3 axis Microlight flying experience to now be accepted towards ICAO PPL

A huge win for the Microlight world is the universal recognition of 3 axis Microlight experience in hours building towards an ICAO PPL. Any young person looking to ultimately become a Commercial Pilot can now start their journey with the most affordable form of aviation, and we expect this confirmation to be a formidable marketing tool for Microlight schools. Spread the word!

The Microlight ground exams are now also recognised for all other NPPL ratings (SEP and TMG) and a “bridging suite” of additional theoretical exams will be required when progressing into the ICAO world.

PPL 5 hours in 13 months revalidation cycle transitioning to 12 hours in 24 months

Headline: All PPL Microlight holders operating under the 5 hours in 13 months system must transition to the NPPL 12 hours in 24 months system from 1st October 2025.

Details: The CAA have confirmed that they will renew the exemption that allows the 5 in 13 cycle to be valid for a further 13 months (ending 31^st October 2026). This allows a convenient buffer period for all affected PPL Microlight holders to transition smoothly on their next revalidation to the 24 month cycle and they must do this. The exemption will have a conditional clause indicating that no further revalidations on the 13 month cycle can take place during this period; only recognition of previous 13 month cycles. It will be illegal to fly on a 5 hours in 13 months rating from 1^st November 2026, as the latest possible 13 month period will have lapsed prior to this date. PPL holders' next renewal will not involve a sticker or stamp in their logbook, but a signature and expiry date on a ratings page. If a PPL holder does not have a ratings page on the licence itself, they can request a separate ratings page from the CAA directly. Microlight Examiners can request additional blank ratings pages from the BMAA, but they are of limited number (request form link).

To be clear, the 24 month cycle is not calculated retrospectively. The Microlight Examiner should judge a PPL holder’s renewal by the criteria of the cycle they are currently on. If the PPL holder has only ever flown 5 hours in 13 months, the rating on transition will be revalidated based on those 5 hours in that 13 month period, then the new rating will be entered on the ratings page; set to expire in 24 months time, to end of month, as with a NPPL. The PPL holder should understand that they must complete a minimum 12 hours flying, 6 hours must be in second 12 month period, minimum of 1 hour to be under instruction (maximum of 6), minimum 12 take-offs and landings. The licence and logbook can be presented at any time within the second 12 months (providing all elements are completed) without losing rating currency (i.e. the rating is extended by the same date 24 months into the future, even 11 months before original expiry) and the instructional hour can be completed at any stage within the rating’s validity period. The logbook and licence must be presented to an examiner prior to the rating’s expiry date to be able to revalidate by experience, otherwise a GST will be required for renewal. The option for having your rating revalidated as 'Single Seat Only' still exists, so if you are having terrible problems booking time with an instructor very close to the rating's expiry, this is an option to give you some breathing space to get in the instructional hour and avoid a GST. Remember though that you cannot fly on a 'Single Seat Only' rating unless it is in a SSDR Microlight - flying solo in a two-seat Microlight is not permitted.

Contrary to fears, the instructional hour is not a skills test and cannot result in a pass/fail. It is not required to be conducted to SEP standards. This instructional hour should be seen as an opportunity rather than a burden. Nobody wants additional costs and obligations, but NPPL holders have had this requirement for many years now, and contact with an instructor is undoubtedly useful for any pilot. The pilot is in control in terms of requesting what to cover on their instructional hour so they should maximise the time to improve their knowledge and practical flying capabilities. CAA guidance on biennial refresher training will be published soon.

One further clarification: Microlight ratings can only be revalidated by Microlight examiners (or SEP examiners who have undertaken Microlight differences training). The instructor who conducts the biennial instructional flight cannot revalidate the rating if they do not also hold an examiner authority.

(An example PPL rating page for reference below)

A visual guide to help understand your transition can be found here.

NPPL rating changes – BMAA retain licence issuing privileges

More great news that the BMAA continues its role as the only association to be granted permission to issue ab initio NPPLs directly. Just a reminder that this has meant applicants who previously waited a minimum of 10 working days (2 weeks) for their licences to most receiving their licence within 2-3 days of the application arriving at the BMAA office.

In terms of the ratings appearing on the NPPL, there have been changes to the other ratings available: the SSEA (Simple Single Engine Aircraft) rating will become the SEP (Single Engine Piston) rating, and the SLMG (Self-Launching Motor Glider) rating will become the TMG (Touring Motor Glider) rating. In terms of administration, existing NPPL rating names are still recognised, but if a holder needs to submit their licence document to the CAA (for a rating addition or address change for instance), then it will be reissued with the new nomenclature.

Rather than the current multiple ratings system which allows holders of more than one rating/class to claim experience from all ratings/classes towards revalidating each individual rating/class providing a minimum one hour experience in each rating/class is completed, the new regime will mean not even an hour is required in each rating/class, providing all requirements are met in one rating/class. Rating additions will no longer require General Skills Tests but satisfactory differences training completion (though rating addition applications will still need to be submitted the usual way to have the rating added by the CAA). These changes will be detailed in the new CAP document, so the implementation will not be immediately after October 1st but rather when the new CAP document is published. Those who hold the SEP/SSEA rating after October 1^st can fly Microlights after satisfactory differences training completion, rather than having to add a Microlight rating.

Microlight-specific CAP document to be published

Flight Crew Licensing: Mandatory Requirements, Policy and Guidance, better known as CAP 804, has been withdrawn for some time now. Rather than rewriting sections in this massive document, the CAA have decided to publish CAP documents for individual aviation sectors, and the Microlight world will get its own imminently. We are told that many cross credit specifics will be altered to instead require tailored discretionary training programmes (with mandatory coverage of some exams or exercises included).

It may not arrive until after October 1^st, so in the interim, basic cross-credits will continue to follow the previous guidance. Any licence holder wishing to apply for a more complicated credit (military experience for instance) should be advised to hold tight until the CAP document has been published.

What else do you need to know?

Microlight ground exam papers are now provided directly to Microlight examiners by the CAA, and the updated sets will be published and sent out imminently. Microlight examiner applications are made through the BMAA through the processes detailed in Section 9 of the BMAA Instructor and Examiner Guide as usual. After recommendations are made to the CAA, they should send exam paper sets to new Microlight examiners directly based on their own records. Please get in touch with examiners@caa.co.uk if you have recently gained a Microlight examiner authority and not received ground exam papers in a timely manner.

Partial Power Loss will be incorporated into the Microlight NPPL syllabus, as well as coverage of operation of moving maps/use of digital navigation devices if relevant.

For licences issued under the Air Navigation Order (Including NPPL) after 30^th September 2025 it will be a requirement to hold an aerobatic rating before conducting aerobatic manoeuvres.

The Microlight application Form 102M (and Powered Parachute form 102PP) have some minor updates as a result of the Licensing Review changes. We are waiting for CAA approval to have them available to print from the BMAA website.

Have a look at our slide presentation from an explanatory webinar for further clarification here. 

These changes directly affect Microlight pilots and Microlight training, although other parts of the review may affect Microlights more indirectly. Please refer to the CAA website (https://www.caa.co.uk/publication/download/25752), BMAA website, Microlight Flying magazine and the BMAA social media pages over the coming days for further information.