Basics
The PPL(A) licence is an ICAO-compliant licence and is therefore valid Worldwide within the framework of the ICAO guidelines.
For many people, this is the entry-level licence for flying. It can be used to fly privately, but not commercially (with the exception of working as a flight instructor).
The certification, training and licensing of private pilots in accordance with the PPL licence is carried out by EASA, in compliance with ICAO regulations.
The PPL licence therefore allows you to fly all aircraft in the registered class of all EASA member states, without separate national regulations.
In other EASA countries (e.g. in the USA) you can also fly aircraft from EASA member states without further authorisation.
However, if you want to fly an aircraft that is registered in another country that is not a member of EASA (but is a member of ICAO), the PPL must be validated or rewritten. We will go into this in a separate article.
Requirements
The minimum age for starting the training programme is 16 years and for the issue of the licence 17 years. There are medical requirements that must be met (keyword medical), as well as a background check (ZÜP) and an extract from the traffic register. We will go into more detail in other articles.
Training programme
The training consists of a theoretical part and a practical part. In addition, the training must include a Proof of general language skills and a radiotelephony certificate (BZF II or BZF I) must be successfully completed (see also our article "Step by step to a licence"). The individual training components must be completed at a certified flying school. We will describe exactly how the training programme works in detail elsewhere. We will therefore only provide an initial overview here.
Theory
The theory part comprises the following modules:
- Air law and ATC procedures (e.g. structuring of airspace, visual flight rules or legal bases for licences and training)
- General aircraft knowledge (e.g. aeronautical science, instruments)
- Flight performance and flight planning (e.g. take-off preparations)
- Human performance (e.g. mental and physical stress)
- Meteorology (e.g. weather development, aviation weather planning)
- Navigation (e.g. terrestrial navigation)
- Operational procedures (e.g. behaviour in emergencies)
- Fundamentals of flying (e.g. aerodynamics)
- Communication (e.g. radiotelephony rules).
In total, the following 100 hours of theory lessons is provided. This can be done in different ways. It does not necessarily mean sitting in a classroom for 100 hours. EASA defines what content must be covered in the training, but the didactic form of teaching is left to the flight schools.
The training is completed with a theory test.
The theoretical training for the PPL (A) is congruent with the theory for the LAPL (A). This theory is therefore fully recognised in both directions.
Practice
The practical part comprises various precisely regulated and defined training elements. For the PPL (A), the following must be completed as part of the training:
- at least 45 flying hours be completed
- of which at least 25 hours of training with a flight instructor
- and 10 hours of solo flight (under the supervision of the instructor)
- of which at least 5 hours solo cross-country flight
- with a solo cross-country flight of at least 270km with landings at two other aerodromes.
The practical training is completed with a test flight.
Recognition of experience
For the theory part
With regard to recognition for the theoretical part of the training, a strict hierarchy (hereinafter ATPL, CPL, LAPL) applies as described below:
- If an applicant for a pilot licence has successfully completed the theoretical training for the ATPL, the CPL or the LAPL and passed the associated examination, this will be complete of the theoretical training for the PPL. This applies to training in the same aircraft category (in this case, the aeroplane category). This means that no further theoretical training is required for the PPL licence.
If you want to obtain a PPL in an aircraft category other than the category in which you obtained your licence (e.g. if you have a PPL (H) for helicopters and want to obtain a PPL (A) for aeroplanes), the theory is generally recognised.
However, in this case, dedicated extended theoretical training must be provided depending on the aircraft category. The specifics of the new category will be addressed. At the end of the training, a theoretical test must be successfully completed.
For the practical part
The following options for recognising previous experience apply to practical training:
Depending on previous experience, the number of hours required for PPL training can be reduced. As a reminder: For the PPL (A), at least 45 flying hours must be completed as part of the training programme.
Under certain conditions, these required hours can now be reduced.
If the applicant has already hold an LAPL (A) licence so applies:
- Only a further 15 hours of flight training are required
- Of these, a maximum of 5 hours can be recognised (e.g. if the LAPL holder has already gained a lot of flying experience as LAPL PIC). Ultimately, the ATO decides whether the 5 hours can be recognised)
- but at least 10 hours of flight training with an instructor are required
- This must include:
- 4 hours solo flight (under supervision)
- including at least 2 hours solo cross-country flight
- with a solo cross-country flight of at least 270km with landing at two other aerodromes
Was other practical flying experience collected, the following applies:
- If a PPL (A) applicant already has experience as a PIC and has a licence for another aircraft category (e.g. for a helicopter), hours may be credited towards the required 45 hours of training
- The ATO decides how many hours are credited, depending on the specific flight experience. The following applies:
- No hours as a balloon pilot apply
- In addition, a maximum of 10% of flight experience as PIC and a maximum of 10 total hours of flight training can be recognised
- This recognition can only be granted for the 25 hours of flight training with a flight instructor, but not for the required solo flight hours.
If you want to extend the PPL licence to other classes or types of aircraft, you need a Class or type ratings. We will go into this in other articles
Rights as a pilot
The PPL licence basically constitutes permission to fly.
However, an additional class or type rating is required, which specifies which class or type of aircraft may be flown.
For aeroplanes there are basically the classes:
- Single-engine land aircraft (SEP land)
- Multiengine land aircraft (MEP land)
- Single-engine seaplanes (SEP sea) and
- Multi-engine seaplanes (MEP sea)
- and the special class of touring motor gliders (TMG)
In the vast majority of cases, PPL training should take place on a single-engine land aircraft (SEP).
On completion of the training, you are then authorised to fly such aircraft.
As a PPL pilot, you are authorised to act as PIC on corresponding aircraft, but without payment.
Exceptions to this are work as a flight instructor or trainer, which may be remunerated.
Flights with passengers on board may only be operated if the pilot has performed at least 3 take-offs and landings in an aircraft of the same type in the last 90 days (or in an appropriate simulator). Passengers may only be carried on night flights if the pilot has completed at least 1 take-off and landing at night in the last 90 days (flying in a simulator is also possible here).
Extension and expansions
The PPL licence itself is valid for life.
However, the Class or type rating be extended in each case.
The following applies to the common initial class rating SEP (Single Engine Piston):
The extension must take place within 3 months before the rating expires.
There are two ways in which the extension can be carried out.
- One option is to have a proficiency check carried out by an authorised examiner
- Another option - and this is certainly the most common procedure - is as follows: If the pilot has 12 flying hours in the 12 months before the rating expires, 6 of which as PIC, as well as 12 take-offs and landings, then the revalidation can take place in a simplified way: By a refresher training flight of 1 hour with a flight instructor (FI) or class rating instructor (CRI).
The private pilot licences can be extended by numerous authorisations be extended:
- Night flight authorisation for night flights
- Aerobatic licence for aerobatic flights
- Teaching licences for work as a flight instructor
- Instrument rating - IR, CB-IR or BIR - Authorised to fly by instruments
- Mountain flight authorisation for flights in special areas such as mountains or glaciers
- Towing authorisation for towing banners or gliders
The PPL licence can also be extended to include ratings for other classes of aircraft.
By default, after successful completion of the training, you will receive the authorisation for the SEP class (Singe Engine Piston, i.e. single-engine aircraft with a piston engine).
As an extension, ratings can be acquired for other types of aircraft, such as TMG (Touring Motor Glider) or MEP (Multi Engine Piston).
We will go into the possible extensions in a separate article.
Summary
The PPL (A) licence entitles the holder to fly aircraft of various classes.
In addition to the licence, therefore, at least one class rating must always be obtained - in the case of complex aircraft, an additional type rating - which then entitles the holder to fly an aircraft of that class.
The licence itself is valid for life, but the corresponding class or type ratings must be renewed regularly.
The PPL licence is ICAO-compliant and therefore valid worldwide. It is a frequent start to life as an aviator and can be extended by numerous authorisations. It can also be the basis for a subsequent commercial pilot licence.
Source references:
EASA FCL