Flight Training in the UK

A PPL is a Private Pilots licence and will allow you to act as pilot in command (PIC) in non-commercial operations on aeroplanes PPL (A) or helicopters PPL (H)

For many people, it is the first step in their career as a pilot. Or you can obtain this license to fly just for fun!

What do I have to do?

The minimum age to get a PPL is 17 and you will need to hold a Part MED Class 2 Medical Certificate.You will need to complete 40 hours of flight instruction, including at least:

20 hours of dual flight instruction,
10 hours of supervised solo flight time, including at least 5 hours of solo cross-country flight time with at least 1 cross country flight of at least 270 km (150 NM) that includes full stop landings at 2 aerodromes different from the departure aerodrome.
You will also need to pass 9 written, multiple choice style exams.

At the end of your training, you will need to take a skill test with an examiner to demonstrate that you can competently carry out the procedures and manoeuvres that you have been taught.

Commercial Pilot's Licence UK

Being a Commercial pilot is an incredible, and fulfilling career. The opportunities are varied, and it is an exciting lifestyle. Many of the skills you learn becoming a commercial pilot are transferable to may other areas of life.

Some useful terms to note for looking into becoming a commercial pilot

ATPL - This stands for Airline Transport Pilot Licence and is the level of aircraft pilot licence required to command a commercial aircraft over 5,700 kg or with over 9 passenger seats.

EASA – European Aviation Safety Agency governs aviation safety, certification, and regulation within Europe.

UK CAA – United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority – governs both commercial and civil aviation within the UK.

Ground School – for an ATPL you have to complete 13 written ground school exams.
You will also require a Class 1 Medical for an ATPL licence. This medical will be performed by an Aeromedical Examiner (AME) and will include several different assessments.

There are a couple of training routes to consider for becoming a commercial pilot..

Integrated
The integrated route allows you to complete all of your training from start to finish within about an 18 months time period. On the positive side, this mean you will achieve your licence quickly, and be able to start your career. However, it is likely you will have to pay a lot of money up front, and it Is unlikely you will be able to work at the same time due to the demands of the course.

Furthermore, certain schools may also ask you to complete aptitude tests, group exercises and / or interviews prior to joining. Therefore, researching and asking what is required for the schools you are looking at is important.

However, in the integrated course you could potentially be living with the people you are training with. This can be a good scenario as it helps with morale especially during ATPLs and there is always someone to study with / ask questions and get support from.

Modular
The modular route offers a more flexible alternative, but with the same industry standards. It can be completed with in a year, or over the course of several years.

The flying practical section of your commercial licence needs to be completed at a flight school, however, the theory can be studied 100% online with a distance learning course, with just the exams completed at an in person exam centre.

Modular also offers the opportunity to pay in sections, and to continue working throughout your training which gives you more control over obtaining your licence.

Events to attend

There are events like Pilot Careers Live which you can attend. There events are a great opportunity to see lots of flight schools in one place, and then choose which open days you would like to visit. You also have the chance to talk to lots of trainees at the different flying schools to get a feel for what they’re like.

What do I do next?

First thing first, you will need a flight school! Finding the right flight school for you is a very important part of your aviation journey. I recommend Googling ‘commercial flight schools near me’ or even using your social media to ask pilots based near you where they obtained their commercial licence. Once you have a short list of some schools you are interested in, I thoroughly recommend going down to see them and having a chat! It is important that you like the vibe of the school and the instructors, for integrated courses, they often hold taster / open days. Another thing to consider is that, flight schools are increasingly offering degrees alongside their training which is useful if you are deciding whether university or flight training is for you, as it presents an opportunity to do both.

Good questions to ask when you are at these schools are:

What is the aircraft availability?
What is the instructor availability?
Will you be able to have the same instructor throughout my training?
What are the payment terms?
Is the airport busy?
Is the airport open at weekends?
What aircraft type would you be learning in?
Does the school have an overseas base?
What links to airlines the school has / what airlines have previous trainees now been employed with?
What help will I get after training in terms of preparation for airline assessments?

If you are intending to go the modular route, I would then recommend going for a trial lesson with your chosen school, or your top choices. You will be spending a lot of time at the school so its important to experience the teaching style and instructor first hand to make sure it is a good fit.

If you are looking to go the integrated route, it is unlikely you’ll get a trail lesson at an integrated school. Instead, we recommend attending an open day/ taster day for the perspective integrated course instead.

Consistency also is so important for modular flight training, so try and book some lessons quite close together. It will really help you retain the skills you have learnt. Furthermore, Consider the time of year you are learning to fly - for example, if you start your training in the Spring, you are much more likely to fly more than Winter, due to the better weather. If the school has an overseas base, in Spain or the US for example, you are also more likely to have good weather while attending that school.

If you are going through the integrated training route, your lessons are booked for you regularly and over 18 months you will experience all the seasons, unless part of your training is abroad.