So you want to learn to fly!
Why?
This question needs to be answered so that you can decide whether to train for a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) or a Microlight Certificate.
What is the difference?
The main difference is the cost of compliance. PPL’s and general aviation (GA) aircraft are supervised at every level by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This is an expensive bureaucratic business. You can get a feel for it by the number of abbreviations in this document so far!
Microlight Pilot Certificates and microlight aircraft Permits to Fly are monitored by microlight organisations. Whilst the organisations themselves are supervised by the CAA many levels of bureaucracy are removed. They use some volunteer labour to reduce costs. If you are not happy with one organisation you can join another!
A summary of the major differences are shown in the table below:
| PPL | MICROLIGHT | |
| Good weather by day flying | Yes | Yes |
| Good weather by night flying | Yes with additional training | No |
| Cloud flying | Yes with additional training | No |
| Maximum passengers | Limited by aircraft type | 1 |
| Maximum aircraft size | Limited by aircraft type | 600Kg weight; max 2 seat |
| International privileges | Yes – but ask host country | No – but ask host country |
| General aviation instructor required | Yes | No |
| Career development path | Yes | No |
| CAA medical required | Yes (or a DL9 with some privilege limitations) | No – GP medical will do |
| External exams | Yes | No-exams supervised by instructor at your club |
| Flight test with external examiner | Yes | No – flight test with a club instructor |
| Training on GA aircraft counts | Yes | Yes |
| Training on microlight aircraft counts | Not much! See below | Yes |
| Training on Light Sports Aircraft counts | Yes – with a GA instructor | Yes |
Can I get a microlight certificate and later convert to a PPL?
Half of the pilot in command time obtained in the 12 months prior to PPL issue up to a maximum of 10 hours count towards non specific training requirements. In practise you will need to fly 20 microlight hours whilst training for the PPL to get a maximum of 10 hours credit. Might it be a better use of the money to fly the GA aircraft?
Can I fly a microlight if I have a PPL?
Yes. You will need a “type rating” in the same way as moving from a Piper to a Cessna. This is best done with a GA instructor.
If you wish to get a type rating with a microlight instructor you will have to get a microlight certificate. The type rating will only be valid whilst your microlight certificate is valid. Microlight organisations have simple procedures to issue microlight certificates to PPL holders.
What is a Light Sport Aircraft?
This is a GA aircraft for which the certification requirements have been relaxed to allow cheaper production costs. Because of the relaxations they are limited to a maximum of 600KG weight and 2 seats and may not be used for cloud flying. LSA are ideal for Private and Commercial Pilot (CPL) day /night training and for typical PPL use. A CPL can train on one but must take the test on an aircraft with a Standard category certificate of airworthiness. A microlight pilot can fly LSA aircraft by day too.
Whilst the certification requirements for a Light Sports Aircraft are less than a GA aircraft with a Standard category certificate of airworthiness they are stricter than a microlight. LSA are likely to be more expensive to operate than a microlight but cheaper than a Standard category GA aircraft.
Some aircraft are eligible to be registered as either a LSA, Microlight or Standard category. If you decide to train for a PPL/CPL ensure the aircraft you use is not registered as a microlight and that the instructor holds a “part 61” general aviation instructor rating.
Summary
In summary if you have no intention of becoming a professional pilot, are happy being able to carry only one passenger by day in good weather in New Zealand airspace seriously consider becoming a Microlight pilot. For anything else train for the PPL from the start.