The NPPL is a stand alone sub-ICAO licence limited to UK National airspace and separate from the JAA licensing structure

Administration

The British Microlight Association (BMAA) and the National Pilot Licensing Group (NPLG) Limited formed from Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), BMAA, British Gliding Association (BGA) and Popular Flying Association (PFA) representatives will provide administration and support for the ratings available on the licence under an approval from the CAA. Licence issue will be completed by the CAA Personnel Licensing Department working from the recommendation of the BMAA and NPLG. The BMAA will process Microlight licences and the NPLG with handle the SEP and SLMG licence applications. AOPA, BGA and PFA will supply specialist advice

A charge will be made by the CAA for NPPL issue. You may apply for multiple ratings at the same time for a one off fee. Please note individual application forms for each rating MUST be completed

The NPPL web site www.nppl.uk.com has all the required documentation which can be downloaded easily

The NPPL Syllabus is available in PDF format from these links:

Simple Single Engine Aeroplane (SSEA) , Self Launching Motor Glider (SLMG) , Microlight

Note: To view documents you need Adobe Acrobat Reader

Ground Training and Examinations

Initially the JAA PPL (A) theoretical knowledge syllabus and examinations will be used for the SSEA and SLMG. The Microlight rating has its own syllabus and examinations already in place. AOPA's ultimate aim is that the NPPL will have its own ground syllabus and a composite, multi-choice examination along the lines of the current FAA model. The ground examination is likely to be based entirely on a computer software system for both the questions and answers

Training for the RTF Licence is exactly the same as the JAA PPL (A)

Flying Training

See relevant syllabus documents above for details of the flying training

Flight Tests

See relevant syllabus documents above for details of the flight tests

Cross-Crediting Arrangements

The holder of an existing PPL (A) without a valid medical certificate may qualify directly for the issue of an NPPL subject to meeting the NPPL medical requirements

Glider and Microlight pilots will be able to claim hours credits for their existing experience

A full list of cross-crediting arrangements are published on the NPPL web site www.nppl.uk.com

Differences Training

Similar to the JAA PPL (A); differences training, carried out by a suitably qualified instructor who will certify in the pilot's logbook, will be required for aircraft with features other than those the pilot is used too such as:

• Variable pitch propeller
• Retractable landing gear
• Turbocharger or Supercharger
• Tailwheel or nosewheel conversion
• Cabin Pressurisation
• Airspeed over 140 kts
• Flying from unlicensed airfields and strips
• SLMG
• Microlight

Privileges

Minimum age - 17 years

Valid for the life time of the holder

Flight will only be allowed in the UK FIR and in UK registered aeroplanes

Day, VFR, in sight of the surface with a minimum visibility of 5 km or 10 km when operating under SVFR

Flight in a SSEA, SLMG or Microlight with a Maximum Take-off Weight Authorized of 2000 kg or less as specified or otherwise falling within an aircraft rating included in the licence

Restricted to the carriage of a maximum of 3 passengers plus the pilot

Restricted to simple aircraft types. Differences training will be required where aircraft with complex features are to be flown (see Differences Training)

No flights with passengers unless the pilot has carried out 3 take-offs and landings as the sole manipulator of the controls in the preceeding 90 days

Validation of Rating

As from your next revalidation (which must be completed before 30 June 2009), all Class Ratings on NPPLs will have a 24 month validity period. In this period, a total of at least 12 hours flight time, including 8 hours as PIC must be completed in order to revalidate by experience

1. Holder of a licence with one class rating (SSEA or SLMG or Microlight) (see note)
Complete on the class of aeroplanes held:-

(a) within the period of validity of the rating have flown as pilot:-
- at least 12 hours flight time including 8 hours PIC
- at least 12 take-offs and landings
- at least 1 hour training flight with an instructor. If this flight has not been completed, the rating will be endorsed 'Single seat only'

(b) Within the 12 months preceding the expiry date of the rating, have flown as pilot:-
- at least 6 hours flight time

Note: After 31 January 2008, Microlight/SLMG privileges may not be exercised on an SSEA Rating. However, a general exemption applies to anyone currently exercising such privileges and the relevant Class Rating(s) will be added to the licence upon revalidation

2. Holder of a licence with 2 or 3 ratings (SSEA / SLMG / Microlight)

(a) Within the period of validity of the rating on any of the classes of aeroplanes held, have flown as pilot:-
- at least a total of 12 hours including 8 hours PIC
- at least 12 take-offs and landings
- at least 1 hour training flight with an instructor. If this flight has not been completed all ratings will be endorsed 'Single seat only'

(b) Within the 12 months preceding the expiry date of the ratings held have flown, as pilot on any of the class ratings held:-
- at least 6 hours flight time.

(c) Within the period of validity of each class rating held, have flown as pilot:-
- at least 1 hour PIC on each class held
OR
- undertaken at least 1 hour of flying training on each class held with an instructor entitled to give instruction on aeroplanes of those classes

If (c) has not been fully completed, you will be required to renew the relevant Class Rating(s) by General Skill Test (GST)

A JAA Class 1 and/or 2 medical are acceptable for the issue of a NPPL

There are 2 other medical standards acceptable based on the DVLA medical standards of fitness to drive:

DVLA Group 2 medical for professional drivers will allow instruction and unrestricted flying with passengers within the privileges of the NPPL. A copy of this certificate will be sent to the pilot's aviation or air sports organisation, and will be valid as for a DVLA Group 2 licence:

• From initial issue to age 45 years
• Five yearly from 45 to 65 years
• Annually from 65 years

Note: If a pilot has a particular medical condition that needs to be monitored then medical assessments may be required more frequently

DVLA Group 1 medical for private drivers will allow a pilot to fly solo or with another pilot qualified on type in an aircraft fitted with dual controls. The validity periods will be the same as the DVLA Group 1 medical

To obtain a NPPL medical certificate applicants must sign a declaration that they believe they are in good health and fit to fly as a pilot. This declaration is then countersigned by the applicant's General Practitioner (GP) who declares that he/she has no reason to believe that the applicant does not reach DVLA Group 2 medical standards (see note)

Note: The GP may choose to do any tests if he/she believes it to be beneficial prior to countersigning the applicants declaration eg. blood pressure, eyesight, etc

Pilots who do not meet DVLA Group 2 standards may be assessed to the Group 1 standard. However some medical conditions which may be acceptable in private drivers may be unacceptable in pilots eg. hypoxia or 'g' forces. Information sheets on specific medical conditions will be available from relevant aviation or air sport organisations and the CAA. It will be the responsibility of the applicant to obtain this information and present it to the GP when attending for medical certification.

The medicals outlined above will allow a pilot to fly by day in VMC. CAA medical advice cautions that this is not suitable screening for night flying or concentrated instrument flying

A complete NPPL Medical Declaration form is available in PDF format (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader) NPPL Medical declaration form

Important changes to Medicals

On 23 July 2008 the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) anounced the following changes to the Air Navigation Order which has expanded an exemption to allow the holder of a UK issued pilot's licence to continue flying microlights, self launching motor gliders (SLMG) and simple single engine aircraft (SSEA) if they hold a medical declaration from their general practitioner (GP). The previous requirement called for a full Joint Aviation Authorities medical from a specialist aviation medical examiner.

The changes introduced to the Air Navigation Order previously applied only to microlight pilots. Holders of a National Private Pilot's Licence (NPPL) can already fly with a medical declaration from their GP.

Prior to the exemption any pilot that could no longer meet the international medical requirements, and wished to continue flying, would have had to obtain a National Private Pilot's Licence (NPPL) that requires the lesser medical declaration from their GP. The UK CAA have now removed that step from the process and made it easier for pilots to retain their licence.

If a pilot chooses to follow this route then their existing pilot's licence will remain valid until it expires. If the pilot then chooses to renew their licence it will revert to an NPPL.

As soon as a pilot moves from a full international medical to a medical declaration from their GP then their pilot's licence will assume the freedoms and restrictions of the NPPL. The revised general exemption does not allow the privileges of a PPL, BCPL, CPL or ATPL to be exercised on the basis of a medical declaration.

References

AIC 3(W92)/2004

NPPL web site www.nppl.uk.com

Additional Ratings

• Instructor Rating

AOPA have proposed entry requirements and a training syllabus for instructors who hold an NPPL eg. prior to commencing an FI course an NPPL (A) must have 200 hours PIC. The possibility of receiving renumeration for instruction strictly within a carefully defined club environment has also been proposed. Further discussion on this topic is expected

However, an exemption may be granted by the CAA to NPPL holders, who have undergone the required training, to provide instruction in Microlight aeroplanes and/or SLMGs only

• Night and Instrument Rating

Not to be included in the NPPL due to the reduced medical standards (see medical)

• IMC Rating

The NPPL is intended for recreational purposes only (day VFR only) and therefore there can be no argument in favour of flying on days when the weather is marginal. The IMC rating will not be available with the NPPL on introduction

• Training on 'Permit to Fly' aircraft

Decision deffered

• Microlight and SLMG Ratings

The NPPL is available with separate ratings for SLMGs and Microlights. Cross-crediting terms have been developed for pilots with experience on inter alia microlights and SLMGs wishing to gain a NPPL. With cross-crediting in place, it follows that it is possible not only to open the licence with these ratings, but also to do a proportion of the training towards either a SLMG or Microlight rating . The NPPL Microlight and SLMG licences replace the existing UK Microlight and SLMG ones. Existing licence holders will maintain their current UK licence

• Conversion requirements for a JAA PPL

30 hours can be carried over as a credit towards a JAA PPL so long as all flying training has been completed by a JAR qualified instructor and all JAA PPL examinations have been passed. 15 hours of training will need to be completed of which 5 hours can be done in a simulator

• NPPL training in USA

Decision deffered - However, it is unlikely to happen especially since the events of the 11th September 2001