Choosing between a PPL and NPPL? We break down the current UK pilot licence options for 2026, including training, medicals, privileges, costs and future progression, plus what the changes to the LAPL mean for new pilots.
If you're thinking about learning to fly in the UK, one of the first questions you'll face is which pilot licence to work towards.
For new pilot students in 2026, the two main private-flying routes are the UK Part-FCL Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and the National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL). They can both take you into the world of General Aviation, but they are designed around different levels of flexibility, progression and international use.
If you've already been researching online, you may also have come across the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL). That is where things have recently changed.
This guide explains the current UK position, the practical differences between a PPL and NPPL, and which route may make the most sense for the flying you want to do.
What Happened to the UK LAPL?
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) no longer issues new LAPL(A) licences.
From 1 October 2025, students who had trained towards a LAPL(A) but had not had the licence issued were directed onto the NPPL route instead. Existing LAPL holders can continue to hold and use their licences, subject to the applicable privileges, ratings, medical and recency requirements.
That means that although older articles and videos may still compare the PPL with the LAPL, a new UK student choosing a licence in 2026 should normally be comparing the PPL with the NPPL.
For that reason, this guide focuses on the licences that are actually relevant to someone starting aeroplane training in the UK today.
The UK Part-FCL Private Pilot Licence for aeroplanes, usually written as PPL(A), is the more internationally recognised and flexible of the two routes.
It allows the holder to act as pilot in command in non-commercial operations on aeroplanes or touring motor gliders, provided the pilot holds the appropriate class or type rating and meets the relevant medical and recency requirements.
For most students who want the widest range of future options, the PPL is the natural starting point. It is also the licence normally used as the foundation for more advanced training, including the commercial pilot pathway.
How much training does a PPL require?
Under the current UK CAA requirements, the standard PPL(A) course requires at least 40 hours of flight instruction. Up to five of those hours may be completed in an approved flight simulation training device.
The course must include at least 10 hours of supervised solo flight time, including at least five hours of solo cross-country flying and a qualifying solo cross-country flight of at least 270 km (150 NM), with full-stop landings at two aerodromes other than the departure aerodrome.
The 40-hour minimum can be reduced to 35 hours when the training is completed on a course at an Approved Training Organisation specifically approved for that purpose.
These are minimum figures, not a promise that every student will be ready for a skill test at that point. Training frequency, weather, individual progress and local operating conditions can all affect the number of hours ultimately required.
What is a NPPL?
The National Private Pilot Licence is a UK national licence designed primarily for recreational flying.
A NPPL(A) can be issued with class ratings for Single Engine Piston (SEP) aeroplanes, Touring Motor Gliders (TMG) and microlights. For the typical student learning on a light training aircraft such as a Cessna 152, Cessna 172 or Piper PA-28, the relevant route will usually be the NPPL(A) with a SEP(Land) class rating.
The NPPL can be an excellent option for pilots whose ambitions are centred on recreational flying in the UK and who do not need the broader international and professional progression offered by a PPL.
How much training does a NPPL require?
The current CAA requirements for a NPPL(A) with a SEP(Land) or TMG class rating require at least 32 hours of flight time as pilot, excluding the skill test.
The training must include 10 hours of supervised solo flight time. At least four of those hours must be solo cross-country flying, including one solo cross-country flight of at least 150 km (80 NM) with a full-stop landing at another aerodrome.
Training for a NPPL(A) SEP(Land) or TMG may be conducted at an Approved Training Organisation (ATO), a Declared Training Organisation (DTO), or with an independent Flight Instructor who is appropriately qualified.
Again, 32 hours is a regulatory minimum. The actual time needed to reach skill-test standard will vary from pilot to pilot.
PPL vs NPPL: What Are the Main Differences?
Training hours.
The standard minimum for a PPL(A) is 40 hours, while the NPPL(A) SEP/TMG route requires at least 32 hours of flight time, excluding the skill test.
That makes the NPPL potentially quicker and less expensive to achieve, but the difference in real-world training cost can be smaller than the headline figures suggest if a student needs additional hours to reach the required standard.
Where you can fly.
This is one of the biggest practical differences.
The NPPL is a UK national licence and is intended for flight in UK-registered aircraft within UK airspace. Flying outside the UK normally requires permission from the relevant foreign authority, and flying an aircraft registered outside the UK may also require permission or validation from the state of registry.
A UK Part-FCL PPL is the stronger choice if international touring is part of your plans. You must still comply with the rules, ratings, medical requirements and validation arrangements applicable to the aircraft and country concerned, but the PPL is built around the ICAO licensing framework and is far more suitable for pilots who expect to fly abroad.
Aircraft and passenger limits.
The NPPL(A) is limited to aeroplanes with a maximum take-off mass of 2,000 kg or less, and no more than four people may be on board, including the pilot.
A PPL does not carry that same blanket 2,000 kg/four-person NPPL limitation. What you can actually fly is instead governed by the aircraft category, the class or type ratings you hold, and any other applicable licensing and operational requirements.
For many UK recreational pilots flying familiar four-seat SEP aircraft, the NPPL limits may never be an issue. For others, they may become restrictive as their experience and ambitions grow.
Theory exams.
The NPPL route was also simplified in 2026. An applicant for a NPPL(A) with SEP(Land), TMG or Microlight privileges can satisfy the theory requirement by passing either the five NPPL examinations or the nine Part-FCL PPL examinations.
The five NPPL subjects are Air Law, Human Performance, Meteorology, Navigation and Aircraft Technical Knowledge.
The PPL route uses the nine Part-FCL subjects: Aircraft General Knowledge, Air Law, Communications, Flight Performance and Planning, Human Performance, Meteorology, Navigation, Operational Procedures and Principles of Flight.
What About the Medical?
Medical requirements are an important part of choosing the right licence.
For the initial issue of a UK Part-FCL PPL, the CAA states that you need a Part-MED Class 2 medical certificate.
For the NPPL, the minimum medical standard is normally a valid Pilot Medical Declaration (PMD), although a valid UK Class 1, Class 2 or LAPL medical certificate can also be used.
A UK Part-FCL PPL holder may, where eligible, make a Pilot Medical Declaration for certain UK private flying. However, when flying on a PMD the PPL holder is restricted to LAPL-level privileges: aircraft of 2,000 kg MTOM or less, no more than three passengers and no more than four people on board, in VMC only. Instrument Rating and IR(R) privileges cannot be exercised under those PMD conditions.
A PMD is not an internationally recognised medical standard and is not normally valid outside UK airspace unless the relevant state gives permission.
Medical circumstances are individual, so if you have any doubt about eligibility it is worth checking the current CAA guidance or speaking to an Aeromedical Examiner before committing significant money to training.
Can You Add Ratings to an NPPL?
Yes. The NPPL is more capable than some older online comparisons may suggest.
The current CAA NPPL framework provides for additional flying ratings including Night, IMC and Aerobatics, subject to meeting the relevant training and eligibility requirements. The NPPL can also carry SEP, TMG and Microlight class ratings.
That makes it a useful recreational licence rather than simply a basic local-flying qualification.
The PPL still provides the broader route if you want to progress into more advanced Part-FCL qualifications, wider aircraft privileges or professional flying.
What if You Want to Become a Commercial Pilot?
If professional flying is even a realistic possibility, the PPL is the better starting point.
For the UK modular Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) route, the CAA requires applicants to hold an ICAO-compliant PPL(A) before starting the CPL course. The NPPL is not issued in accordance with ICAO Annex 1 and is therefore not the appropriate foundation for that route.
You do not need to decide your entire aviation career before your first lesson. Many commercial pilots started flying purely for enjoyment. But if airline, charter, survey, instruction or other professional flying is already in the back of your mind, choosing the PPL from the outset is likely to avoid unnecessary steps later.
Is the NPPL Cheaper Than the PPL?
Potentially, yes.
The NPPL has a lower minimum flight-time requirement and can use a Pilot Medical Declaration where the eligibility criteria are met. Its theory route can also involve fewer examinations.
But the cheapest advertised route is not necessarily the best-value route for you.
If you later decide that you want to tour internationally, move into a broader range of aircraft or pursue professional training, the greater flexibility of the PPL may make it the better long-term investment.
Before choosing, ask yourself what you realistically want your flying to look like in two, five or even ten years.
So, Should You Choose a PPL or NPPL?
Choose based on the flying you want to do, not simply the minimum number of training hours.
A NPPL may be a very sensible choice if your aim is recreational flying in the UK, primarily in light single-engine aircraft, and you are comfortable with its aircraft, passenger and international limitations.
A PPL is likely to be the better choice if you want maximum flexibility, expect to fly abroad, may want more advanced qualifications later, or think professional aviation could ever become part of your plans.
Neither route is automatically the 'right' licence for everyone.
The best first step is to speak to a flying school, explain what you hope to achieve and ask them to talk you through the training route, aircraft availability, expected costs and medical requirements before you commit.
Ready to Learn to Fly?
Learning to fly is one of the most rewarding ways to become part of UK General Aviation. Whichever licence route you choose, the first solo, your first navigation exercise and the first time you take an aircraft away as pilot in command are milestones that tend to stay with you.
AERLO is run by private and commercial pilots, and we're keen to help anyone who wants to take their first steps into aviation and ultimately earn their wings.
If you're ready to get started, find a flying school near you through AERLO and speak to a few schools before deciding where to train. Ask about their aircraft, instructor availability, pricing, training frequency and which licence best suits your ambitions.
If you're still unsure where to begin, you can also contact us at hello@aerlo.co.uk and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.
