There is no time limit as to how long the PPL course will take to complete. The syllabus requires a minimum of 45 hours flying though the average PPL student completes a course in about 60 hours. The length of the course is purely dictated on a combination of weather conditions and the student’s own availability for lessons.

Although there is no official minimum age for the commencement of PPL training you can only log hours if you are 14 years or older. However as part of the PPL course 10 hours of your flying will be done solo and to do this you must be at least 16. To receive your licence from the CAA you must be at least 17. There is no maximum age for the PPL, it is purely determined by whether you can acquire a valid medical certificate.

Yes, as part of the PPL course you must pass a total of six theoretical groundschool exams plus a Radiotelephony course which includes both a written and practical exam. All of the exams are multiple choice, with a pass mark of 75%.

The exams must be taken within 18 months of each other and are valid for a two year period from the date of passing the last exam.

Yes, it is possible to sit the groundschool exams at both our Liverpool and Barton bases. Times and dates can be arranged with our in-house examiners.

Most students choose to self-study for the exams but at Ravenair we do offer formal groundschool evening classes for those students who would prefer to be taught in the classroom. Prices and dates of courses are available upon request from 0161 486 6161. Alternatively, one-to-one groundschool tuition can be organised, again by calling the above number.

If you are unlucky enough to fail a groundschool exam then the school may recommend more formal training to identify and correct any errors or gaps within your knowledge, to allow you to do better on the next attempt. The pass mark for each exam is 75% and you can take up to three attempts for each subject.

Yes. In order to fly solo and to exercise the privileges of your licence you must hold a valid medical certificate. There are two types of medicals available, a Class One which is required for students and licence holders wishing to obtain a commercial licence or a Class Two which is the certificate required for PPL holders. The examination is performed by an Aero Medical Examiner (AME) of which there are several in the local area. More information can be found on the CAA website or by telephoning our booking office.

The PPL Package includes 45 hours flying training, first attempts at all six groundschool exams, the first attempt of the final skill test flight, a one year membership to Ravenair and all landing fees incurred during the 45 hours. For this reason the package works out to be the much cheaper method of payment for the course, especially during the “circuit” phase of training where the student is learning to master the landing stage of flight. A discount is also available for any hours required beyond the initial 45 offered on the package.

The major difference between the NPPL and the PPL is the length of the course and the purpose of the licence. An NPPL only allows you to fly in very good weather in the UK (though regulations have recently changed to include France) but there are no extra ratings that you can add to this licence. A PPL allows you to fly anywhere in Europe that operates as a JAA state, plus you can add other ratings to your licence such as a night rating or IMC rating for flying in more adverse weather conditions.

A PPL is effectively valid for life though the licence must be renewed by the CAA every five years simply by sending the relevant paperwork to them. Any ratings on your licence must be renewed as each one requires.

The most common rating is the Single Engine Piston (SEP) Rating which is valid for two years. In order to revalidate this you must have completed at least 12 hours in the second year of the rating, of which at least six must have been solo, and one hour must have been with an instructor. Any ratings that have lapsed beyond their validity period will need to be renewed in order to be able to exercise their privileges. This normally involves a Skill Test Flight with an examiner.

Ravenair offers students the opportunity to complete all PPL training and associated Ratings, then continue all the way to commercial training if they so wish, within the same company. The company has several in-house examiners and a large fleet with two dedicated maintenance departments (one at each base) to ensure the upkeep of our fleet at all times.

We have 13 PA38 Tomahawk aircraft, two PA28 Warrior/Cherokee aircraft and two PA34 Seneca multi-engine aircraft for more advanced training. Ravenair also operate four PA23 Aztecs and five Partenavia PN68. Normally two of our PA38s are based at Barton, to ensure we always have a fully serviceable fleet across both of our bases.

Yes, we have a FNPT II CAA Approved simulator at our Liverpool base which can be used to practise more complex procedures before actually doing them in the aircraft.

Yes, it is perfectly possible to remain with the same instructor throughout your course, if you choose to do so. Ravenair has a highly skilled team of instructors who have regular working days, allowing students to co-ordinate lessons in line with their particular instructor’s working days if they so wish. If you specifically wanted to fly on a day your instructor was unavailable, there is no particular disadvantage in flying with another instructor; as each student has a personal record documenting all flights and areas to work on for each lesson, it means that should you need to fly with a different instructor at any point, this can be achieved with no disruption to your training. All bookings for our instructors are made through our Central Booking Office at Barton, and it is recommended that the earlier you book, the more chance you have of flying with the instructor you want.

There is no limit to how often you can book a lesson with us. Ravenair operates five slots per instructor per day. The slots begin at 08:30 and run for two hours each. During the winter months there are only four slots per instructor per day, due to the reduced hours of daylight. In order to avoid disappointment it is recommended you book your slots as early as possible. The programme is available for two months in advance and we are open seven days per week. If, for example, you can only do one day per week it is possible to book a double slot, if this is available with the instructor you want to fly with. In order to maintain a certain level of continuity and because weather and other factors can cause a lesson to be cancelled, it is worth booking at least one lesson per week. If you need to cancel a lesson for any reason then a minimum of 48 hours notice must be given (unless it is due to weather circumstances on the day).

There are several ratings that you can add to your licence once you have completed your PPL course of study. These include a night qualification, an IMC rating, instrument rating or commercial licence. Details and prices for these courses can be found on our Pricelist or by contacting us at any point.

There are various scholarships and bursaries that are available from time to time, which include partial or full funding of a PPL course. These are offered by the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators (GAPAN), The Air League and the British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA), to name a few. More information can be obtained from their own websites. A list of bodies offering scholarships bursaries and can be found on our flight training page.

For every flight our aircraft must adhere to strict take off and landing weight restrictions for performance, safety and legal reasons. If the aircraft is overweight then it will not be possible to go flying. We do have a four seat aircraft available to use for flying lessons (PA28) which has a higher weight restriction; this can normally resolve any weight issues that may arise from trying to take a two seat PA38.

Some students from time to time have suffered from mild effects of air sickness. Air sickness usually diminishes with increased exposure, as the body becomes more accustomed to the sensations of flying a light aircraft. There are several remedies for air sickness including wrist bands that can reduce the effects, especially on turbulent days. Many students have felt slightly air sick at the start of the course but lots have gone on to complete their courses with no further problems - some even becoming commercial pilots!

The PPL you will receive upon the successful completion of your course is a JAA PPL which allows you to fly in most European countries without any conversion training required. If you wish to fly in the United States then you will need to convert to an FAA PPL which is normally just a paperwork exercise, though a check flight would normally be required at each flying school’s own discretion.

For any more information about Ravenair please feel free to contact us directly on 0151 486 6161, or arrange to come in for a guided tour of our facilities and find out more information about groundschool subjects, tuition and the PPL course. Flying equipment and theoretical course material can be purchased via either the Pooley’s website where you can obtain a 5% discount on any online purchase simply by placing “Ravenair” in the promotional code box.