If you would like to fly a private aircraft, you need a private pilot licence (PPL).
A PPL lets you:
- command or co-pilot an aircraft in a private operation
- do flying training.
You can get a PPL for any of these aircraft category ratings:
- aeroplane
- helicopter
- powered-lift aircraft
- gyroplane
- airship.
What you need to get a private pilot licence
To get a PPL you must be:
You must also do a medical test and get a medical certificate.
We issue these medical certificate classes for a PPL licence:
- Class 2 to take the PPL flight test.
- Class 1 or Class 2 to fly an aircraft.
You may also hold a recreational aviation medical practitioner’s certificate (RAMPC) or a Class 5 medical self-declaration to fly an aircraft.
If using an RAMPC, you will be limited to flying:
- recreational aircraft by day under visual flight rules only
- with only one passenger
- under 10,000 ft AGL.
If using a Class 5 medical self-declaration, you will need to operate under the following specified operational limitations:
- Private operations only.
- Aircraft certificated maximum take-off weight must be 2000 kg or less.
- Must only operate under the visual flight rules (day VFR) by day (no IFR, no IMC, no night VFR).
- Must not operate above 10,000 feet above mean sea level.
- Must have no more than 2 persons on board.
- Must not use a CASR Part 61 operational rating. For example, instructor rating or low-level rating. For a complete list, refer to the definitions in CASR 61.010.
- Must not conduct aerobatics or formation flying.
- Must operate wholly within Australian territory.
How to apply for a private pilot licence
To get a PPL for your chosen aircraft category rating, you'll need to do the following:
Once you have your PPL, you can:
- go through this process again to add more aircraft category ratings
- add other flight crew ratings and endorsements.
You will need to keep your licence active with a flight review.
To fly in a multi-crew aeroplane, you must also do approved training in multi-crew cooperation. You don't have to do this training if you took part in multi-crew operations before 1 September 2015.
Theory and the exams for private pilot licences
Some of the subjects you will learn for PPL are:
- flight rules and air law
- aerodynamics
- meteorology
- navigation
- flight planning
- power plants
- aircraft systems.
You can study the theory yourself, for example, through a self-learning course. Or you can go to a flying school or aero club.
The PPL theory exam tests how well you know the theory of your chosen aircraft rating.
Training courses for private pilot licences
Flight training courses teach general, cross-country and instrument flying.
There are 2 types of courses:
- intensive integrated courses, through Part 142 flight training operators
- non-integrated courses, through Part 141 flight training operators.
Some organisations offer both types of courses. You can search for a Part 141 or Part 142 flight training operator near you.
In an integrated training course, you do ground theory with practical flight training at the same time. It's a structured course that you can do quickly.
If you do non-integrated training, you will do more practical flight training and it will take longer.
Your flying training operator may credit you for training you've already done.
They will assess that training and your current knowledge and skills. This helps them work out what else you need to know and do before the test.
Basic instrument flying
You will need to do basic instrument flying if you are:
- applying for an aeroplane licence (PPLA)
- doing an integrated course of training for a helicopter licence (PPLH).
Otherwise, basic instrument flying is optional.
If you get a PPLH through a non-integrated course without doing basic instrument flying, your licence will have a note that it doesn't meet the PPL international standard.
You can still do the basic instrument flying later.
Flying experience for a private pilot licence
The amount of flying experience you need to get a PPL depends on the aircraft category rating you're training for.
You can do these hours in any aircraft or any category except when conditions apply. If the condition is that you must fly a certain aircraft type, it must be recognised or registered.
Minimum hours for an aeroplane PPL
| Experience | Hours for an integrated course | Hours for a non-integrated course | Conditions |
|---|
| Aeronautical experience | 35 | 40 | Up to 5 hours can be in a flight simulator |
| Flight time as a pilot | 30 | 35 | 20 hours must be in an aeroplane |
| Solo flight time | 10 | 10 | Must be in an aeroplane |
| Solo cross country | 5 | 5 | Must be in an aeroplane and include a flight of at least 150 NM with a full-stop landing at 2 aerodromes outside the flight training area. |
| Dual instrument time | 2 | 2 | Can be in a flight simulator |
| Dual instrument flight time | 1 | 1 | Integrated must be in aeroplane |
Minimum hours for a helicopter PPL
| Experience | Hours for an integrated course | Hours for a non-integrated course | Conditions |
|---|
| Aeronautical experience | 35 | 40 | Up to 5 hours can be tethered or in a flight simulator |
| Flight time as a pilot | 30 | 35 | 30 hours must be in a helicopter |
| Solo flight time | 10 | 10 | Must be in a helicopter |
| Solo cross country | 5 | 5 | Must be in a helicopter and include a flight of at least 100 NM with landings at 2 areas other than where the flight began |
| Dual instrument time | 2 | 2 | Can be in a flight simulator |
| Dual instrument flight time | 1 | 1 | Must be in a helicopter |
Minimum hours for a gyroplane PPL
| Experience | Hours for an integrated course | Hours for a non-integrated course | Conditions |
|---|
| Aeronautical experience | 35 | 40 | Up to 5 hours can be in a flight simulator |
| Flight time as a pilot | 30 | 35 | 20 hours must be in a gyroplane |
| Solo flight time | 10 | 10 | Must be in a powered aircraft with minimum 5 hours in a gyroplane |
| Solo cross country | 5 | 5 | Must be in a powered aircraft and include a flight at least 100 NM with landings at 2 areas other than where the flight began |
Regulations for private pilot licences
The rules for private pilots are in these sections of Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations:
- Subpart 61.E – general limitations
- Subpart 61.H – private pilot licences
- 61.505 – privileges of private pilot licences
- 61.510 – limitations on exercise of privileges of private pilot licences – multi-crew operations
- 61.515 – requirements for grant of private pilot licences – general
- 61.520 to 61.535 – aeronautical experience requirements for private pilot licences (applicants who have completed integrated training courses)
- 61.540 to 61.565 – aeronautical experience requirements for private pilot licences (applicants who have not completed integrated training courses).
Transitioning a CAR 5 licence to a Part 61 licence
You can no longer exercise the privileges of a CAR Part 5 licence. If you hold a CAR 5 licence it will need to be transitioned to the new Part 61 licence to continue to operate.
These include licences, ratings, endorsements, authorisations, approvals, and delegations issued under:
- Part 5 of CAR
- a CAO made under Part 5 of CAR
- CAO 29.6
- CAO 29.10
- CAO 29.11
- CAO 82.6.
You can transition your licences by using the ‘Recognition and Transfer CAR Part 5 Qualifications’ form.
Download a digital pilot licence
You can carry a digital version of your pilot licence. Find out how to download a copy to your mobile.
Reprinting your licence
Contact us if you need a paper reprint of your licence for operational reasons, such as international air operations. The fee for a licence reprint is $25.
