Pilot licensing in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
History When the UK was part of EASA, pilots were licensed in accordance with EASA Part-FCL (Flight Crew Licensing). The UK also issued the National PPL (NPPL).
When the UK left EASA after Brexit, Part-FCL was adopted into UK law as UK Part-FCL. The UK continues to issue non-Part-FCL licences as well.
Categories of aircraft
The categories of aircraft recognised in the UK include aeroplanes, helicopters, airships, sailplanes, balloons and gyroplanes.
UK Part-FCL licences are issued for a particular category of aircraft: Aeroplanes (A) (that can including touring motor-gliders) Helicopters (H) Sailplanes (S) - Part-SFCL Balloons (B) - Part-BFCL
UK licences are issued for: Light aircraft – (NPPL A) Microlights – (NPPL M) Gyroplanes (G) Balloons (B) Airships (As)
The abbreviations are combined with the licence level held, for example a Commercial Pilot Licence for Balloons can be written as CPL(B).
Levels of licence The UK currently grants several levels of licence: UK National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL) UK Private Pilot Licence (PPL) UK Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) UK Part-FCL Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) UK Part-FCL Private Pilot Licence (PPL) UK Part-FCL Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) UK Part-FCL Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)
The licence held by a pilot confers privileges on the sort of flying they may carry out—broadly, whether or not they may receive remuneration for doing so—and are independent of any aircraft type, or class, ratings included in the holder's licence and other ratings required for flying under specified conditions.
Gliding
Regulation of gliding has historically been through the British Gliding Association and its affiliated clubs. However, since 30 September 2025 pilots have required a CAA issued Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL) to fly UK Part-21 sailplanes. The UK NPPL has close links with the gliding community and a gliding certificate can be converted.
Gliding does not follow the PPL-CPL-ATPL progression. An SPL holder may operate commercially once they have completed 75 hours of flight time or 200 launches after the issue of their licence, and have passed a proficiency check with an examiner.
Balloons
Balloon licensing does not follow the PPL-CPL-ATPL progression. The BPL (balloon pilot licence) is considered the equivalent of a Private Pilot Licence; however, BPL holders may operate commercially once they hold a commercial operation licence.
NPPL The UK National Private Pilot Licence is a restricted form of the PPL introduced in 2002 for recreational pilots. It has a less stringent medical requirement than the UK Part-FCL PPL and a reduced flying syllabus.
The NPPL is administered by the National Pilots Licensing Group under supervision of the CAA. It is granted in two forms: NPPL (SSEA/SLMG) for Simple Single Engined Aircraft and Self-Launching Motor Gliders NPPL (Microlight and Powered Parachute)
The NPPL is a sub-ICAO licence meaning the holder is limited to operating only UK-registered aircraft and it cannot be used outside of the UK without permission from the regulatory authorities of any foreign jurisdictions whose airspace the holder intends to operate into. The holder, when operating under the privileges of the NPPL, is furthermore restricted to operations in accordance with VFR. The NPPL is more restrictive in respect of additional aircraft ratings which may be added compared with a UK Part-FCL PPL or LAPL.
The NPPL does not require an English language proficiency test.
LAPL
The light aircraft pilot licence (LAPL) is not an ICAO-recognised licence, and offers similar privileges to those of the NPPL. It is not recognised outside the UK and has three variants for Aeroplanes, Sailplanes and Helicopters.
It was introduced while the UK was a member of EASA, but since the UK left the EASA system, it is no longer equivalent to EASA LAPLs.
Since October 2025, as a result of UK CAA Licensing and Training Simplification (LaTS), the LAPL(A) is no longer issued by the CAA, although existing LAPL(A) holders can still exercise the privileges of that licence. They will also still need a LAPL medical issued under Part-MED.
PPL The private pilot licence confers on the holder a privilege to act as the pilot in command of certain kinds of aircraft. The holder may not operate for valuable consideration, i.e. any form of reward, either financial or in kind. However, subject to national restrictions governing the soliciting of passengers to be carried on board an aircraft operated by a PPL holder, and in addition to several other requirements, a PPL holder may carry passengers who make a remunerative contribution toward the direct cost of the flights.
A flying instructor rating may be included, subject to requirements under UK Part-FCL being satisfied, in a UK Part-FCL PPL provided the applicant has successfully completed a number of additional examinations, training course and assessment. Such a person giving instruction in flying training may be remunerated.
Applicants for a private pilot licence must be at least 17 years old, hold a valid UK Part-MED Class 2 medical certificate, and have met the specified practical and theoretical training requirements laid down in UK Part-FCL.
PPL courses require at least 40 hours of flight instruction. This must include at least 25 hours of dual flight instruction, at least 10 hours of supervised solo flight time, and at least 5 hours of solo cross-country flight time. Up to 5 hours of instruction may be undertaken in an approved simulator. Pilots must also undergo a solo flight of at least 150 nautical miles for aeroplanes or 100 nautical miles for helicopters, including full stop landings at two aerodromes different from the departure aerodrome.
In addition to the practical training requirements, nine multiple choice theory examinations must be passed. The pass mark for every exam is 75%; the nine subjects are:
Air law Aircraft general knowledge Flight performance and planning Human performance and planning Meteorology Navigation Operational procedures Principles of flight Communications
CPL The commercial pilot licence allows the holder to act as the pilot in command of an aircraft for valuable consideration in single pilot operations. Applicants for the CPL should consult the UK CAA's website for up to date information on CPL course requirements.
The CPL also permits the holder to act as a co-pilot of a multi-crew aircraft for which they are qualified subject to their (i) holding a valid certificate of multi-crew co-operation, (ii) having successfully completed an approved ATPL Theoretical Knowledge Course together with thirteen ATPL theoretical examinations, (iii) having a valid instrument rating and multi-engine class rating.
Applicants for a commercial pilot licence must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid UK Part-FCL Class 1 medical certificate and have met the specified practical and theoretical training requirements laid down in UK Part-FCL. Different flight time prerequisites exist for each category of aircraft and are specified separately for starting training versus sitting the final test. The applicant must pass their CPL skills test within 36 months of passing their last CPL ground theory exam. An additional prerequisite for the CPL is a flight radio telephony operator's licence, which is normally included in the PPL.
Training can be undertaken with an approved training organisation (ATO) and courses are either (i) modular, as a standalone course taken after gaining a modular PPL or (ii) integrated, as part of one course which includes the PPL. The CPL is available in the aeroplane, helicopter and airship categories. The CPL skills test must be taken with a senior examiner (SE).
Aeroplanes - CPL(A) Applicants for the CPL(A) must have least 200 hours of flying time (150 hours for applicants who have completed an approved course of aeroplanes) including 100 hours flying experience acting as the pilot in command (abbreviated to 70 hours for applicants who have completed an approved course of aeroplanes), 20 hours cross-country flying experience with at least one solo flight of not fewer than 300 nautical miles with full-stop landings at two or more different aerodromes, 10 hours instrument instruction of which no more than five may be instrument ground time and five hours of night instruction including five take-offs and landings if the privileges are to be exercised at night.
Helicopters - CPL(H) Before commencing training, applicants must hold a UK PPL(H), a valid UK class 1 medical certificate, and have logged a minimum amount of flight time depending on which course they are taking. The ground theory course completed prior to flight training can be either CPL(H) or ATPL(H)/IR, with the latter allowing the applicant to train for an instrument rating - IR(H) - after the CPL.
Modular Prior to starting training, applicants must have logged 155 total flight hours including 50 hours pilot in command (PIC), of which 10 hours must be cross-country. Training must include a minimum of 30 hours dual flight instruction, including 20 hours visual and 10 hours instrument training. If an applicant does not already hold a night rating, this is appended to the CPL course. The night rating includes at least 5 hours of night flight instruction, comprising 3 hours of dual instruction, which will include at least 1 hour of cross country navigation and 5 solo night circuits, each including a take-off and landing. The modular CPL(H) is often conducted during GMT months to allow for night training during airport operating hours.
Integrated Integrated courses are available for the CPL(H), ATP(H)/VFR, and ATP(H)/IR licences. The prerequisites are different to those for the modular course.
Airships - CPL(As) Airship commercial licences include the modular or integrated CPL(As), and the integrated CPL(As)/IR. Between April 2018 and March 2019, the UK CAA issued one EASA CPL(As) and no UK CPL(As) or PPL(As) were issued, renewed, or revalidated. As of September 2025, there were no ATO or PTO training organisations approved for airship flying training. It is possible to train for a Hot Air Airship extension to a balloon pilot's licence (BPL).
ATPL In addition to the privileges of the CPL, the holder of an Airline Transport Pilot Licence may act as the commander of a multi-crew aircraft under IFR. An applicant for an ATPL must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid class 1 medical certificate, a type rating for a multi-crew aircraft and have completed the required theoretical and flight training. The ATPL is only available in the aeroplane or helicopter categories.
Aeroplanes - ATPL(A) Applicants must have at least 1,500 hours of flight time. Where a simulator is permitted, no more than 100 hours (of which 25 may be in basic instrument training devices) may be credited towards the issue of the licence. Of the 1,500 hours, the applicant is to have completed 250 hours as PIC of which 150 may be PICUS (pilot-in-command under supervision), 200 hours cross-country of which 100 must be as PIC or PICUS, 75 hours instrument time of which not more than 30 may be instrument ground time, 100 hours night flight as PIC or co-pilot and 500 hours in multi-pilot operations in aeroplanes with a maximum take-off weight of at least 5700 kg.
The theoretical exams required for the ATPL cover 13 subjects:
Air law Aircraft general knowledge: Airframe/Systems/power plant Aircraft general knowledge: Instrumentation Communications Mass and balance Performance Flight planning and monitoring Human performance Meteorology General navigation Radio navigation Operational procedures Principles of flight
Ratings