PPL-A flight training minimums & cross-category credit
PPL-A flight training minimums (Std 421.26(4)): dual/solo split with sub-minimums.
| Part | Minimum | Cite |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 45 h private pilot flight training, under Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane holder's supervision | 421.26(4) |
| Dual | 17 h | 421.26(4)(b)(i) |
| Solo | 12 h | 421.26(4)(b)(ii) |
Total:
- Up to 5 h of the 45 may be flown on an approved aeroplane simulator or flight training device (421.26(4)(a)).
Dual (17 h) includes:
- 3 h cross-country
- 5 h instrument time
- Up to 3 h instrument ground time (simulator/FTD)
- Rest must be in flight
Solo (12 h) includes:
- 5 h solo cross-country
- One flight of at least 150 NM with 2 full-stop landings at points other than the point of departure
Remaining hours:
- 17 dual + 12 solo = 29 h, not 45
- Rest of the 45 h: dual or solo, whatever reaches flight test standard
- Only 17 and 12 are hard floors
Cross-category credit (Std 421.26(6)(b)): other-category flight time (helicopter/gyroplane, glider, three-axis ultralight) may count toward the 45 h, which must still include at least 30 h in aeroplanes (421.26(6)(b)(i)).
| Category | Max toward 45 h | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Helicopter/gyroplane | 15 h | At most 4 h solo; of that, 2 h must be solo cross-country |
| Glider | 5 h | Pilot-in-command time |
| Three-axis ultra-light aeroplane | 10 h | Pilot-in-command time |
- Cite for the caps: 421.26(6)(b)(ii)
- Instrument time from another category: creditable toward instrument experience, if not double-counted toward the 17 dual or 12 solo hours
Trap: 30 h is required aeroplane time, not a credit cap.
References
- Personnel Licensing Standard 421.26(4)
- Personnel Licensing Standard 421.26(6)