Learning to fly a microlight aircraft and gaining your Microlight Pilots Licence.

At Cumbria Microlight Training we provide fixed-wing and flex-wing microlight flight training, towards the grant of a National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL) with a microlight class rating on the Ikarus C42 and the GT450 type aircraft.

We operate from Carlisle Lake District Airport which has hard runways and currently an Air Ground radio advisory service. This means we are able to operate all year round with little restriction. Being able to fly from an airport like this gives you a huge head start in understanding aviation procedures better, including using the radio and you will also become accustomed to dealing with other traffic which you might not experience learning from somewhere else. This will help make you a more confident pilot and also be a more prepared aviator once you gain a licence. 

To fly a microlight in the UK you must hold a Pilot Licence. The NPPL is a UK specific pilot licence and it is not an internationally recognised licence and does not automatically entitle the holder to fly aircraft in other countries. It includes aircraft class ratings that allow the holder to fly specific classes of aircraft, such as microlights.

To obtain an NPPL with a microlight class rating you must have completed a course of flight training with a UK Civil Aviation Authority authorised flying instructor entitled to instruct on microlights as described below.

When you learn to fly with Cumbria Microlight Training your flying lessons are booked into a 2 hour slot and are one to one with your instructor. If you are flying you will only pay for the time you are in the aircraft. The briefing beforehand and the debrief after come as a part of the price of the flying lesson.

Flight Training Requirements

The microlight class rating can be issued with either of two options. The options are without operational limitations or with operational limitations. The majority of student pilots training for the microlight class rating opt for without operational limitations from the beginning of their training as ultimately it is less restrictive once they achieve their pilot licence.

The minimum flight training required for the grant of an NPPL with a microlight class rating without operational limitations is:

• Minimum total flight time under instruction: 25 hours
• Minimum flight time solo: 10 hours
• Minimum total navigation flight time: 5 hours
• Minimum solo navigation flight time: 3 hours

If you wish to work towards your microlight class rating with operational limitations the requirements are below.

Flight Training Ground Exam Requirements

The microlight syllabus lists the subject matter that an applicant for a microlight class rating must understand. There is no minimum requirement for training by an instructor to achieve this knowledge but the applicant must have demonstrated a knowledge of the subject matter by passing examinations.

There are written examinations in five subjects:

• Meteorology
• Navigation
• Aviation Law
• Human Performance & Limitations
• Aircraft Technical

The examinations must have been passed within the twenty four months immediately prior to applying for your licence.

Applying for your Pilots Licence

Application for the grant of a NPPL with a microlight class rating must be made in writing on the NPPL microlight licence application form through the BMAA Licence Administration Centre at the BMAA office address.

Removing the Operational Limitations from a NPPL Microlight Class Rating.

To remove Limitation 2 the holder must have completed at least 25 hours of total flying in microlights and at least 10 hours solo flying in microlights. The holder’s experience is certified in their log book by a flight examiner and the Limitation ceases to apply from that time.

To remove Limitations 3 and 4 the holder must have completed at least 25 hours of total flying in microlights, at least 10 hours solo flying in microlights. The holder must have completed the navigation training requirements specified in flight Exercise 18 within the twenty four month period immediately prior to applying to have the limitations removed. Application to have Limitations 3 and 4 removed must be made in writing on the NPPL Microlight Licence application form through the BMAA Licence Administration Centre at the BMAA office address.

Medical Requirements

A pilot may only fly microlights as pilot in command in the UK if they hold valid medical certification.

The NPPL medical certification can be by a self declaration made online on the Civil Aviation Authority website. To apply for the medical click here.

Other accepted medical certification may be available, but applicants should check with their instructor prior to solo flight.

Cumbria Microlight Training strongly recommends that student pilots obtain their medical declaration at the start of their training to ensure that they will be able to hold such a medical, and do not wait until just before they are ready to fly solo, by which time they must hold a valid medical.

Our Fees:

Flying Instruction (per flying hour) – £150.00

Groundschool tuition (per hour) – £30.00

Theory exam (each) – £30.00

Instruction on own aircraft (per hour) – £70.00

Solo Hire (per hour) - £150.00

We say: Joining the British Microlight Aircraft Association is a must do.  See why here.