At Causeway Airfield we offer training for a UK NPPL (Microlight). This is a national licence, however reciprocal recognition is common throughout Europe. Currently a microlight has a maximum weight limit of 472.5kg. This is likely to increase to 600kg soon and already manufacturers are offering aircraft to the higher limit. The licence requires a minimum of 25 hours plus passing five written exams and an oral exam, and of course a flight test. All can be done at Causeway as we have a resident instructor and CAA examiner.
Training Syllabus
PHASE 1: FAMILIARISATION EXERCISES AND FOUNDATION
1. Air experience: the first lesson
2. Component parts, controls and systems of the aircraft
3. Preparation for flight and actions after flight
4. Effects of controls
5. Taxying
PHASE 2: THE BASIC FLIGHT MANOEUVRES
6. Straight and level flight
7. Basic climbing and descending
8. Performance climbing and descending
9a. Turning flight
9b. Climbing and descending turns
PHASE 3: SLOW SPEED HANDLING
10a. Critically slow airspeed
10b. Stalling, and spin avoidance
11. Spinning (Non flight exercise, discussion only)
PHASE 4: TAKE-OFF, LANDING AND CIRCUIT FLYING
12. Circuit training
13. Advanced take-off and landing techniques
PHASE 5: ADVANCED HANDLING
14. Advanced turning
15. Unusual attitudes
PHASE 6: OPERATIONAL HAZARDS, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND UNEXPECTED/UNPLANNED OCCURRENCES
16a. Forced landings
16b. Precautionary landings
16c. Operation at minimum level
16d. Action in the event of an engine/cockpit fire
16e. Systems failure
PHASE 7: SOLO FLIGHT TRAINING
17a. First Solo
17b. Solo circuit, local area orientation and general handling consolidation
PHASE 8: VFR NAVIGATION
18a. Pre-flight planning
18b. En-route navigation, departure and arrival procedures
18c. Navigation at minimum level and/or in deteriorating conditions
18d. Unsure of position and lost procedures
PHASE 9: PREPARATION FOR THE GENERAL SKILLS TEST AND GROUND ORAL EXAM
19a. Dual revision for GST
19b. Revision for the ground oral exam
19c Documentation review
– General Skills Test and oral exam. – Pilot’s Licence Issue, then Plenty of affordable flying!
To maintain the licence, requires a minimum of 12 hours in the 2 year period since gaining the licence, with at least 6 hours in the last 12 months including a one hour flight with an instructor in the last 3 months (to maintain the original validity period). Alternatively, pass another Skills Test.
Most pilots accrue around 50 hours a year as microlights are an affordable way to fly!