Training for the National Private Pilots Licence

Kernan Aviation offers flight training up to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved British Microlight Aircraft Association NPPL(M) standard.

It is a legal requirement for both instructors and students to be a member of the same club, which in our case, is the Kernan Valley Flying Club based on our airfield.

All training is carried out by CAA approved instructors and costs £100 per hour.  We allow 2 hour time slots for our training to allow time for pre-briefing and post-briefing.

We offer training on a one-to-one basis at the pace dictated by the student, therefore it is difficult to estimate how many hours it will take to get a licence to fly microlights.  It depends on the following:

The weather conditions, because flying is a weather dependant sport but we try to make best use of the suitable days.

If you are available to fly during the week, you will be able to avoid busy weekends but you can always book in advance either way.

Personal finances usually dictate how often you fly but we would recommend you fly regularly to avoid constant revision.

The NPPL(M) licence requires a minimum of 25 hours, 10 hours of which must be solo.  This is a minimum requirement and we have found that it usually takes an average 35 - 45 hours to get the student to the required level, but each person is different and we move at the pace set by the student.

Instruction hours may be logged towards a licence from 14 years of age, pilots may fly solo from 16 years of age and may hold a licence from 17 years of age. There is no maximum age for a pilot.

As well as flying training each student must pass 5 ground examinations and a General Skills Test before they can attain their licence.  The ground school subjects include:

Aviation Law

Human Performance Limitations

Principles of Flight

Aviation Meteorology

Aviation Navigation

These examinations are mostly multiple choice and we provide the student with all the books and equipment in our student pack that they will need to pass them.  You can do the examinations one at a time as long as they are all completed before the General Skills Test, only Aviation Law needs to be completed before the student can fly solo.  Ground school is also available to obtain these examinations.

Try not to let ground school put you off getting your licence as you will find it relates directly to what you actually doing in your flying training and therefore is easier to take in.

The General Skills Test (GST) is carried out by one of our three CAA approved examiners and everything is available here on our airfield. We are one of the few flying schools here in Ireland to provide this service.

At Kernan Aviation we do our best to accommodate any students who have long distances to travel and when possible two or more slots may be booked on one day. There are local bed & breakfast facilities available if any student wishes to stay overnight.

For more information visit the British Microlight Aircraft Association website:  www.bmaa.org or the National Private Pilots Licence website: www.nationalprivatepilotslicence.co.uk where you can download the syllabus.

Training Packages

Kernan Aviation also offer 5 and 10 hour training packages, just ring 02838 841492 for information.