Pilot Training

Most microlight pilots will tell you that they caught the flying “bug” after a trial flight with a qualified instructor. This section answers the questions most frequently asked by those who would like to find out more about getting their own licence to fly one of these wonderful machines…

How can I get a microlight pilot’s licence?

You need to follow a BMAA approved training course with a qualified microlight flying instructor. For a full (unrestricted) microlight pilot’s licence you must complete a minimum of 25 flying hours of dual instruction and solo flying – though it’s important to emphasize that most people need a fair bit more than this before they’re ready to fly safely on their own. You also need to fly two solo cross-country flights, pass a general flying test with an approved examiner and pass five written (multiple choice) exams.

How long will it take to get my licence?

It’s very difficult to give an exact answer, because so much depends upon your age, aptitude, experience, learning rate and – above all – the weather and the frequency of your lessons.

If you can only fly at weekends, you’ll probably take a bit longer than those who are available for lessons during the week. We usually reckon on 18‑30 months as a rough guide. If you’re desperate to get a licence sooner than that, the relaxed pace here at Microflights probably isn’t for you and we recommend you look for an intensive course abroad.

How much will it cost?

We usually reckon on a ball park figure of around £5,000 – £6,000 – maybe a bit less or a bit more – spread over the 18‑30 months it generally takes to complete the NPPL course with us. You can book lessons singly at £115 per hour on a pay-as-you-go basis, though block booking a course of ten lessons costs £1050, reducing the hourly cost to £105. However, once you are established on the course, we find that most students prefer our Monthly Payment Plan which spreads the cost of your flying course evenly and gives you the benefit of our lowest £100 per hour rate:

The only other costs are your club membership fee of £60 per year, which gives you access to our club activities, annual membership of the BMAA and a one-off purchase of the flying gear and flight equipment necessary for your course.

Please note that prices are subject to change without prior notice.

What else will I need?

You’ll need a flying suit, a pilot’s log book, a copy of the BMAA Training Syllabus and the Microlight Pilot’s Handbook, plus other study materials and flight equipment. For your first few lessons we’ll lend you a flying helmet and headset, but you need to buy your own once you’ve embarked on the course. Microflights is a registered dealer for Ozee flying suits, Lynx and MicroAvionics helmets and intercom systems, and Transair, Pooleys and Airplan pilot equipment and study materials. A flight equipment price list is included in your course pack – you don’t pay more by ordering through Microflights!

Are there any age limits?

There are no age limits for microlight pilot training. However, although you can begin the course before you are 14 years of age, your training hours do not count towards the total you need for your licence until you reach your 14th birthday. Although you can complete most of the course earlier, you cannot fly solo until 16 or receive a microlight pilot’s licence until you are 17. There is no upper age limit. It is not a “boys only” sport: there are many women microlight pilots and instructors, including several who compete internationally.

What about buying my own microlight?

You are very welcome to use the school aircraft for most of your training. However, using your own microlight is cheaper – block booking ten hours’ training on your own aircraft brings your tuition costs down to just £81 an hour. Many student pilots buy their own microlight once they have completed a few hours on the school aircraft, so they are ready to fly solo in their own machine.

Microflights is a registered dealer for P&M Aviation, manufacturers of the world-beating Quik, GT450 and QuikR microlights. P&M Aviation have been manufacturing microlights since the 1970s and are acknowledged worldwide for their engineering and after-sales excellence: have a look at www.pmaviation.co.uk. Prices for a new top-of-the-range Quik, GT450 or Quik R, all with 1200cc four-stroke engines, are around £38,000. For those with more limited budgets, there is a thriving market in second-hand microlights, with prices for a fully airworthy machine starting at around £2,000 – have a look at www.afors.co.uk. We can help you find a choice of suitable aircraft and, if you wish, we can accompany you to look at them.

What about life insurance?

As you’d expect, Microflights is fully insured for third party and passenger liability, including, of course, student pilot cover. Our £1.25 million cover is valid in all European countries and is provided by Crispin Speers & Partners Ltd. These cover us in the event of a claim, but they don’t cover you. We therefore recommend that you have a word with your life insurance provider to check that microlight flying is included in the risks covered by your policy.

What about insurance cover? Microlight flying, along with all other forms of leisure aviation, is normally excluded from most life and accident insurance policies. You will need to ring your insurance company to ask if your policy can be extended to include microlight flying in the UK and Europe. In many cases, they’ll simply ask you to complete an Aviation Questionnaire. Once they’ve received it, cover can very often be added without any extra charge. Occasionally you might be asked to pay a small additional premium. Of course, once added, it will cover you for all your flying as a student and a qualified pilot.

What about the written exams?

You don’t need to be “academic” to take a microlight pilot training course. As you’d expect, you do need to learn some theory, because it helps your understanding of the flight exercises and your exam revision. However, for the microlight pilot’s licence we will concentrate on what you need to know, rather than equipping you to fly a 747! Many students find it helpful to take some flight theory (“ground school”) classes – these are charged on a “pay as you go” basis at £20 per hour – and we also run group workshops on navigation and route planning for those coming up towards their solo cross-country flights. On the other hand, you might simply prefer to take the books away and do your own studying, which is fine – we’ll give you an essential revision list when you book your course. Other people just want help with specific parts of the course. Let us know if you need any help, and we can tailor flight theory sessions to suit.

Will I need to pass a medical?

A medical examination is NOT required. All you need is your doctor’s signature on a simple self-certification form which confirms that you do not suffer from any medical conditions which would prevent you from holding a pilot’s licence. A copy of the self-certification form will be in your student folder when you start the course, or you can download it from www.nationalprivatepilotslicence.co.uk.

I’d love to learn to fly, but I’m nervous…

It’s our view that people who are initially apprehensive of flying and cautious in their approach to their training ultimately make the best pilots. Any initial nervousness will disappear as your knowledge and flying skills develop.