This licence enables the holder to fly within the UK and can be used as the start of a career in aviation towards the Commercial Pilots Licence and Instructor Ratings. You can add an IR Restricted qualification to enable flight in cloud etc. A night course can be added later if you require to be able to fly at night. There are various modular courses to enable a build-up of experience in stages.

Training can legally start from age 14 years, a student can go solo from age 16 years and hold the licence from age 17 years.

The minimum requirement on this course is currently 40 hrs flying although we recommend realistically planning for 53 flying hours of which:

• 25hrs MINIMUM DUAL INSTRUCTION including 2 hrs stall/spin awareness training
• 10hrs PILOT IN COMMAND (SOLO) to include a qualifying cross country landing away at 2 different airfields in one day.
• 5hrs minimum solo cross country
• successfully complete a flight skills test comprising navigation and general handling

Students will require a Class 1 or 2 UK medical before going 1st solo - a list of doctors qualified to do this is held at the club or listed on www.caa.co.uk search "find AME" and they are listed by county. (Class 1 is for Commercial Pilots, Class 2 is sufficient for PPL issue.)

The other 10hrs (and more!) is usually dual training to get you to standard to pass the flight test at the end of the course. There are concessions if you have other flying experience including some service flying or training. The CAP804 tells you how to go about gaining any concession, in writing, to bring to MFC so we can adjust your course. Note UAS flying is no longer countable, but any previous course of training, in your logbook, signed by a CFI/Head of training at a Registered facility, DTO or ATO should count. If in any doubt, contact the CAA for clarification as they issue the licences.

There are online examinations in Air Law and Operational Procedures (2 exams - before 1st solo), Navigation & Radio Aids, Meteorology, Flight Performance & Planning and Communications (Radio) (4 before solo navigation). Human Factors, Aircraft General and Principles of Flight (3 exams before final skills test). All exams can be done at the Club with prior notification. Registration on the CAA Portal takes a few weeks to have your ID certified by CAA before exams can be booked for you. Exams have to be completed within 18 months from first to last. They can then be held as a group for up to 2 further years to enable completion of your flying training and testing. The practical test for the Radiotelephony licence will be arranged with a suitable RT Examiner. MFC Instructors will guide you as to how to study for these exams including which books and internet question banks to use. Groundschool is available individually or in groups for a charge on all of the subjects if you need any assistance.

The final skills test involves departure, general handling of the aircraft, navigation, diversion, radio aid fixing of position and will be arranged for the end of your course when all the above requirements have been met.

The skills tests flight time can be counted in the flying time during the course but not as the 10 hrs Pilot In Command time. The Club will advise on available examiners approved by the CAA, however you may not be tested by an examiner who has done more than 25% of your flying training!

The UK Part-FCL licence will enable Pilots to exercise their privileges in the UK and is valid for life once issued. It requires the SEP(Land) class rating revalidation every 2 years. This can be done by either a Proficiency Check with an examiner during the final 3 months of validity OR by completing 12 hrs flying (12 take-offs & 12 landings) to include 6 hrs as Pilot In Command with one of the other flights being a minimum one hour with a Flying Instructor during the final 12 months of the validity period (the Club Annual Check covers this or it can be replaced with any other type of test eg IMC/IR Restricted renewal test). Logbook must be presented to an examiner BEFORE the lapse date of the rating or experience will not count and a test will be required! CAA form to be completed and sent to them for their records too with no fee if done in good time. If your SEP(Land) is renewed after 5 years of lapsing, all paperwork goes to CAA and a fee is charged for renewal of the Rating.

Note 1: SEP stands for Single Engine Piston.

Note 2: THIS COURSE CAN BE SPLIT INTO MODULES:
MODULE ONE: BASIC TRAINING UP TO FIRST SOLO : 15 to 18 hrs
MODULE TWO: MORE SOLO AND EMERGENCIES, INTRO TO NAVIGATION : 15 to 18 hrs
MODULE THREE: NAVIGATION TO FINAL SKILLS TEST: 15 to 17 hrs