Course Breakdown

The flight instruction element of the LAPL (A) course consists of a minimum of 30 hours including:

• 15 hours of dual flight instruction;

• 6 hours of supervised solo flight time;

• Of the 6 hours supervised solo flight time, a minimum of 3 hours must be solo cross-country flight time; and

• A solo cross country flight of at least 150 kilometres (80 nautical miles), during which a full stop landing is made at an airfield different from the departure airfield.

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

The theoretical knowledge element of the LAPL (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 LAPL (A) course.

A LAPL (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.