Private Pilots Licence (PPL) / Light Aircraft Pilots Licence (LAPL) Training

The UK Civil Aviation Authority syllabus for PPL/LAPL training consists of Nine subjects (not including the FRTOL). Five of these are common to fixed wing and helicopter pilots:

• Air Law (PPL010)
• Human Performance (PPL040) 
• Meteorology (PPL050)
• Navigation (PPL060)
• Communications (PPL090)   

And 4 are specific to either fixed wing or helicopter aircraft category:

• Aircraft General Knowledge (PPL020)
• Flight Performance and Planning (PPL030)
• Operational Procedures (PPL070)
• Principles of Flight - Aeroplane (PPL081) / Helicopter (PPL082)

There is no prescribed sequence for the courses, although the generally recommended approach is:

• before solo flight :  Air Law and Communications*
• before solo cross-country : Operational Procedures, Meteorology and Navigation
• before skills test : Flight Planning & Performance, Aircraft General Knowledge, Principles of Flight and Human Performance

*Communications must also be completed successfully before attempting the FRTOL practical examination.

The time required to complete the 9 courses and successfully pass the examinations depends on student experience, the amount of preparation undertaken, and the aircraft category (syllabi for helicopter subjects are typically more extensive than the fixed-wing equivalents). As a guide, we recommend that students should allow a total of 7 to 10 days (not usually in a single block!).

Some Groundschools believe it is possible to learn 9 subjects to a suitable level of expertise to pass the exams (and more importantly, become a competent and safe pilot) within Five days with no prior self study and no previous flying experience. We don't !