Nppl / lapl

[Planehazza]

Hey,


Anyone got their NPPL/LAPL? Not ready to jump into it yet, but seriously considering going for it in the future. Anyone done it? The dream would be to stop working in IT, get my license and train as an Instructor, but it'll never happen for me :/


The only concern stopping me from getting my NPPL as a hobby is the cost; the local(ish) club is £3500 for 25 hours training (minimum needed) so it's not a guaranteed pass etc. You only need 6 hours a year so it's not bank breaking to keep the proficiency up. The other big concern is health - I'm type 1 diabetic. Been reading the CAA website and there's nothing stopping me from getting it; I just don't fully understand the restrictions. Some pages say self certified, others say it's a class 1...


Anyways, who flies and can advise the best course of action to get me in the air?

[p1andy]

I hold a JAR PPL license and would have went the instructors route had it not been from now working onshore in the office. I just dont have the time to do it now. For NPPL im sure it is only GP certification you require to meet medical criteria. If you wish to go for PPL you will require a Class 2 medical as a minimum, carried out by an AME.

I would be careful about paying large sums of cash up front, heard lots of horror stories regarding flight schools going bust and people losing their money. I started off with e 5hr starter pack then bought 10hr blocks thereafter to minimise the risks involved.

Perhaps go for a trial flight, see if you like it, then ask all the questions you want to the instructors.

[kenny d]

I've got 550 hrs on NPPL , I started with a microlight license ( fixed wing ) then added light aircraft later , it's was a cheaper way to go , I think it was 6hrs to upgrade from microlight , I don't know if I would consider making a living from it !! , most instructors I know are either retired & its more of a hobby or they are wannabe commercial pilots who are just trying to get there hrs up therefore working for buttons , As p1andy says many flight schools go into admission , I wouldn't pay too much
up front or take it for granted you could make a living from instructing

[woodsta888]

I think you need a class 1 for a FI as you require a commercial pilots licence. I think you need the following before you can enrol on an FI course

[COLOR=#2B2B2B][FONT=&quot]Pre-Entry Requirements:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[LIST][*]200 Hours flight time, including 100 PIC (CPL) or 150 (PPL)[*]CPL or ATPL pass in ground exams[*]10 hours of instrument flight instruction[*]30 hours SEP including 5 hours SEP within 6 months prior to pre-entry test[*]20 hours of cross-country, (including one flight of at least 300 nm landing at 2 other airports)[*]Pre-entry flight test with an FIC instructor[/LIST]
If you are thinking of a career I'd go for the full PPL (A) as with the LAPL, even if you pass in the minimum hours you have to do the first 10 hours solo taking you up to the 45hrs for the PPL (A) (minus instructor for 10 hrs) So I'd go for the PPL(A)

Very few people go through in the minimum hours. I'd budget for 55-60 hours. Faster you go through it with regular lessons the fewer hours you'll do - and that is of course dependent on ££££ flow. Use a credit card with cashback like AMEX to protect yourself. Most clubs do 'star rates' from £1500 which gives you a better hourly hire rate for the aircraft.

As P1andy say take a trial lesson as you can count that towards your licence (whichever one you decide on) by buying a log book.

Very easy to change to full PPL from the LAPL anyway part way through training.

Go book that trial lesson.

[Planehazza]

Part of me wishes I'd just gone for this back when I originally posted this thread, as I've now missed the cut off for upgrading an NPPL (M) to LAPL. Not to worry, I start my NPPL (M) lessons in about 10 days and have been studying the theory for the last couple of months. When I think about finances and that I'm diabetic, casual pleasure flying is all I'd want and so flying a eurostar microlight would suit be well.

Can't wait to start! I'm 'borrowing' the £5k out of my savings to try and get through it in under 9 months, estimating ~30-35 hours :)

[Stuart]

Good luck Harry I am sure you will get there...

[Planehazza]

[QUOTE=Stuart;1230421]Good luck Harry I am sure you will get there...[/QUOTE]

Cheers mate. I'll get some good pictures over my training and be sure to give you a shout once I have the license :)

[Mike Sanders]

Go for it.

[Mikej]

Harry,

Very interested to hear about this - always wanted fly, but I thought that a PPL cost in the region of £25 - £35K so to hear that it's possible a lot cheaper opens up possibilities (I'm also Type 1 diabetic, which used to be prohibitive).

Some of the fixed-wing microlights look exactly like a slightly shrunken aeroplane - have you flown one? Do you need still days etc. or can they handle sun weather?.

Sorry for the questions - good luck!!!

Cheers,
Mike.

[Crumpet]

One of the best bits of advice about PPL style flying is kind of a state of mind thing.

Dont look at it as you have to do 30hours before you get your license.

Think of it as you get to fly for 30hours, then as a bonus you get a license at the end.

Many people do their license then wonder what to do afterwards as that was all they aimed for

Think it works well

[Planehazza]

[QUOTE=Mikej;1230435]Harry,

Very interested to hear about this - always wanted fly, but I thought that a PPL cost in the region of £25 - £35K so to hear that it's possible a lot cheaper opens up possibilities (I'm also Type 1 diabetic, which used to be prohibitive).

Some of the fixed-wing microlights look exactly like a slightly shrunken aeroplane - have you flown one? Do you need still days etc. or can they handle sun weather?.

Sorry for the questions - good luck!!!

Cheers,
Mike.[/QUOTE]

Hi Mike,

Do not apologise! I'm just a newby but I'm happy to answer as many questions you might have, assuming I know the answer of course. All I will say is this: stop using Diabetes as an excuse :) That sounds mean, and in fact, I mean it in the exact opposite sense. I put flying off for far too long and now I've just said sod it and gone for it. Diabetes (well controlled and with no other real side effects) won't stop you flying, but the 'higher up' the level of license you go, the stricter the medicals and assessments etc.

I've gone for NPPL (Microlight), with the intention to fly 3 axis microlights - these fall under 450KG with a max stall speed of ~35kts. There are talks to increase this to 600KG to fall in line with other countries, and I believe it is likely to go ahead; this will open up more choices in airframe to fly. I could have visited my local AME and attained a class 1 medical to go for LAPL, but unfortunatel microlight hours do not count towards keeping a LAPL valid. Given the cost hourly difference between MLs and LA, I went for the NPPL(M). I don't think I have any intention of going further than microlights so it's perfect for me. I'll be looking at £4500 to get the NPPL(M) done with a target of doing it in 30 hours (minimum being 25, 10 of which, solo).

I have 2 hours in microlights so far, both being 'experiences' with hands on control, but this Saturday marks my first formal lesson. I have been studying the theory for a while now, and thanks to my RC and thousands of hours of PC sim time, I think I have a good start :)

[QUOTE=Crumpet;1230442]One of the best bits of advice about PPL style flying is kind of a state of mind thing.

Dont look at it as you have to do 30hours before you get your license.

Think of it as you get to fly for 30hours, then as a bonus you get a license at the end.

Many people do their license then wonder what to do afterwards as that was all they aimed for

Think it works well[/QUOTE]

Crumpet, I totally agree. I'm not bothered (my ego might be) if it takes me 50 hours to pass; it's 50 hours flying a plane knowing that I've completed everything and passed. I don't have any immediate goals after passing, as it feels so far away, but I have an unofficial target of <30 hours over 6-9 months. After that, is when I start to panic financially, as I'm paying for the training and exams out of savings. After that, it's out of my disposable income but I seriously think I'll look into a 1/6th share in Eurostar or the likes. The tend to be like investments and mean that I'd be flying for ~£13 an hour instead of £100. It's like anything; costly up front and cheaper in the long run, or PAYG and pay more overall.

[woodsta888]

Full PPL will cost you ~£10k, the LAPL slightly less due to the hours, but once you have your LAPL you have to fly 10 hours solo before taking passengers, so may aswell take the full PPL (A) plus you are licenced in all EASA member states.

Full PPL allows upto 19 passengers seats and 5.75 tonnes, where the LAPL is 2 Tonnes and 3 passengers max.

All basic licences are for VFR (visual flight rules) so you cant fly in clouds or with a visibility of less than 5km. To fly IFR (Instrument flight Rules)you need an IMC rating or a full IR Instrument rating.

Microlights are good n all but if you are the larger gentleman then taking anyone with you or max fuel can be an issue. (All flights need mass, balance & perfomance calcs)

You only need a class 1 medical if you are to become a professional pilot with a commercial licence, otherwise it's just a class 2 medical which is the same as a truck driver, but must be performed by a licenced AME. You pay between £120-£150 for these every 2 years up to a certain age and then every year over a certain age. LAPL medical can be done by GP or AME.

Hours, the specified amount of training should be considered as a minimum and no one/very few will go through in the minimum hours. For full PPL 45 hrs it is recommended the average Joe budget for 55-60hours in the UK as weather can stretch out training. So pro rata for lower hour licences.


Good luck and shout if you get stuck in any of the studies and I'll try to help.

[Mikej]

Thanks for the info guys - don't worry Harry, I never use it as an excuse, still rowing competitively and most people don't realise - I just thought that it precluded solo flights, as I think it did when I became diabetic (about 30 years ago).

Just got to search for some more dosh :) :)

[Planehazza]

[QUOTE=Mikej;1230449]Thanks for the info guys - don't worry Harry, I never use it as an excuse, still rowing competitively and most people don't realise - I just thought that it precluded solo flights, as I think it did when I became diabetic (about 30 years ago).

Just got to search for some more dosh :) :)[/QUOTE]

The more I reread my comment about it as an excuse the more I wish I hadn't wrote that; it's sounds so condescending and uncaring. I struggle with mine quite a bit sometimes and my HbA1c is currently 65%, but I don't know what yours is like. Anyways, with diabetes you can fly and I'm happy we can both achieve it :) first lesson on Saturday and I'll be looking to fully book up in half term :D

[Mikej]

[QUOTE=Planehazza;1230452]The more I reread my comment about it as an excuse the more I wish I hadn't wrote that; it's sounds so condescending and uncaring.[/QUOTE]

Don't worry mate - water off a duck's back :) :)

[QUOTE=Planehazza;1230452]I struggle with mine quite a bit sometimes and my HbA1c is currently 65%, but I don't know what yours is like. Anyways, with diabetes you can fly and I'm happy we can both achieve it :) [/QUOTE]

My local NHS have recently allowed the prescription of the FreeStyle Libre sensors - that really helps understand what is happening...

[QUOTE=Planehazza;1230452] first lesson on Saturday and I'll be looking to fully book up in half term :D[/QUOTE]

Keep us informed on how it goes...