| This question poses another; 'What Plane?' is being | | | | also allows the holder to fly as pilot assistant but, |
| referred to. To fly a glider and obtain a glider pilots | | | | unpaid. A note of warning. From June of 2009 the |
| licence you need to join a gliding club or attend a gliding | | | | European Aviation Safety Agency became the new |
| school. There are no set hours to be flown and the | | | | regulatory body for Europe. National bodies such as |
| licence is available after sufficient experience and | | | | the UK CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) will act on behalf |
| passing some flying tests. | | | | of EASA but licencing requirements may change. |
| Balloons and hang gliders are not normally referred to | | | | Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) |
| as planes. However, Touring motor gliders (TMG) do | | | | This licenceis commonly referred to as the CPL.This |
| require a licence. Two main routes are available, a | | | | licence is the minimum required by anyone who wishes |
| gliding club that operates with both types of gliders or | | | | to be paid for flying as a pilot. There are two main |
| some flying clubs. Alternatively one can obtain the | | | | routes to obtain a CPL. The integrated route and the |
| licence by qualifying for a National Pilots Licence at an | | | | modular route. The integrated route is a full time |
| ordinary flying club then doing a conversion to the | | | | residential course lasting between 24 to 36 months |
| TMG. | | | | and the modular route is a form of stages taken at |
| National Private Pilots Licence (NPPL) | | | | intervals to suit the individual. The integrated route gives |
| This licence is obtained by flying a minimum total of 30 | | | | you a CPL with a frozen Air Transport Pilots Licence |
| hours which includes passing the theory examinations | | | | and Multi-crew Co-operation Licence. |
| and the flight test. This is done at the local flying club. | | | | Air Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL) |
| The PPL is then an extension of experience requiring a | | | | This enables the holder to act as first officer on an |
| minimum of 45 hours total flying experience. Limitations | | | | airline on a specific airplane. In order to become a |
| apply to these licences. The NPPL carries the | | | | caption with an airline, an Air Transport Pilots Licence is |
| privileges for UK only and is further limited to the | | | | a must. Once the holder has acquired 1500 command |
| carriage of only one passenger. | | | | hours he can apply for the full ATPL. The modular |
| Private Pilots Licence (PPL) | | | | route is for those who for personal reasons cannot |
| This licence carries the privileges of flying across | | | | spend the time or money for the integrated course. |
| borders and a maximum of 3 passengers. The PPL | | | | |