Thinking about learning to fly?
Instructors at the Pilot Centre are experienced, keen and dedicated to passing on their skills and knowledge to everyone who is interested in flying, aiming to make the learning as enjoyable as possible. You will usually fly with one of our full time flying instructors, and occasionally perhaps with one of our part time instructors who are mostly airline pilots.
You should soon feel at home with other flying enthusiasts who help to create the friendly, club atmosphere which is the hallmark of The Pilot Centre.
There are 2 Private Pilot Licences available in the UK, the EASA PPL necessary if you are considering a career as a pilot, and the LAPL. The LAPL is a European licence, that is not accepted outside Europe nor is it possible to add ratings to it, but can be upgraded to a PPL later.
| LAPL | EASA PPL |
|---|---|
| The minimum age to go solo is 16 and to hold a licence is 17. There is no upper limit. Experience from the age of 14 can be counted towards the PPL. | |
| Medical requirements are the same as for professional driving | EASA Class 2 medical is required. It is more difficult to obtain and more expensive to maintain. |
9 multiple choice ground exams:
|
|
| Minimum 30 hours; plus a navigation flight test and general flight test | Minimum 45 hours; plus a skill test |
Our Ground School provides tuition in all of these subjects, in the winter months. These examinations are taken at The Pilot Centre. There is also an oral assessment for Radiotelephony.
Extra things to budget for
- Medical
- Headset
- Text books
- Navigation equipment
- Landing fees away from Denham
- Skill Test aircraft rental
- CAA licence issue
- Any additional hours required
Using your PPL
Having gained your Licence, what use can you make of it?
You can hire aircraft for local flights or short trips with your friends and family - or go a bit further. You might also consider developing your skills with ratings, or learn how to fly more advanced aircraft, or even buying your own aircraft.
So where do I start?
Now that you know a little more about what is involved in getting and using a PPL, the next step is usually a trial flying lesson.
Get in touch or (best of all) visit The Pilot Centre to obtain more information. You will find that a warm welcome awaits you whenever you decide to contact us again.