If you’ve been away from flying for a while but would like to give it another go, then there’s no better time than now. The flying season is about to start, offering longer days and better weather.
You probably have either an old, brown UK CAA licence or a blue JAR licence. You can continue with either of those licences if you plan to fly a Permit aircraft, such as a homebuilt. However, if you want to fly an EASA-certified aircraft, such as a Cessna C172, you’ll need to change your licence to a CAA PPL or LAPL. The choice of which licence might depend on your ability to pass a medical.
Your medical aside, the next step is to take some refresher training with a flying instructor and assess how rusty your piloting skills are. The objective is to pass a Licence Proficiency Check (LPC), a slimmed down version of the full Skills Test, and obtain an appropriate rating, such as a single-engine piston (SEP) aircraft rating.You’ll also need English Proficiency to Level 4, 5 or 6.
With a freshly-minted rating, medical passed and English Proficency complete, you can then apply for a CAA licence by post or online.
