There are different types of pilot licenses depending on the aircraft you want to fly, where you want to fly, and whether or not you want to fly professionally. There are also ‘ratings’ that you can add to your license after further training to get extra benefits, such as flying in different conditions or flying a different type of aircraft.
The first thing to note is that there are different airplane license types for flying professionally, leisurely, and in various roles. For example, if you want to fly commercially as an airline pilot you need a professional license. If you want to fly for recreation, a general aviation license would be better suited to you. You can’t be paid for any flying you do with a general aviation license apart from some flight instruction.
If you wish to fly internationally, consider whether you need a license that complies with your country’s aviation authorities. Some non-ICAO licenses are only valid in certain countries.
Here is a guide to help you decide which license best fits you. To help make the distinction between these pilot license types clear, we have divided this guide into professional licenses and general aviation licenses.
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General aviation licenses
EASA licenses for general aviation:
Another distinction to note is between EASA and non-EASA licenses. Regulations for airplane license types are being standardized across all countries that are members of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), including the UK. You will now need an EASA License to fly most aircraft in Europe. Exceptions to this include some smaller or vintage aircraft that can still be flown with a national license.
Private Pilot License (PPL):
A Private Pilot License will allow you to act as the Pilot In Command (PIC) in non-commercial operations on airplanes or touring motor gliders (TMGs). You will be responsible for handling and commanding the private aircraft.
In most countries, it takes around 4-6 months to obtain a PPL and you have to complete 35-45 hours of flying. Once you earn it, a PPL is internationally recognized for private pilot jobs and can be used for flying airplanes and helicopters.
Light Aircraft Pilot License (LAPL):
LAPL allows you to fly airplanes, helicopters, balloons, or gliders. Airplanes and helicopters that can be flown with this license are limited to a take-off weight of two tonnes and can’t have more than three passengers. This license has a shorter training course and lower medical standards than the PPL.
Sailplane Pilot License (SPL):
This is the usual license required for those who wish to fly gliders. After getting your SPL, you must complete 10 flying hours or 30 launches as Pilot In Command to carry passengers onboard, and 75 flying hours or 200 launches to get paid for it.
Balloon Pilot License (BPL):
This allows you to pilot hot air balloons. You must complete 16 flying hours and 6 flights, of which 4 should be with an approved instructor.
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Non-EASA licenses for general aviation:
The national authorities regulate these licenses, and they are also sometimes known as ‘National’ licenses.
National Private Pilot’s License (Simple Single Engine Aeroplanes) (NPPL [SSEA]):
This license allows you to fly small, vintage, or kit-built aircraft.
National Private Pilot’s License (Microlight) (NPPL [M]):
The license is required to fly microlights.
Licenses can have ‘ratings’ added to them. These give you the authority to do things such as flying at night or in adverse weather conditions. You can also get ratings to allow you to fly different classes of aircraft.
Professional pilot licenses
If you want to fly commercially you will need one of the following pilot license types:
Commercial Pilot License (CPL):
Contrary to popular belief, being an airline and a commercial pilot is not the same. Becoming a commercial pilot requires you to have flight training, and in some cases, a degree.
This license will allow you to train students or pilot aircraft for some commercial operations subject to restrictions. See the CAA website for further details on restrictions in the UK.
Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL):
This is one of the highest types of pilot licenses you can hold and allows you to captain multi-crew aircraft. A pilot must possess an Airline Transport Pilot License to gain an airline's Captain position. The CPL can be upgraded to a full-fledged ATPL whenever a pilot reaches at least 1500 flying hours and is qualified to take the ATPL check (practical test), providing they have already passed an ATPL theory test.
The training to earn your ATPL can be expensive and takes several years. To learn more about becoming an airline pilot in the UK, read our article.
Multi-Crew Pilot License (MPL):
This license will allow you to fly commercial multi-crew aircraft. You will not need as much training to earn airplane license types such as the ATPL, however, you will only be able to fly as a First Officer as Captains require an ATPL.
Since the Multi-Crew Pilot License training is an airline-specific professional pilot license program with a particular airline and aircraft training syllabus, students belong to a specific airline from day one.
Additionally, a sizable portion of training is conducted in simulators rather than on smaller aircraft, where it is possible to practice threat and error management and imitate particular circumstances.
Type rating
To fly commercially, you also need to train to earn type ratings for the aircraft you want to fly. For example, if you are to fly Airbus A380s, you will need a type rating for this type of aircraft. The training for type ratings can be expensive, between £20,000 and £30,000. You will usually have to fund your first type rating yourself, however, your employer will usually pay for any further qualifications necessary for pilot jobs.
Conclusion
This is a basic overview of the different types of pilot licenses and what aircraft they allow you to fly. All licenses have separate qualifications and requirements, however, the process of earning a pilot license is mostly similar.
Choosing the license type before starting the process to be a pilot is essential, as it is an expensive journey that takes up a lot of time. So, choose well, and all the best!
