The first step on the aviation ladder
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
Ther are two versions of a Private Pilot Licence::
FAA = Federal Aviation Administration
JAA = Joint Aviation Authorities
Private Pilot Licence – JAA
The Private Pilot License (PPL) is the first step on the career ladder of the aviation industry – where people become private pilots. The PPL is comparable to a driving license (allowing certain privileges and limitations) and you can act as pilot in command on the airplanes you are rated and take passengers. Most people obtaining a PPL use it for leisure and are often connected to a flight club – where planes are rented out to members.
Before getting the PPL, you need a certain amount of training including a minimum of 40 hours flight time, and you have to pass the written exam. The written exam consists of 7 topics put together in a written multiple-choice test. As theory is intensive and the flight school recommends as much pre study as possible, delegates may be able to take advantage of the Florida weather and fly as much as possible, thus leaving the written exams and completion of the course in the UK.
With regard to flying experience the first 15–20 hours with your instructor will cover the basics needed to safely manoeuvre an aircraft. You learn how to take off, climb, turn, decent and land. When the instructor feels comfortable that you can fly safely, he / she will sign you of for a solo flight. The next 20-50 hours are dominated by flights with your instructor, cross country flights to learn how to properly navigate, solo training flights and solo cross country flights. When you have reached the relevant skill level, your instructor will sign you up for a “check ride”. The “check ride” is conducted by a certified examiner and usually done in the airplane you learned to fly. You start by having a short oral exam testing your knowledge level and you cover a pre-planned cross country flight. After passing the oral section of the check ride, you fly, which takes from an hour to an hour and a half. Here you cover the basic manoeuvres, navigation skills and take offs and landings. The ride often starts as a cross country flight where you fly the first check points on the cross country route before doing manoeuvres and finish off with landing rounds at an airport. After successfully passing the check ride, you become a JAA pilot.
