FAQ Answer

What is meant by: a JAA or JAR-FCL licence; a United Kingdom licence; a UK National Private Pilots Licence (NPPL) and a “national licence”?

A JAA or JAR-FCL licence means a licence marked “Joint Aviation Authorities” that has been issued by a mutually recognised JAA member in accordance with JAR-FCL, and is not restricted to aircraft registered in any particular State.

The term “United Kingdom licence” as used by the CAA and in the Air Navigation Order means a licence issued by the CAA that is not a JAA/JAR-FCL licence and is not a National Private Pilots Licence (NPPL). When the European regulations are fully implemented, United Kingdom licences will not be valid for the piloting of EASA aircraft.

The UK National Private Pilots Licence (NPPL) is a licence issued by the CAA that is valid in UK airspace for the piloting of UK registered aircraft only. (The NPPL may only be used in another country with the permission of the relevant authorities of that country). Depending upon the class ratings included in the NPPL it may be used to fly microlight aeroplanes, Self-Launching Motor Gliders (SLMGs), and/or Simple Single Engine Aeroplanes (SSEA). When the European regulations are fully implemented, NPPLs will not be valid for the piloting of EASA aircraft.

National licence - In European regulations and associated materials, a “national licence” is any licence issued under national law rather than European regulations. This means any licence that is not issued in accordance with the new Part-FCL is a national licence. Under the proposed legislation, JAR-FCL licences issued fully in accordance with JAR-FCL by mutually recognised JAA States will be deemed to have been issued under the new Part-FCL, and so will be European licences. In the UK context, this means that “United Kingdom” licences, NPPLs, and UK-issued JAA licences that are marked “Valid for United Kingdom registered aircraft” (because the holders did not fully comply with JAR-FCL) are national licences.