Read on to figure out why, how and where you should get a licence and which one is the best fit for you!
For those who are new to the world of aviation, the process of actually getting to fly an aeroplane may feel understandably daunting. With all the paperwork and checks and balances involved before you can be allowed to board a plane and take off, it makes sense that many people are too scared to even take the first step to make their aviation dreams come true.
However, it is much more daunting when viewed from the outside. In reality, the process is relatively smooth, given you have the right documentation and you are willing to put in the hours of training required.
One of the most important parts of your aviation journey is getting your pilot licence. You have a wide variety of licence types to choose from, and once you have settled on which one may work best for you, it’s time to start training and working towards achieving your goals.
To answer the question of whether you can fly an aeroplane without a licence in the United Kingdom straightforwardly, you cannot. However, there are some ways to get around the licence requirement before climbing into the cockpit.
This article focuses on what licence you will need before getting to fly an aeroplane and how you can sometimes get away with flying without a licence. It will also flesh out the different types of licences and their requirements so that you know what it is that you should be aspiring towards.
The hardest part of starting something new is taking the first step, and knowing what it is that will be expected of you in this new hobby or profession can help alleviate a lot of anxiety. Read on to figure out why, how and where you should get a licence and which one is the best fit for you!
WHY DO YOU NEED A LICENCE TO FLY AN AEROPLANE?
Think about this question in a different way. Would you be allowed to get behind the wheel of a motorcar without having a valid licence? The same applies to aeroplanes. These are complicated machines that require some level of mastery before you can be allowed to fly off alone in full control of an aircraft.
It is highly dangerous for anyone to fly an aeroplane without a valid licence, and those who do so (without a Certified Flight Instructor present) can possibly have their ability to ever get a licence suspended.
Not to mention, flying without a licence is also illegal. If you are ever caught flying an aeroplane that you do not have a valid licence for, you can be sent to jail for breaking the law.
Apart from this, you are also putting your own life as well as the lives of those on the ground at risk by piloting an aircraft without sufficient training and expertise. Flying an aeroplane requires hours of training and dedication, after which you are declared fit to fly an aircraft.
CAN YOU FLY AN AEROPLANE WITHOUT A LICENCE?
While flying an aeroplane regularly without a licence may not be possible and, in fact, also a highly dangerous pursuit, there are ways you can get away with flying an aeroplane without a licence every once in a while.
The way to do this is through experience or trial flights. These types of flights are normally on offer at flight schools or aero clubs, allowing people with no background or training in aviation to pilot an aircraft.
Rest assured, the person flying the aircraft is always accompanied by a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), who ensures the aeroplane is stable and everything is working smoothly.
These flights are usually fairly straightforward and are undertaken in ideal weather conditions to ensure as smooth a flight as possible. You don’t need a licence in order to book an experience flight, and these can actually help beginners decide whether aviation is the right career or hobby for them or not.
All you need to do in order to book a trial or experience flight is to sign up, pick an experience, and show up on the day of your flight. In some cases, at the discretion of the CFI, you may also be allowed to bring along guests.
Experience flights make for a wonderful way to experience the thrill of flying without the commitment of training and certifications. All you need to do is pay a fee in exchange for the service.
However, if you plan to fly long-term, these fees can quickly add up. In such a case, it may be the best case for you to put in the hours for training and get your licence instead. Keep in mind that experience flights, while a wonderful way of trying of flying, are fairly limited in their duration, route, and general scope.
If you are passionate about flying, getting a licence may be the best way for you to go.
WHAT AIRCRAFT CAN YOU FLY WITHOUT A LICENCE?
While the only way to fly an aeroplane is either by getting your own licence or through experience flights, there are certain aircraft that you can fly without having a pilot licence. These are usually smaller flying machines that are often DIY projects.
You can also fly some types of gliders and jetpacks without a licence, but these types of aircraft and very limited in speed and efficiency. You cannot rely on them to take you longer distances, and they are usually limited to hobbyists.
If you are serious about flying longer distances, then you will have to put in the work to be able to fly an aeroplane instead.
IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES
A necessary precursor to your pilot licence is the pilot medical certificate. These are issued to pilots after they have cleared a series of medical evaluations, with a certified medical examiner declaring them fit to fly an aeroplane.
These are very important since there are certain medical conditions that may impair your ability to fly safely. Medical examiners check for eyesight, hearing, colour blindness as well as a host of other conditions.
Those who are declared colourblind cannot be allowed to fly aeroplanes. They may still be able to fly smaller aircraft as discussed above, but aviation as a career will not be suited to them. These medical examinations are very thorough, however, those applying for a commercial pilot licence, which allows them to pursue aviation in a professional capacity, and subject to more stringent checks as opposed to private pilots.
There are two main types of medical certificates. The first is the Class 1 certificate, which is required in order to qualify for the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). This is a more stringent check as compared to the Class 2 medical certificate, which is required when applying for the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) or the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL).
Be sure to get the medical requirement out of the way beforehand. You would not want to invest time and money into getting a licence only to find out at the end that you can have a condition that does not leave you fit to fly.
Put your mind at ease by opting for a thorough medical examination by a licenced professional before you begin the process of training for your pilot licence.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PILOT LICENCES?
Pilot licences are generally divided into two broad categories. These are the general aviation licences, which are the type of licences opted for by hobbyists, and the commercial licences, which are needed by those pursuing aviation in a professional capacity.
The main difference between the two types of licences is that the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) allows you to fly an aeroplane in exchange for monetary compensation, while the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) does not.
If you want an aviation career, you will need a commercial licence. The CPL is generally harder to obtain, with stricter requirements due to the professional nature of the licence.
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
The Private Pilot Licence (PPL) is best suited to hobbyists who would like the freedom to be able to upgrade to larger and more complex aircraft and be able to fly outside of the UK as well.
Given that you have the correct certifications, you can fly outside of the UK on a PPL. All you need to do is upgrade it to Part-FCL to be able to fly into the neighbouring European Union region. In order to get the PPL, the applicant must have a total of 45 hours of flight time. 10 hours out of these must be of solo flight, unaccompanied by a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).
The applicant must be a minimum of 18 years of age and should have a valid Class 2 medical certificate. In addition to this, the aspiring pilot must also clear a series of nine theoretical exams on subjects such as Air Law, Principles of Flight, Navigation and Meteorology.
Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL)
For those who wish to fly as a hobby within the United Kingdom and are focused mainly on smaller aircraft, the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) is the best way to go. The LAPL is great for hobbyists who are not interested in flying outside the UK, and in order to do so, they will have to upgrade to the PPL.
The requirements for the LAPL are much more relaxed as compared to the PPL. Whereas the PPL requires a total of 45 hours of flight time, the LAPL only requires 12! The minimum age requirement for the LAPL is also 17, making it more accessible to younger pilots.
For those just starting out, it may be a good idea to start off with the LAPL, and then upgrade as and when necessary.
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
For those pilots who wish to fly in a professional capacity, the Commercial Pilot Licence is the ideal gateway. The CPL allows pilots to fly single-engine aeroplanes, and it can easily be upgraded with ratings to accommodate larger and more complex aircraft as well.
However, out of all the licences discussed here, the CPL requires the most work to obtain. Unlike the 45 hours required by the PPL, the CPL requires a total of 200 hours of training on top of a Class 1 medical certificate.
Out of the 200 total hours, 100 must be spent in command of an aircraft. The applicant will also have to clear a series of exams with at least 75%.
These exams include Air law, Aircraft general knowledge - airframe/systems/powerplant, Aircraft general knowledge - instrumentation, Mass and Balance, Performance, Flight planning and monitoring, Human Performance, Meteorology, General navigation, Radio navigation, Operational procedures, Principles of flight, Visual flight rules (VFR) communications.
WHERE CAN YOU TRAIN TO GET YOUR LICENCE?
An aspiring pilot has a choice between many great flight training schools and aero clubs across the United Kingdom. While many dedicated flight schools in the country focus solely on preparing applicants for a career or hobby in aviation, aero clubs offer training, in addition to much more.
These offerings include a community of experienced pilots, social opportunities, trial flights, medical examinations and much more! The clubs and schools usually have a dedicated fleet of light aircraft on which you can practice flying, in addition to housing expert Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) to help you become the best pilot you can be.
Once you have your licence, you can also opt for private or shared ownership of aircraft. Aero clubs such as Sherburn Aero Club have their own dedicated marketplace for members to buy and sell aircraft shares, as well as a maintenance facility on-site to help you with any engineering-related needs.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB?
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licenses, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran. The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation for the long run.
Sherburn also offers pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward. You are required to take medical exams to prove you are fit enough to take to the skies when applying for a licence, and the facility at Sherburn allows you to start your aviation journey on the right foot.
Our in-house AME, Dr Mark Bellamy, is rated to perform EASA Class 2 and LAPL. He also holds a fixed-wing PPL. Appointments are available every Monday and Tuesday, as well as on occasional Saturdays.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us on 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on different types of pilot licences, licensing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.
Photo by Simon Fitall on Unsplash
