Did you know UK Pilot Licensing Is Changing?

15th May 2025

Did you know UK Pilot Licensing Is Changing? – What You Need to Know

Significant changes to UK pilot licensing are on the horizon, and pilots across the General Aviation (GA) community should be paying close attention. A licensing simplification project led by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is due to come into effect from 1st October 2025, subject to parliamentary approval. The goal? To streamline a licensing system that has long been considered overly complex and fragmented.

Why Change Now?

Post-Brexit, the UK retained a mix of licensing structures from the former European system (EASA) and its own Air Navigation Order (ANO) licenses. Over time, this hybrid approach has led to duplication, misalignments, and confusion—especially for GA pilots. The new reform project aims to return to first principles, examining ICAO Annex 1 standards and rebuilding a more efficient, accessible licensing framework from the ground up.

Key Changes: A Simplified Licence Structure

A central part of the reform is the decision to consolidate sub-ICAO licenses under a single national license: the Microlight and Powered Parachute Private Pilot Licence (MPPPL). From October 2025, the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) will no longer be issued. Instead, new applicants will receive the MPPPL, which will offer identical privileges to the LAPL and cover:

Microlights
Single-engine piston aircraft up to 2,000 kg
Touring Motor Gliders (TMGs)

Existing LAPL holders will retain lifetime validity but will transition to a fixed validity system for revalidation purposes, aligning revalidation requirements across licence types and aircraft classes.

Revalidation – Unified and Simplified

Revalidation has been a source of confusion due to minor differences across licences. The new approach harmonises revalidation rules for SCP, TMG, and Microlight ratings, regardless of licence type. Under the new rules:

12 hours of flight time must be completed every 24 months
At least 6 of those hours may now be completed in the first year of the two-year validity period
Refresher training may be conducted at any time within the validity period

Notably, refresher training for the Single-Engine Piston (SEP) rating can now be completed in a three-axis microlight, enhancing flexibility for pilots.

If we can help with any revalidations we have a number of partners we work with so get in touch – contact us

Modernising Training: The Role of VFR Moving Maps

For the first time, VFR moving map devices (i.e. tablets with navigation apps) are being formally referenced in both the PPL syllabus and skill test schedule. This long-overdue change acknowledges how technology has evolved in real-world flying and brings UK pilot training into line with modern cockpit practices.

Improving Training Quality: New Guidance for Refresher Flights

While not turning refresher flights into formal tests, the Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) now encourages a more structured approach. Instructors and pilots are urged to hold a pre-flight briefing, identify training goals, and deliver more purposeful refresher sessions—enhancing both safety and pilot competency.

Strengthening Licence Pathways

Historically, some training routes (especially from microlight to PPL) led to dead ends. This review addresses that. The new system allows:

Credit for microlight flight time towards an ICAO PPL
Easier integration of additional ratings (e.g. night or IMC ratings) to the MPPPL
Flexibility for ICAO PPL holders to fly microlights via differences training, removing the need for separate national licences

In essence, the goal is a fully integrated licensing structure where pilots can progress regardless of where they begin their training journey.

Returning the IMC Rating

The well-known Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) Rating is being reinstated by name. Previously known as the Instrument Rating (Restricted) or IR(R) when endorsed on Part-FCL licences, the IMC title will return to standardise terminology across licences.

Other Aircraft Categories: Balloons, Gliders, and More

The reform doesn’t stop at airplanes. The CAA is also refining licensing structures for balloons, sailplanes, helicopters, and gyrocopters. For example:

A Basic Instructor Rating will be introduced for sailplanes, formalising a previously informal path
Balloon pilot licensing will retain elements of the ANO system, enhancing training and operational flexibility
Certain commercial balloon standards have been strengthened to reflect pre-EASA practices

Listening to the GA Community

Throughout this reform process, the CAA has conducted three public consultations, reviewing thousands of responses. While not every view can be adopted, all responses have been read and considered. The changes reflect a genuine effort to balance simplicity, safety, and community feedback.

What’s Next?

The current set of reforms is only the beginning. Areas like theoretical knowledge syllabi for the PPL, CPL, and IR remain under review, and further updates are expected post-October 2025.

The reform represents a significant moment for UK GA, replacing confusion with clarity, and dead ends with open pathways. If implemented successfully, it will modernise the licensing structure while retaining flexibility and accessibility for all pilots.