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Recreational Pilot Licence

A Recreational Pilot Licence allows is the first licence on your journey as a pilot.

Recreational Pilot Licence

The Recreational Pilot Licence, or RPL, is the first licence to be achieved on the path to a Private Pilot Licence.  The Recreational Pilot Licence allows the holder to fly on their own, or with passengers, within a 25 nautical mile radius of the airport they take off from.  To remove the 25 nautical mile restriction, the RPL holder needs to complete navigation training and the PPL flight test.  Information on the PPL can be found on our Private Pilot Licence page.

Generally, we complete the RPL training in the Cessna 172 due to its cost effectiveness and ease of flying.  Once the Recreational Pilot Licence has been completed you can move onto other aircraft, if desired, for the commencement of your PPL training.

Some frequently asked questions about obtaining an RPL:

Q1.  How old do I have to be?  

A.  The minimum age to go solo is 16, however you can commence training prior to go solo after your 16th birthday.

Q2.  Is the theory difficult?

A.  No!  Our instructors are able to assist you with all of the study requirements, and make learning an enjoyable experience.

Q3.  How often do I need to fly?

A.  That is up to you.  The more frequently you are able to fly the less lessons will requiring repeating, which saves you money and time.  We recommend flying at least once per fortnight for optimum results.

Q4.  How long does it take to go solo?

A.  Most students take between 15 and 20 hours of dual training with an instructor before they go solo.  There is no pressure however, and the first solo can be delayed until both the student and instructor are comfortable with the competency of the student.

Q5.  How does the training work?

A.  For the first 12 flights, each lesson comprises of a briefing session on the lesson to be covered, the pre-flight, and then the flight and debriefing between student and instructor.  Towards the latter stages of the RPL training the lessons are generally consolidation type flights and so no briefing is required.

The exam for the recreational pilot licence can be conducted in house, and the student can either self-study before sitting the exam, or do a theory course with one of our experienced instructors.

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