Courses

The Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) is less stringent in its requirements compared to the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and requires fewer hours to obtain. The LAPL has been developed for those private pilots who only wish to fly in daylight hours in what is known as Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). The main difference between the PPL and the LAPL is that the hours required for training for the LAPL are only 30 plus a navigational flight test and a general handling skills test making a total of approximately 35 hours. However, we would expect most students to take approximately 45 hours to complete the course if studying part time.

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The written exams are the same as those for the PPL licence and you’ll need to pass a simple medical carried out by either a CAA Approved Medical Examiner (AME) or by your local GP which we can help you arrange. Overall there would be a saving in costs in completing the LAPL course compared with the PPL but, if you wished to undertake further training to enhance your licence, such as IR(R) rating or upgrading to a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), this would not be permitted unless first you upgraded to a PPL. The LAPL to PPL upgrade is something we offer and the hours required to do so align with the difference in hours required between an LAPL and PPL.

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We at RAF Marham Aero Club (MAC) recommend the LAPL for most people due to the lower hours requirement and the availability of instructors on our staff. Some of our instructors can only teach towards LAPL and as such, students will have much more availability of instructors during their training. If the desire is there to progress to a PPL, that can be done at MAC post award of your LAPL.

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Flying Training

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Students will need to complete a minimum of 30 hours flying training which roughly breaks down as follows:

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• 3 hours aircraft familiarisation and level flight

• 3 hours climbing descending and turning

• 6 hours in aerodrome circuit practising take-off and landing

 

At this point, you may be able to take your first solo flight.

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• 5 hours circuit and solo consolidation

• 5 hours dual navigation

 

You can now try for your first solo cross country.

 

• 5 hours solo navigation

• 2 hours progressive flying training

• 1 hour instrument flying

• 2 hours revision exercises

 

You may now be ready to take your skills test and apply for your licence.

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Ground School and Exams

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You are required to pass nine written examinations and a radiotelephony test. This you can choose to do in three ways, self-study, weekly lectures or personal tuition with your instructor. The nine examinations to be passed are in the following subjects and are of a multiple choice format:

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• Air Law

• Operational Procedures

• Communications (written & practical test)

• Meteorology

• Navigation & Radio Aids

• Human Performance & Limitations

• Flight Performance & Planning

• Aircraft (General) & Principles of Flight

• Aircraft General Knowledge

 

LAPL Medical

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You’ll need to pass a simple LAPL medical which must be carried out by a CAA Approved Medical Examiner (AME) or can be conducted by your local GP. We can help you arrange this.