Course Breakdown

The flight instruction element of the NPPL (A) course consists of a minimum of 32 hours including:

• 22 hours of dual flight instruction;

• 10 hours of supervised solo flight time;

• Of the 10 hours supervised solo flight time, a minimum of 4 hours must be solo cross-country flight time; and

• A solo cross country flight of at least 185 kilometres (100 nautical miles), during which a full stop landing is made at two airfields different from the departure airfield.

Upon completion of the NPPL (A) course a Practical Skills Test will be undertaken by the student pilot with an examiner.

The theoretical knowledge element of the NPPL (A) course consists of nine subjects which can be studied through self-learning or classroom based (Ground School).

The subjects are:
• Air Law;
• Operational Procedures;
• Communications;
• Meteorology;
• Navigation;
• Flight Planning and Performance;
• Aircraft General Knowledge;
• Principles of Flight;
• Human Performance.

All exams must be passed within a period of 18 months (counted from the end of the calendar month when the first examination was taken). Once all exams have been passed, the certifications remain valid for 24 months. The student pilot must achieve the score of a ‘Pass’ in all written examinations before taking the subsequent Skill Test.

There is no minimum or maximum calendar time for completing the NPPL (A) course.

A NPPL (A) Licence can be upgraded to a full UK CAA PPL if required. This upgrade not only opens the door to further progression, such as qualifying as a Flight Instructor, but can also enable you to obtain a Commercial Pilot's Licence.