Practical PPL

To get your license, you'll need to take a course of flying lessons and pass a flying test, just like learning to drive.  There's a little more to it though.  You'll need to pass a medical, study for and pass a series of written exams, learn how to use the radio, and pass a practical radio test.  It's an enjoyable and rewarding exercise which can take you weeks, months or years depending on how much time and enthusiasm you have.   Most students with work and other commitments take one to two years to obtain their licence but it can be done much faster than that, and some may take more than two years

You need a Class 2 medical to fly solo as a PPL student.  It makes sense to get this done early on in the course or before it starts, just in case there are any surprises. 

You must visit an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to get your medical.  It can take several weeks sometimes to get an appointment, so plan well in advance.  

The CAA has a list of AME's  which you can search by postcode to find one near you.  Your flying school can usually recommend one or more local AME's too.

if you fail to get a Class 2 medical in may still be possible to get  LAPL medical but you will then be restricted to training for a LAPL 

Medical requirements post-qualification are a bit more complicated, and are set out in detail on the CAA website.  A Class 2 medical is not necessarily required depending on the type of flying you do.  If you want progress to a commercial (CPL) or airline transport (ATPL) licence then you will need a Class 1 medical.

There are some basic items you'll need to help with planning and navigation, and as you progress through the course you'll find you may want other "optional" items which make your life easier

EQUIPMENT LIST 

You will need a minimum of 45 hours of training in an aircraft.  The hours are measured from the time you start moving on the apron to the time you put the brakes on after parking (“Brakes off to Brakes on”).  The time  in the air will be roughly 80% of that.  Most students take more than 45 hours to be ready to take the skills test.  The more frequently you fly the less time you will spend catching up again on the next lesson, so try to avoid long gaps.

The flying syllabus falls roughly into three broad areas.  These are generally taught in sequence.

Flight Control

Learn how to move the aircraft around the sky safely and in the direction you intend.

Exercises 1-11

Takeoff and Landing - Circuits

Practice taking off and landing, perfected by doing “circuits” where you fly a rectangular pattern around the airfield, landing briefly and taking off again to complete another circuit (a "touch and go").  Once you reach a good enough standard, your instructor will send you on your first solo flight, something most pilots never forget.  You need to have met the medical requirements and passed certain written exams before you are permitted to go solo.

Exercises 12-14

Navigation

You’ll learn how to navigate the old fashioned way using a paper chart, compass and stopwatch.  Most students especially enjoy this section of the course as we start to go places, landing at other airfields and returning to home base.   This culminates in a solo “cross country flight”, where you depart home base and fly to two other airfields before returning home, a big milestone for students and one which means you are close to completing the course.

Exercises 15-19

In addition you'll learn some more advanced flying manoeuvres, and how to deal with emergencies and malfunctions.  This usually happens in the later part of the course. 

Once you’ve completed the flying course and any other pre-requisites, your instructor will usually put you through your paces with a mock test, and once any wrinkles have been ironed out you are ready for the skills test.

DETAILED FLYING SYLLABUS 

You’ll need to pass nine multiple-choice exams which cover theoretical knowledge applicable to every aspect of flying including planning, regulations and how the aircraft flies.  The exams can be taken at the flying school

The exams don’t require any tricky maths knowledge, but you will need to study for each one.  Most students self-teach using a combination of the standard Pooley's books (also available as E-books ) and online aids such as EasyPPL.  If you need extra help on a particular topic your flying school will likely offer classroom sessions to help you

Most flying schools require you to pass 2-3 exams before your first solo, and another 3-4 before your first cross-country solo, so it makes sense to start early and stagger your study throughout your flying training

Learn more about ground studies and the exams 

You’ll learn how to use the aircraft radio to talk to air traffic control (and you’ll learn that there are different types of ground-based operators who can offer different services, so “air traffic control” isn’t always the right word!).

There’s a dedicated written exam (“Communications”) on this topic, as well as a practical test on the ground with an examiner near the end of your course, but you’ll pick up most of the practical skills during flights with your instructor, who will gradually get you to do more and more of the radio work as your progress through the flying course.

Learn more about Communications 

Your English language proficiency can be assessed during the flying Skills Test.  If your examiner assesses you at the highest level 6, there is nothing more you need to do as this shown on your paperwork which is submitted as part of the licence application.   Practically speaking, if you are born in the UK and English is your native language, you should be assessed as level 6.  Otherwise, it is likely you will need to have language proficiency assessed at a an approved language school.  More information available here 

The skills test is the aviation equivalent of a driving test.  You must have completed all the theoretical knowledge exams, and be deemed as ready to take the test by the flying school.  Most flying schools will want to make sure you pass first time, so won't suggest you take the test until you are ready and they are confident you will pass.    The format and content of the test is laid out in detail in  CAA Standards Document 19(A) 

Your instructor will make sure you know exactly what to do to prepare for the test.  As with any test, it is best to be well rested and do as much preparation as you can in advance.   Make sure you arrive early so you have plenty of time to get yourself and the aircraft ready, and you are not rushed.   You can be looking at the weather forecast a day or two in advance so there are no surprises on the day.  If the weather is not ideal, it's your decision on whether on not to postpone.  If you decide to go ahead in unsuitable conditions, that won't look good in front of the examiner

During the test, try to remain unrushed and calm - there's no time limit apart from the fuel in the tanks!  If you feel something didn't go quite right, tell the examiner, and explain what you are doing to put it right.  Most students will make a few slip-ups, but communicating your thought process to the examiner will build confidence in them that you are a safe pilot who exercises good decision making skills

It is permissible to do the skills test prior to completing the practical radio test but I recommend getting the radio test out of the way first - it will help with confidence during the skills test, and means when you pass the skills test you are ready to put in your licence application immediately