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For the first time, the new Light Aircraft Pilot
License (LAPL) will also be available in the UK.
The license is similar to the UK’s existing
NPPL, but will be valid throughout Europe.
Ray Elgy, Head of Licensing and Training
Standards at the CAA, said: “We are pleased to
be issuing EASA flight crew licenses. It has
been a long process getting to where we are
today, and there is still a long way to go
before the transition is complete. However, I am
very confident that we will see the benefits of
standardizing licensing across the EU from the
outset.”
The implementation of new rules for pilot
licensing (including medical certification)
across the EU is part of a process that has
already seen EASA take responsibility for other
areas of aviation regulation, such as
airworthiness.
Most UK pilots, private and commercial, will be
affected by the switchover and will have to
obtain new EASA licenses to continue to fly
aircraft that have EASA airworthiness
certificates. However, some pilots, such as
those who fly microlights, ex-military and kit
built aircraft, will be able to continue to use
their existing licenses. This is because EASA
does not regulate these categories of aircraft. |
