General Aviation Pilot Licensing & Training Simplification
In March 2024 the CAA launched a 10-week public consultation seeking stakeholder views on proposed changes to licences and ratings across the GA aircraft categories:
The consultation received a total of 1411 responses.
A summary of the responses received, the decisions made, and next steps can be found in the consultation response document and on the consultation page. In addition to the consultation response document, we have provided summary documents that detail the consultation responses by GA aircraft category:
- aeroplanes including microlights and consultation page
- balloons and airships and consultation page
- sailplanes and consultation page
- helicopters and consultation page
- gyroplanes and consultation page
Next steps:
- We will commence Phase 3 of this project, which will focus on working with the Department for Transport on implementing the decisions set out in the consultation. Legislation will be brought forward in 2025 in the form of Statutory Instruments.
- We will also commence work on developing relevant Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material to support the planned legislation. This will require further consultation later this year.
Balloon and Sailplane Pilots Licences
Changes outlined in the Consultation Response Documents do not affect the continued implementation of UK Sailplane Flight Crew Licensing (Part-SFCL) regulations and Balloon Flight Crew Licensing (UK Part-BFCL) regulations.
Holders of existing BGA certificates and balloon licences issued under the Air Navigation Order should convert to Sailplane Pilot Licences (SPL) and Balloon Pilot Licences (BPL) respectively, well in advance of the statutory conversion deadline of 30 September 2025. Failure to do so in good time before that deadline may result in a disruption to licence privileges.
Existing PPL(Balloon and Airship) holders will be permitted to exercise limited privileges on Part 21 balloons after 30th September 2025, however the existing conversion report to the BPL will be discontinued.
Phase 1: Investigate the scope for simplifying the licensing architecture
Looking at the high-level issues, including the implications for consolidating UK Air Navigation Order and retained EASA regulations, compliance with ICAO standards and recommended practices, and the distinction between general aviation and commercial flight training.
Help simplify private pilot licensing and training in the UK - CAA on General Aviation
Answering your questions on the GA licensing consultation - CAA on General Aviation
The role of the GA licensing working group - CAA on General Aviation
Phase 2: Licenses, ratings and certificates
Focus on licences, ratings and certificates across all the aircraft categories in scope. We will look at including privileges, training, exams, costs and cross-compatibility where this is relevant,. It will be necessary to further break this down to pilot and instructor components.
This also gives us an opportunity re-examine the training syllabus and related guidance material to reflect any emerging safety thinking. This will culminate in a series of policy proposals from which we could develop rulemaking.
Project update on private pilot licensing and training in the UK - CAA on General Aviation
Phase 3: Rulemaking, transparency and simplicity
Once we have identified the policy proposals, we will use the most efficient rulemaking process to put those in place and communicate them to the GA community.
Provide page feedback
Please enter your comments below, or use our usual service contacts if a specific matter requires an answer.
Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.