus A and B certificates to my name before then - and that was it! The NPPL should take roughly the same time to complete for someone reasonably capable on a full time course, but most will very probably take rather longer.

BEagle,

About 5 hours was done before I had a break of about 10 months due to work schedules, so I do not feel that I was cheated out of the 35 hour minimum. 3 hours extra is not too bad.

The organisation I trained with were very proffessional and benefit from some very experienced examiners. The examiner picked up a fault which I have now addressed, so I am pleased with his high standards.