Licence Requirements

Age Requirements

You can start taking flying lessons at any age, but there are minimum age thresholds that matter. You cannot log flying hours until you are 14 years old. Solo flight is permitted from age 16, and the minimum age for the issue of a Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) is 17 years. For the lighter-touch Light Aircraft Pilot's Licence (LAPL), the minimum age is also 17. There is no upper age limit to hold a PPL or LAPL, provided you can continue to meet the medical requirements.

Which Licence Are You Aiming For?

Most people learning to fly in the UK are working towards either the LAPL or the PPL. The LAPL requires a minimum of 30 hours total flight time and allows you to fly single-engine piston aircraft up to 2,000 kg with up to three passengers, but only within the UK and certain other countries. The PPL requires a minimum of 45 hours and is an ICAO-standard licence, meaning it is recognised internationally and can be used as the foundation for add-on ratings and, eventually, professional licences such as the Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) or Airline Transport Pilot's Licence (ATPL). If you have any ambition to fly professionally, the PPL is the right choice from the start.

Medical Requirements

The medical certificate you need depends on which licence you are pursuing. For the LAPL, you require a LAPL Medical, which is a relatively straightforward examination conducted by a CAA-approved Aeromedical Examiner (AME) or, in some cases, your own GP if they are CAA-approved. For the PPL, you need a Class 2 Medical Certificate, which is a more detailed examination and must be carried out by a CAA-authorised AME. A Class 1 Medical is required for professional licences such as the CPL and ATPL.

For PPL holders, the validity of a Class 2 medical varies by age. Under 40, it is valid for 60 months. From age 40 to 49, it reduces to 24 months. From age 50 to 69, it is valid for 12 months, and over 70, it reduces to six months. AMEs can be busy, particularly at popular flying schools, so book your medical appointment early in your training rather than waiting until you are approaching your first solo flight. Waiting three to four weeks for an appointment is not unusual.

Pilot Training Cost Calculator

Work out what learning to fly really costs: get a realistic UK estimate for your licence, broken down into flight hours, instruction, exams, medical and test fees, so there are no surprises.

Try our Pilot Training Cost Calculator free, here on this site →

Flying Hours

For the PPL, a minimum of 45 hours total flight time is required. At least 25 of those hours must be dual instruction with a qualified flying instructor, and at least 10 hours must be solo flight. Of the solo hours, five must be cross-country flying, including a qualifying solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles with full-stop landings at two aerodromes other than your departure point.

In practice, most students take between 55 and 70 hours before they are ready for the skills test. At typical UK rates of around £160 to £220 per hour for a basic training aircraft, you should budget realistically for somewhere between £9,000 and £15,000 to complete the PPL, including ground school, examinations and test fees.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Theory Examinations

The PPL requires passes in nine theory subjects, all in multiple-choice format, with a pass mark of 75 percent on each paper. The subjects are:

• Air Law and ATC Procedures
• Aircraft General Knowledge
• Flight Performance and Planning
• Human Performance and Limitations
• Meteorology
• Navigation
• Operational Procedures
• Principles of Flight
• Communications

All nine exams must be passed within 18 months of the first sitting, and your flying training must be completed within 24 months of that first pass. Exams are taken at a CAA-approved test centre. Many flying schools hold approved test centre status, which makes it straightforward to sit an exam on a day when bad weather has cancelled flying.

You must pass the Air Law examination before flying solo. It is also sensible to sit the Communications paper early, as there is a separate practical radio telephony test and booking slots can take several weeks to arrange.

The Skills Test

Once your hours are logged and your theory exams are complete, you will take a practical skills test with a CAA examiner. The test covers general aircraft handling and a navigation exercise. Your flying instructor will tell you honestly when you are ready. The 45-hour minimum is just that, a minimum, and most schools will not put you forward until they are confident you will pass.

Applying for the Licence

After passing the skills test, your school submits your application to the CAA along with your logbook records and the relevant documentation. Allow up to three weeks for the licence to be issued. Once you hold a PPL, it is valid for five years but must be revalidated every 24 months, either by completing a proficiency check with an examiner or by logging at least 12 hours in the preceding 12 months, including six hours as pilot in command, 12 take-offs and landings, and a one-hour training flight with an instructor.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Pilot Training Cost Calculator lets you work out what learning to fly really costs: get a realistic UK estimate for your licence, broken down into flight hours, instruction, exams, medical and test fees, so there are no surprises. Try it now →