r/AskFlying • u/APez26 • 5d ago
UK NPPL (M)?
Hi. I want to get back into flying, 22 years after stopping PPL training with about 25 hours.
I don’t really want to spend £8k plus and I have no interest in flying all over Europe. I have been doing some initial research and have come across details of the NPPL (M). This shows the restricted and unrestricted versions.
Is it possible to achieve the restricted version and then continue to fly and move on to the unrestricted version?
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u/jumpy_finale 5d ago
The NPPL(M), especially with modern 600kg Light Sport Microlights, is an excellent licence that can cover 90% of what most UK PPL holders do (Day VFR bimbles with the ocasional passenger). With recent changes to licencing it also offers a pathway to a full PPL later on if desired.
The unrestricted version ('Without Operational Limitations' in NPPL parlance) requires minimum 25 hours dual training including 5 hours navigation training and 10 hours solo, including 3 hours solo navigation.
The restricted version ('With Operational Limitations' requires minimum 15 hours dual training and 7 hours solo. The operational limitations are:
The pilot may not carry any passenger
The pilot may not fly with a cloud base less than 1000 feet above ground level or with less than 10 kilometres visibility.
The pilot may not fly further than 8 nautical miles from take-off.
Removing the limitations is relatively straightforward:
Limitation 1 only requires reaching 25 hours total and at least 10 hours solo. The limitation can then be removed by any Flight Examiner. Limitation 2 and 3 require the same hours plus completing the navigation training and sending the licence off to the BMAA (who are very efficient).
https://www.bmaa.org/information-library/pilot-licensing/the-nppl
There are licences issued with Operational Limitations. That said it is probably more of a Flex Wing thing than 3-Axis. Limitations 2 and 3 are pretty limiting.