License Requirements

There are four licenses, in order from first to last - SPL, PPL, CPL and ATPL. HELI offers the highest standard of training available - remember we are here to assist you every step of the way!  Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

SPL : Student Pilot License

The SPL is the first license you will receive. It essentially exists to authorise student pilots to fly solo during their flight training. In order to obtain the SPL you need to comply with the following requirements;

• Be at least 16 years old
• Have a valid Class 1 or Class 2 medical certificate
• Have passed a technical exam for the aircraft you're training on
• Have passed a general aviation knowledge ("Pre Solo") exam

PPL : Private Pilot License

The PPL allows you to fly a fixed wing as Pilot in Command. With this license you will be allowed to hire and fly a fixed wing by yourself and take friends and family up. The main restriction with this license is that you are not allowed to receive any form of reward, in other words, you are not allowed to work with this license. In order to obtain a PPL you must;

• Be at least 17 years old Have a valid Class 1 or Class 2 medical certificate
• Have a valid SPL Have restricted or general radio license
• Have completed the required practical and theoretical training syllabus
• Have flown at least 45 hours in aeroplanes with a mass of 450kg or greater, of which At least 25 hours need to be dual instruction flight
• Have flown at least 15 hours solo, of which 5 hours are solo cross-country flights
• Have passed the 7 PPL theoretical exams
• Have passed the practical skills test

CPL : Commercial Pilot License

The CPL is the license that will allow you to work for money as a fixed wing pilot. With a basic CPL you are allowed to fly fixed wing on which you are rated during the day or night (provided you have a current night rating) and in visual weather conditions (VMC). For the commercial license you need to have 200 hours in a fixed wing, which includes the hours that you used to get your PPL. To comply with the requirements for a CPL you need to :

• Be at least 18 years old
• Hold a valid Class 1 medical certificate
• Have a general radio license
• Have or have held within the last 60 months a PPL or license issued by a contracting ICAO state.
• Have passed the eight theoretical examinations.
• Have passed the practical skills test
• Have at least 200 hours in a fixed wing, of which 100 hours have been flown as Pilot in Command
• Have at 20 hours cross country where you acted as pilot in command, including at least one cross country flight of at least 300nm
• 5 hours of night flying
• 20 hours of instrument time of which not more than 10 may be on a simulator
• 5 hours of instruction in an advanced aircraft