Training Information

To obtain a UK Private Pilot Licence for helicopters (PPL(H)), the minimum requirements defined by the UK Civil Aviation Authority are:

  • Must be 17 years old. You can start training before 17, but you must be at least 17 to be issued with license in addition to completing the training.
  • Hold at least a Class 2 medical certificate. You dont need this to start training, but you will need it before your first solo training flight.
  • You must have English language proficiency at ICAO level 4 or above.
  • Pass 9 theoretical exams. These are:
    • Air Law
    • Human performance
    • Meteorology
    • Communications
    • Navigation
    • Principles of flight
    • Operational procedures
    • Flight performance and planning
    • Aircraft general knowledge
  • Obtain a Flight Radiotelephony Operator's Licence (FRTOL). This is required for aviation communication, including speaking to air traffic control services.
  • Complete a minimum of 45 hours of flight instruction*, which includes:
    • 25 hours of dual flight instruction
    • 10 hours of supervised solo flight time, including 5 hours of solo cross country flight time with at least 1 cross country flight of at least 100 nautical miles that includes 2 full stop landings at an aerodrome different from the departure aerodrome.
  • Complete a flight skills test with a UK CAA examiner. This will be taken at the end of your training.

* Although the CAA specifies 45hrs as the minimum requirement for a PPL(H), in practice it is extremely unusual to complete the training for a helicopter PPL in anything close to this. 

The first step to learning to fly is to find an approved helicopter flight school near you and discuss your training with them. Most schools offer a trial lesson where they'll take you flying give you some experience of what flying a helicopter is really like. They'll also talk you through likely time and costs involved in the training.