Many individuals dream of being able to fly a plane up into the clouds. It’s a dream that not many actualise but is entirely possible thanks to an abundance of aviation schools and institutions ready to teach people how to fly. Thanks to these training institutions, people who dream of flying don’t necessarily need to become military or commercial pilots to do so. It’s a skill that can be learned through practice and enjoyed for the fun of it.
In the UK, aspiring aviators can choose from a range of recreational flying options that are available, including helicopters, gliders, traditional light aircraft, balloons, gyrocopters and microlights. The desire to learn how to fly must be backed up with a serious commitment of both time and finances, so it’s important to research beforehand and make an informed decision.
Regardless of the reason for wanting to learn to fly, there are some minimum requirements to be met. For those wishing to attain a pilot licence to fly a balloon or glider, the minimum age is 16 years. Individuals hoping to fly an aeroplane or helicopter must be 17 years old and above. Additionally, before any training can commence, individuals must undergo a medical examination and be issued with a medical certificate to ensure their license is valid.
Once an individual has decided to learn, it’s time to train. Training for a pilot licence will cover a few aspects, including on-the-ground training and examination on different topics, flight sessions with instructors, solo flying sessions, and a flight test. Included in the training are courses that cover flight planning, radio procedures, weather, navigation, and flight rules and regulations.
Thomas Noel Collister Jackson, a solicitor based in the UK, is among many private individuals who took up flying lessons. The training for his private pilot licence was conducted at the Cambridge Aero Club (CAC). It is one of the more established flight training schools in the world, having trained pilots for over 90 years. CAC has a fleet of various touring and training aircraft that it uses to teach aspiring pilots.
Private Pilot’s Licence
The pilot licence that Mr. Jackson holds is one that allows trained individuals to command an aircraft for private use. This licence, also formally known as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EALA) Licence, can be used throughout Europe and the UK and is accepted in other regions worldwide provided various individual national requirements are met.
To attain the EALA Licence, an individual must be 17 years of age and above (though training may have started as early as 14 years) and have a Class 2 medical certificate before they can fly on their own. The certificate is obtained after a medical examination by an Aero Medical Examiner (AME), an aspect that the flight training school usually guides its trainees on once they begin classes.
Once the pre-course requirements have been taken care of, trainees can get started on the path to becoming pilots. If it’s an individual’s first time flying, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requires that they spend at least 45 hours in the air before they can sit for the Final Skills Test. 25 of these hours must be with an instructor, and 10 hours must be solo with the individual flying as pilot-in-command. The individual must also fly five of the solo hours away from their base airfield (cross-country).
At CAC, students who pursue the private pilot’s licence (PPL) can take the Ground Exams and Flight Tests in-house as the training school has examiners for both sections. This ensures students can complete the course faster and gain the confidence to fly sooner.