The JAR-PPL is a European pilot's licence and
is accepted in all countries around the world. This licence will allow
you to rent an aircraft on holiday and fly anywhere you wish. There are
some wonderful sights from the air and with a JAR-PPL you will have no
problem renting an aircraft. This licence will allow you to fly out of
cloud by day, but there are additional ratings to add to your licence,
which allow you to fly in, or above the cloud and at night. They are
explained in a little more detail below.
top of page
The JAR-PPL
Course
The JAR-PPL requires a minimum of 45 hours
flying, 10 of which will be spent solo. The course is very structured,
and you will find that it does not take long before you are able to
control the aircraft accurately and safely. You will then learn to use
the radio, to navigate, and what to do if things don't go according to
plan!
The time that it takes to achieve the JAR-PPL
depends upon the frequency of your lessons. If you take one or two
lessons per week, which seems to be most popular with students, then you
can expect to have your licence within a year of starting. It is
possible, however, to take a very intensive course and gain your licence
in under three weeks. If you wish to fly only once a month, then we can
cater for that as well!
top of page
Ground and Radio Examinations
The course for a JAR-PPL involves seven ground
examinations. These exams are all flying related and most of the
knowledge you gain will be used in the air. The examinations are all set
by the Civil Aviation Authority and are in the following subjects:
Air Law
Meteorology
Navigation
Flight Planning and Performance
Aircraft General
Human Performance
Radio
These exams are nothing to worry about, with a
little time and thought applied to each subject, they are all very
passable! They can all be taken at the School, and we have books which
can be purchased on each subject. There is always an instructor on hand
to answer any questions which you may have and we can also offer ground
tuition on a one to one basis if you wish.
Towards the end of the course, you will take a
radio oral examination, but once again the can be taken at Sheffield
where we have instructors and an examiner on site.
top of page
The JAR-PPL
Skill Test
At the end of your course, and when your
instructor feels that you are ready, you will take a Skills Test. This
is basically a flight with a registered examiner, who will assess and
hopefully decide that you are safe enough to have a pilot's licence.
Once again, this test is nothing to be worried about, your instructor
will have prepared you well for it, and we have resident examiners, so
you will already be very familiar with him/her.
Once this is completed, all that remains for
you to do is apply to the CAA for your licence and you are officially a
Pilot!
top of page
The IMC rating
Having achieved a JAR-PPL you are free to rent
or buy a share in an aircraft anywhere in the world. However it is
also possible to add additional ratings to your licence, which allow
you to do more things.
One of these ratings is an Instrument
Meteorological Conditions (IMC) rating, which will allow you to fly the
aircraft in cloud and on top of the cloud, out of sight of the earth's
surface.
This rating allows you to fly the aircraft in
much worse weather conditions, and also to use the navigation and
landing aids at most airports.
The course is a minimum of 15 hours and a test
with an examiner at the end. There is also a ground exam to sit, but
once again, with a little time spent, this should not be a problem. We
have in house instructors and examiners for the IMC rating at Sheffield
City Flying School.
top of page
The Night Rating
The night rating is a different rating which
can be added to your JAR-PPL and will allow you to fly the aircraft at
night.
Flying at night is the most beautiful way to
fly and is certainly one to have a go at!
The night rating is only a 5 hour course, with
no test or ground examination involved. The night rating is also
available at SCFS, but is only usually taught through the winter months.
top of page
