LAPL(A) and PPL(A) training: two ways to become a pilot, two levels of freedom in the sky
LAPL(A) and PPL(A): two ways to become a pilot, two levels of freedom in the sky
Becoming a pilot is a dream shared by many. In Europe, there are two main licenses that allow you to fly for leisure: the LAPL(A) and the PPL(A). While both give you access to flying, they are not equivalent and are aimed at different profiles. The LAPL(A) is a light license, designed for simple, local flights, while the PPL(A) offers more freedom and is a stepping stone to professional flying.
LAPL(A): THE LIGHT LICENSE FOR SIMPLE FLYING
The LAPL(A), or Light Aircraft Pilot License, is a "light" license that allows you to fly simply, for pleasure, nearby, with few passengers and within a well-defined framework. The pilot can fly a single-engine piston (SEP) aircraft with a maximum weight of approximately 2 tons, carrying up to three passengers. Flights are conducted under visual flight rules (VFR), during daylight hours, in good weather conditions. The LAPL(A) is valid mainly within the EASA area, but is not always recognized outside Europe. It remains strictly non-commercial. To obtain it, a minimum of 30 flight hours is required, including 15 hours with an instructor, 6 hours of supervised solo flight, and a solo navigation flight of at least 80NM (150km).
PPL(A): THE VERSATILE AND EVOLVING LICENSE
The PPL(A), or Private Pilot License, is more comprehensive: it opens the door to greater freedom, international travel, advanced qualifications, and, for those who wish, a future professional career. It allows you to fly a wider variety of aircraft. With the appropriate qualifications, it gives you access to multi-engine aircraft, night flying, instrument flying, and aircraft weighing up to 5.7 tons. It is internationally recognized, subject to local regulations. Like the LAPL(A), it remains a recreational license, but is the first step towards professional licenses such as the CPL or ATPL. Obtaining it requires a minimum of 45 hours of flight time, including 25 with an instructor and 10 solo, with a solo navigation of 150NM (270 km).
Although it is possible to start training earlier, student pilots must be at least 16 years old and have a valid medical certificate to make their first solo flight, after written authorization from their instructor and parental consent for minors. European regulations have thus created a progressive system, allowing everyone to progress at their own pace while maintaining a high level of safety.
The theory test consists of 120 multiple-choice questions divided into seven modules. Candidates must score 75% of the available points to pass this written exam. The theory test can be taken in several sittings, but must be completed within a maximum of 12 months. Candidates then have 24 months to take the practical test and obtain their license.
The practical aptitude test will be conducted by an examiner. The practical test is divided (on a single-engine aircraft) into five sections: if you fail a single section, you can retake it within six months. Failure in more than one section requires you to retake the entire test.
SKILLS MAINTENANCE, SAFETY, AND MEDICAL MONITORING
Obtaining a license is not enough to fly without restrictions for the rest of your life. Pilots must comply with rules regarding maintaining their skills and staying up to date: a certain number of hours, takeoffs, and landings over a given period. Otherwise, refresher training with an instructor is mandatory. This is to prevent occasional pilots from losing their reflexes.
Medical requirements must also be met. For the PPL(A), a Class 2 medical certificate is mandatory. For future professional pilots, a much more demanding Class 1 medical certificate will be required. Here again, safety is paramount.
Behind licenses, flight hours, and regulations, aviation is based above all on a shared culture of safety, known as just culture. This philosophy reminds us that pilots, like anyone else involved in aviation, have the right to make mistakes, as long as those mistakes are not deliberate or intentionally dangerous. What matters most is not punishment, but understanding, reporting, learning, and progressing. Each incident then becomes a source of improvement for everyone. It is this mutual trust between pilots, instructors, mechanics, and air traffic controllers that makes aviation one of the safest modes of transportation in the world today. Choosing to become a pilot, whether through the LAPL(A) or PPL(A), is not just about learning to fly a plane, it is also about joining a community based on rigor, humility, and respect for collective safety.
LAPL(A) AND PPL(A) : DIFFERENCES AT A GLANCE
|
Criterion |
LAPL(A) |
PPL(A) |
| Objective | Simple and local recreational flights | Advanced recreational flying, long trips, and career opportunities |
| Aircraft type | Light single-engine aircraft (≈2 tons) | Single-engine or heavier (up to 5.7 tons) |
| Maximum passengers | 3 | Depending on the aircraft and regulations |
| Possible flights | VFR during daylight hours only | VFR, night flying, instrument flying (with qualifications) |
| International recognition | Limited to Europe (EASA) | Broad, international (according to local rules) |
| Minimum flight hours | 30 hours | 45 hours |
| Solo sailing | 80 NM (≈150 km) | 150 NM (≈270 km) with 2 intermediate landings |
| Medical Certificate | LAPL | Class 2 (Class 1 for professionals) |
| Professional use | Prohibited | Possible after CPL or other qualifications |
| Scalability | Limited | Very high (multi-engine, IFR, additional qualifications) |
| Target audience | Recreational pilots, limited budget | Pilots wishing to travel, develop their skills, or become professionals |
Key regulatory references
- Regulation (EU) No. 1178/2011 – Part-FCL – LAPL(A) and PPL(A) licenses
- Regulation (EU) No. 923/2012 – Rules of the Air (SERA) – Flight Plan
- Official EASA and EUR-Lex publications
