Common Questions about the NPPL
Questions relating to the National Private Pilot Licence
Added: 25 June 2005

Question: How many hours of training are there in the NPPL(SEP) course?
Answer: The course consists of a minimum of 32 hours plus tests.

Question: Where can I do the course?
Answer: At any flying club which is a registered facility or Flight Training Organisation.

Question: Who can instruct me for the NPPL(SEP), and are there any special NPPL instructors?
Answer: Any JAR-FCL flight instructor can conduct your training, and, no, there are no special NPPL instructors.

Question: When I have completed my training and tests successfully, how much does the licence issue cost?
Answer: £132

Question: How long is the licence valid for?
Answer: For life, subject to the revalidation requirements.

Question: Do I need a JAR-FCL medical?
Answer: No, you need a declaration of medical fitness signed by your GP, but a JAR-FCL medical certificate is equally valid.

Question: What about complex aircraft?
Answer: As long as the aircraft weight does not exceed 2000 kg, you can undertake differences training which qualifies you to fly more complex single engine types.

Question: Can I be examined on a NPPL skills test by my own flight instructor?
Answer: Yes, but good practice suggests that skills tests should be examined whenever possible by someone other than the instructor who has conducted the bulk of the training.

Question: On the NPPL Application Form, who has to fill in Box 8 and why?
Answer: This box must be completed by the CFI at the flying club or organisation where you undertook the training. This allows your details to be independently verified by an authority known to the CAA.

Question: If I apply for more than one rating on the one application, do I have to pay more?
Answer: No, the application fee is the same, regardless of the number of ratings applied for at the same time.

Question: How long will it be after sending in the forms for me to receive my licence?
Answer: Between 2 and 3 weeks in most cases.

Question: Can I upgrade to a JAR-FCL PPL?
Answer: Yes, up to 30 hours can be carried over as a credit towards a JAR-FCL PPL, as long as this flying training has been completed by a JAR qualified instructor and all JAR PPL exams have been passed. A further 15 hours minimum of training will be needed, of which 5 can be done in a simulator. Full details are provided in JAR-FCL 1.010(a).

Question: Can I hold a JAR-FCL licence and a NPPL simultaneously?
Answer: Yes.

Question: I need medical advice; where can I get it from?
Answer: Information on relevant medical matters and conditions may be found using this website to access the CAA ‘Medical Information Sheets’.

Question: My GP will not sign my medical declaration form; can I approach one of the NPPL medical advisors for a signature?
Answer: No, but if your GP has found the ‘Information for GPs’ and other information on the above CAA website to be insufficient, he or she may contact one of the NPPL medical advisers to discuss a particular case.

Question: Can I fly using a NPPL medical declaration on my JAR-FCL licence?
Answer: No, this would be illegal without the appropriate JAR medical.

Question: I do not have easy access to the Internet, where can I obtain an application form from for both the licence and the medical?
Answer: Either from AOPA, BGA or BMAA, depending on the rating sought (AOPA, SLMG and Microlight respectively).

Question: How many hours each year do I need in order to keep my NPPL current?
Answer: For the SEP rating, you need to have done at least 6 hours flying (of which at least 4 should be as P1) within the 12 months preceding the flight flown, and you must have carried out a training flight of at least 1 hour duration with a flying instructor within the previous 24 months. These words are taken from the relevant Amendment to the ANO and do not reflect the original intention regarding currency. However, this is the law as it stands at present, and it is understood that no change can be expected to reflect the original intention until at least mid-2003.

Question: Does my ATPL (including expired) entitle me to grandfather rights for the NPPL?
Answer: No, the NPPL is a separate stand-alone licence.

Question: Can I assume grandfather rights for differences training, e.g. for a tail-dragger, obtained under my JAR-FCL licence?
Answer: Yes, this will have been recorded in your personal flying logbook, and counts regardless.

Question: Can I fly in the Channel Islands with a NPPL?
Answer: Not at present, but it may become possible in due course.

Question: Do you think I will ever be able to use my NPPL in France?
Answer: Given time, it may become possible through mutual agreement between France and the UK.

Question: Can I fly my 'N' registered aircraft on my NPPL?
Answer: No. This is because the NPPL is a sub-ICAO licence, and the usual reciprocity with the USA and other ICAO contracting states does not apply. As the holder of a UK NPPL, you may only fly in UK airspace in a UK registered aircraft.

Self Launching Motor Glider

Question: What is happening to the UK SLMG PPL?
Answer: The NPPL SLMG Rating has replaced it.

Question: Do I have to replace my old UK SLMG PPL with an NPPL SLMG Rating?
Answer: No. A UK SLMG PPL remains valid providing the JAR medical and flying requirements are met.

Question: What does the NPPL SLMG Rating allow mw to fly?
Answer: ALL SLMG types, including both TMGs and true self launching sailplanes.

Question: Where can I train for the NPPL SLMG?
Answer: There are a number of BGA sites approved for training. Contact the BGA office 0116 2531051


Microlight

Question: Has the microlight training minimum hours requirement changed from 25 hours to 32 hours in line with the other NPPL ratings?
Answer: No, the minimum hours training requirement for the NPPL Microlight rating is still 25 hours and the training syllabus remains the same.

Question: Can holders of the NPPL with Microlight rating fly abroad like holders of the pre - NPPL Microlight Licence?
Answer: The NPPL is a day only UK VFR licence and confers no automatic rights to fly abroad. However the UK PPL (A) Microlight was a sub-ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) Licence which also conferred no automatic rights to fly abroad. While the French have given a blanket exemption that allows UK microlight pilots to fly in France provided certain conditions are met, (see the BMAA Website at www.bmaa.org for details), all other countries require you to
obtain permission in advance.

Question: Can I still use the Pink Form (FCL 150A/B) Medical Certificate for my microlight licence?
Answer: If you have a PPL (A) Microlights you may continue to use a current FCL 150A/B until it expires. Thereafter you should use the NPPL Medical Form, which is required less frequently. If you are about to start training for a microlight rated NPPL you will need to obtain a NPPL Medical Certificate which you can download from this website.

Question: What do I need to do to fly microlights on my Group A licence?
Answer: If you have flown microlights on your CAA issued "Group A" licence since January 1999 and have remained current by obtaining a certificate of experience every 13 months then you can have a microlight rating added to your licence without any additional testing or training under "grandfather" rights . If you have never flown microlights on your Group A licence but wish to start, then you will need to undertake type conversion training leading to a GFT, which you must pass together with the Microlight Ground Oral exam, before applying for the addition of a microlight rating to your "Group A" licence. If you have a JAR FCL PPL, then you will need to undertake type conversion training leading to a GFT, which you must pass together with the Microlight Ground Oral exam, before applying for the addition of a microlight rating to your JAR FCL PPL. All applications for the addition of a microlight rating should be made to the BMAA on NPPL Form 102M, available for download on this website, accompanied by a cheque for £65 made payable to the CAA or alternatively the payment details must be completed on the NPPL Form 102 if payment by credit/debit card is preferred.

Question: Do I have to be issued with a NPPL or can I still have the old style Microlight Licence?
Answer: The NPPL with Microlight rating has replaced the old "stand alone" Microlight Licence, which is no longer issued. There are advantages to holding a NPPL, chiefly the ability to add Single Engine Piston and/or Self-Launching Motorglider ratings by following the cross-crediting arrangements agreed by the NPPL Steering Group. These can be viewed on this website and downloaded to your PC for printing. Return to the home page and click on the tab "Licence Allowances".