Overview

In the article "Step by step to a private pilot's licence", we gave an overview of how to become a pilot. The individual steps can be divided into three phases. Phase 1 consists of selecting a flying school and compiling the necessary documents such as the medical or ZÜP. Phase 2 is then about the actual training before applying for the licence with the relevant documents in phase 3. 

Here we will focus on the most important second phase, namely training, specifically for the LAPL or PPL for motor-powered aircraft. In addition to the training and test for general language skills and radiotelephony - which we will discuss in detail elsewhere - the theoretical and practical flight training explained here represents the core of the flying training.

​Requirements

Here are the main requirements for starting the training programme: 

The minimum age for the start of LAPL or PPL training is 16 years and for the final acquisition of the licence you must be 17 years old. Otherwise, further requirements and in particular medical fitness must be met. We go into this in detail in the article "Step by step to a private pilot licence". 

​Theory

The theory training for LAPL (A) and PPL (A) is congruent, there is no difference here (therefore no further theory training is required for a possible extension of an LAPL (A) licence to a PPL (A) licence). 

The training must be completed at an authorised flight school - an ATO or DTO - and must comprise at least 100 hours. As a requirement, the theory training must consist in part of physical "classroom training", but may also include videos, computer-based training procedures or online courses. The exact type of knowledge transfer is left up to the flight school. However, the exact content that must be taught is specified. 

The following list includes the various theoretical areas that are trained.  

1. General aviation 

2. Navigation 

3. The basics of flying 

4. Air law and ATC procedures 

5. Meteorology 

6. Human performance 

7. Operational procedures / behaviour in special cases 

8. Communication 

9. Flight performance and flight planning 

The Part-FCL document (link at the end) contains the syllabi for the LAPL and PPL licences. 

After completing the theoretical training, the ATO must recommend the applicant for the theory test. Once this recommendation has been given, you have 12 months to take the exam for the first time, otherwise you will need to take a retraining course. From the time of the first examination attempt, you have 18 months to successfully complete the examination in total (i.e. if you need several attempts, you have 18 months to do so). You have a maximum of 4 attempts per subject and a maximum of 6 sessions in total for all areas.  

The examination takes place at the aviation authority that is responsible, depending on the location of the flight school. It is conducted as a multiple choice test with 120 questions and 75% correct answers are required to pass. Further details on the theory test can be found in a separate article. 

​Practice

The practical training follows the theoretical training (you can do both at the same time, but in any case you must pass the theory before you can take the practical flight test). There are differences between PPL and LAPL training. The training content is also different between aeroplanes and helicopters, for example. In the following, we would like to discuss the PPL (A) and LAPL (A) training, as we focus on aeroplanes and the corresponding training in the Academy. 

​For the LAPL (A) the training must consist of at least 30 flight hours, including at least 15 hours of flight training with the flight instructor, as well as 6 hours of solo flight (under the supervision of the flight instructor), including at least 3 hours of solo cross-country flight, with a solo cross-country flight of at least 150km with landing at another aerodrome. As part of the training, all elements of a flight are practised, which are then required at the end of the test. 

The content of the practical LAPL (A) training syllabus should cover the following areas (from the Part-FCL): 

• pre-flight operations, including mass and balance determination, aircraft inspection and servicing;  
• aerodrome and traffic pattern operations, collision avoidance precautions and procedures; 
• control of the aircraft by external visual reference; 
• flight at critically low air speeds, recognition of, and recovery from, incipient and full stalls; 
• flight at critically high air speeds, recognition of, and recovery from, spiral dive; 
• normal and crosswind take-offs and landings; 
• maximum performance (short field and obstacle clearance) take-offs, shortfield landings; 
• cross-country flying using visual reference, dead reckoning and radio navigation aids; 
• emergency operations, including simulated aeroplane equipment malfunctions; 
• operations to, from and transiting controlled aerodromes, compliance with air traffic services procedures and communication procedures. 

​For the PPL (A) at least 45 flight hours must be completed as part of the training, of which a maximum of 5 hours can be flown in a flight simulator (FSTD). Of the 45 hours, at least 25 hours must be flown with a flight instructor, as well as 10 hours of solo flight (under the supervision of the flight instructor), of which at least 5 hours must be solo cross-country flight, with a solo cross-country flight of at least 270 kilometres with a landing at two other airfields.  

The content of the practical PPL (A) training syllabus should cover the following areas (from the Part-FCL): 

• pre-flight operations, including mass and balance determination, aircraft inspection and servicing; 
• aerodrome and traffic pattern operations, collision avoidance precautions and procedures; 
• control of the aircraft by external visual reference; 
• flight at critically low air speeds, recognition of, and recovery from, incipient and full stalls; 
• flight at critically high air speeds, recognition of, and recovery from, spiral dive; 
• normal and crosswind take-offs and landings; 
• maximum performance (short field and obstacle clearance) take-offs, short-field landings; 
• flight by reference solely to instruments, including the completion of a level 180 ° turn; 
• cross-country flying using visual reference, dead reckoning and radio navigation aids; 
• emergency operations, including simulated aeroplane equipment malfunctions; 
• operations to, from and transiting controlled aerodromes, compliance with air traffic services procedures, communication procedures and phraseology. 

The difference between PPL (A) and LAPL (A) training is therefore essentially 15 flying hours, as some areas - in particular radio navigation - do not have to be trained to the same extent or not at all (e.g. approaching clouds and 180° turnaround) during LAPL training. Accordingly, you can "upgrade" your LAPL licence to a PPL licence at any time by making up the hours (at least 15 flight hours, including 4 hours of solo flight time and 2 hours of solo cross-country flight of at least 270 km with a landing at two other airfields) followed by a (renewed) practical test.  

In any case, the practical training concludes with a test flight with an authorised examiner. Further details on the practical flight test can be found in a separate article.

Summary

Theoretical and practical flight training form the core of the entire training programme on the way to a pilot's licence.  

The theoretical training comprises 100 hours and is identical for PPL (A) and LAPL (A). It can be completed in different ways depending on the flight school, but must be based on the defined ICAO or EASA syllabus. The training concludes with a theoretical examination. 

The practical training is different for LAPL and PPL and covers all the different areas of a flight and the associated preparation. The practical training concludes with a test flight. 

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Source: EASA FCL