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The umbrella organisation for the regulation of civil aviation is known as ICAO; it forms part of the United Nations (UN) and exercises supranational regulatory authority. Every country recognised by the UN has its own national organisation or ministry responsible for regulating civil aviation. In France, this is the DGAC. However, as Europe is a unified entity, the overarching organisation in Europe is the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency).
So, there are licences that comply with this supranational legislation, namely:
SPL – glider pilot’s licence, 15 hours of total flight time, 45 take-offs and landings. It can be extended to include the TMG motor glider if a further 6 hours are flown on it and a solo flight of 150 km is completed, landing at a different aerodrome. The minimum age for obtaining a licence is 16. Class 2 medical certificate required. This licence allows the holder to fly a glider and, after 10 hours of solo flight time, to carry a passenger (PAX) in a two-seater glider or motor glider.
PPL – Private Pilot Licence for aeroplanes. 45 hours of flight time, a solo flight of 150 miles with landings at two aerodromes. May be extended with the following ratings: Night Rating (NR), Instrument Rating (IR), Multi-Engine Piston (MEP), Seaplane Rating (SPR), Aerobatics Rating (AR), Glider and Banner Towing Rating (TR), Mountain Rating (MR), Type Rating for a specific aircraft type, and Flight Instructor Rating (FI). The minimum age for obtaining a licence is 17 years. Class 2 medical certificate. This allows the holder to carry up to 19 passengers whilst piloting an aeroplane weighing up to 5,750 kg and to undertake international flights, but all on a non-commercial basis.
CPL – Commercial Pilot Licence: 200 hours of flight time, a theory exam comprising 13 modules, and 15–25 hours of flight time with an instructor. Class 1 medical certificate. This allows you to be paid for your work as a pilot and to carry cargo or passengers.
ATPL – Airline Transport Pilot Licence, 1,500 hours of flight time, a theoretical examination comprising 13 modules. The minimum age for obtaining the licence is 21. Class 1 medical certificate. Allows the holder to fly as a captain on airliners providing passenger transport services for airlines.
Licences governed by national legislation (within the EU):
LAPL – Light Aircraft Pilot Licence. 30 hours of flight time, including a solo flight of 80 miles to a separate aerodrome. Permits the carriage of up to three passengers on aircraft weighing up to 2,000 kg, but only within the EU. Only two additional ratings are available: night and aerobatics. It is a sort of ‘streamlined’ equivalent of the PPL. There is a procedure whereby the LAPL can be converted to a PPL upon completion of additional flight time with an instructor. Regulated by EASA.
ULM – an ultra-light motorised aircraft. It allows you to fly an aircraft weighing up to 575 kg, or up to 600 kg if it is fitted with a rescue parachute. The theory test consists of 60 questions; you are allowed two attempts, and the fee to sit the exam is 50 euros. The exam is held centrally at an examination centre; please check the timetable. The minimum age for obtaining a licence is 15 years. As the licence is regulated at national level by the DGAC, the aircraft’s registration must correspond to the country issuing the licence, although you may fly throughout Europe. There are minimum health requirements; a medical certificate can be issued by a general practitioner. This is often a way for people who do not meet the health criteria for other licences – for example, older people – to fly. It is the only licence where you can train outside an organisation, directly with a licensed instructor.