Introduction To The PPL and Associated Ratings

To let you know what is involved with a gaining a PPL and what you can do after gaining a PPL

Age requirements

To hold a PPL you must be at least 17

To go solo you must be at least 16

How Do I Gain A PPL?

Flying requirements

45 hours course (minimum),Minimum of 25 hours dual and 10 hours solo

Four distinct phases:

Dual General handling (exercises 1-11)

Dual Circuits to solo circuits (exercises 12, 13, 14)

Dual Navigation to solo navigation (exercises 18)

Advanced general handling and revision to get ready for Skills Test (exercises 15-19)

What Equipment Do I Need To Gain A PPL?

You can purchase these from our shop

What Are The Examination Requirements?

What Are The Flying Test Requirements?

The Skills Test

• There is one flying examination that can be taken only when everything else is completed.
• The Skills Test is a two-hour test involving Navigation, General Handling and Emergencies, and Circuits. There is a requirement for you to demonstrate a reasonable level of knowledge of the aircraft type that you fly in the test, so a few questions will be asked as part of the test.

What Are The Medical Requirements?

A general level of medical health is required

A list of medical examiners is available via

www.srg.caa.co.uk
or
www.southendflyingclub.co.uk/medical_exam.htm

Cost is in the region of £140 and it is a requirement that you have a medical certificate before you can fly solo

Colour Blindness does NOT preclude you from flying, nor does the wearing of prescription glasses

What Can I Do With A PPL?

• Limited only by your funds and your imagination.
• Take your friends up and let them know just what has been keeping you out of the social scene.
• Fly to the near continent; France and Belgium are easily accessible.
• Weather considerations feature highly in all decisions of whether to fly or not.
  As a PPL you will be confident enough to assess this yourself.
• You will be restricted to flying outside of cloud and in sight of the surface only.
• Learn to fly in different conditions (Night, Aerobatics, On Instruments).
• Learn to fly different aircraft (Cessna 152, P28R Arrow).

What Do I Do To Keep My Licence Current?

• Once you pass the Skills Test your licence is valid for two years
• In the last 12 months of that two year period you must
• Complete 12 hours of flying
• Including 12 take-off and 12 landings
• 6 hours must be pilot in command
• 1 hour must be with an instructor

Or

• within the last 3 months of the licence validity you must complete a successfully proficiency check

Personal requirements:

What Happens After?

It is up to you, where do you want to go?

See the links below to our courses

Home ~ PPL ~ NPPL ~ IMC ~ Night ~ Aerobatics ~ Multi ~ CPL ~ IR ~ FIC

Other Groundschool subjects

Air Law ~ Propellers ~ Principles Of Flight ~ Navigation