How to get your private pilot license (PPL) in the UK - Part I

Learning to fly an airplane or helicopter can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding goals that a person can reach in their adult life. The process from beginning to end is full of new discoveries and exciting challenges. 'End' is perhaps the wrong word since learning never ends. Although, having qualified, the new pilot decides not to pursue any other form of authorization or certification, there is always something new to learn and the pilot test should not ever be complacent or over confident.

Learning to fly requires diligence, patience, courage, humility and a thirst for knowledge. So how are the practical aspects of management of the aircraft the pilot student must learn to navigate, interpret weather forecasts for local airports, routes and destinations for, flight plan taking account of passengers, baggage and fuel, and make sure that he / she is and the aircraft are operating with the Act.

If all this sounds like a steep climb, then take heart. The process to obtain a set of wings was walked many times before and there is plenty of useful material on the road. All students aspiring to do is follow the steps and addressing each segment of the trip so dedicated and methodical.

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To obtain a JAR-FCL PPL (Private Pilot License) in the United Kingdom the necessary steps are as follows:

1. Obtain Class II medical certificate from a CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) license GP
2. He began studying the various school subjects Ground
3. Complete the PPL utility program in a club or flying school aircraft
4. Pass the seven ground school written examinations and a practical examination radiotelephony
5. Pass a practical examination (Skills Test)
6. Apply to the CAA for the issue of a license

Age Requirements

You can start classes at any age and there is no upper age limit as long as you meet the medical requirements. However, only the flight time recorded at the age of fourteen years or more can count toward your total time of access, and a student must have at least sixteen years to fly solo and at least seventeen, in order to be eligible for a license .

Medical Requirements

For the full JAR-FCL PPL license a student will need a valid Certificate of Class II Medical CAA. This is valid for five years, for students up to age 40. It must then be renewed every twelve months. If you fail the test of class II medical can still opt for the National Private Pilot License. There are less stringent medical requirements for this and it allows many people to fly who otherwise might be grounded. However, it has fewer privileges than the PPL and you can not add additional evaluations of this license.

Groundschool subjects

Subjects groundschool or theory are the following:

* Aircraft General Knowledge and Principles of Flight
* The Aviation Law and Operational Procedures
* The flight performance and planning
* Human Performance and Limitations
* Meteorology
* Navigation and Radio Aids
* Radio Communications

There are a lot of books and courses that provide all the necessary information and exercises to become proficient in each of these topics and help you pass exams. You should also receive ground school lessons to your chosen club flying or flight training center.

Flight Training

The CAA program of flight training for the issue of a PPL amounts to a minimum of 45 hours recorded consisting of the following:

25 hours dual (with an instructor by your side)
10 hours solo (by yourself!)
Only 5 hours cross-country flying
Additional 5 hours flying solo or double

However, few people are ready for the final Skills with the least amount of time in the logbook. How many hours does it take for you to become experts depend on many things, such as the frequency of lessons, your ability to learn the skills of your flight instructor and abilities. When calculating the cost of the course should be taken into account, and a total flight time of 60-80 hours to ensure that not just run out of money before completing the course.

Where do I start?

One way to start is to book a trial lesson or experience day flight. Find your nearest flying school and give them a call. Will be glad to welcome you and show you around. If you've never been in a light aircraft before then will be a very revealing. Ask the instructor questions you like and do not be shy. Everyone was a newbie once, and if he / she is a good instructor he / she will explain everything in a way that you can understand and absorb.

A trial lesson might be enough to get you hooked the idea of ​​learning to fly or that might put off for life! If it is not what you expected, but feels sure that you still want to learn then book another study in a different type of aircraft and perhaps another airfield. If your first lesson was in a grass field on the second try on a hard track or vice versa. If you were in a high-wing airplane, try a low-wing airplane.

If you arrived at this point is likely to continue so it's only a matter of finding the right school, instructor, and aircraft for you. In the second part we will go into more detail about the process of learning to fly first class to get the wings .......