NPPL microlight class rating: passengers and recency

A microlight class rating on an NPPL(A) lets you act as pilot in command of any microlight aeroplane, subject to differences training and the licence conditions. A microlight is by definition "designed to carry not more than two persons", so with passengers that means you and one other person. To carry that passenger you need the ANO recent experience condition, three take-offs, approaches and landings as sole manipulator in the preceding 90 days, and no operational limitation that bars passengers.

Microlight privileges are a class rating within the NPPL(A) (ANO Sch. 8 Pt 2 Ch 2). The licence privileges, including the four-person and 2,000 kg limits, are covered on the NPPL(A) page. For microlights the aircraft limit is what counts.

Privileges

ANO 2016 Sch. 8 Pt 2 Ch 2:

"(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (6) and to the conditions of the licence in which it is included, a microlight class rating entitles the holder to act as pilot in command of any microlight aeroplane.

(2) If the current certificate of revalidation for the rating is endorsed "single seat only" the holder is only entitled to act as pilot in command of any single seat microlight aeroplane."

Paragraph (3) requires "appropriate differences training" before you fly a microlight that differs from your experience. That covers three-axis against flexwing or weightshift, crossing the 475 kg or 600 kg thresholds (495 kg and 650 kg for amphibians and floatplanes), and features such as "a tricycle undercarriage", "a tailwheel", "an autopilot system", "more than one engine" or "an electric engine". It also covers a cruise speed "in excess of 140 knots indicated airspeed". Flying from water needs differences training and "a pass in the Private or Professional Seamanship examination" (para (5)). Differences training must be logged and "endorsed and signed by the instructor".

Two persons by definition

ANO 2016 Sch. 1 para 4(2) and (3) describe a microlight as a non-Part-21 aircraft "that is designed to carry not more than two persons", with set stall speed and mass limits: 450 kg for a two-seat landplane, or 475 kg with a recovery parachute, and up to 600 kg for an approved design under para 4(3). A "single-seat deregulated aeroplane" is also a microlight (para 4(4)).

Microlights on other licences

• SEP holders (ANO): "The SEP rating includes the microlight class rating", subject to differences training in microlight aeroplanes (Sch. 8 Pt 2 Ch 2, SEP para (4)). CAP 3181 (CAA guidance), para 5.7, says the same.
• UK PPL(A): the CAA's "5 in 13" page says microlight class ratings, "regardless of the licence they are included in", run on a 24-month cycle under Sch. 8 Pt 3, which shows the UK (ANO) PPL(A) can include them.
• Part-FCL licences: these sources don't give a microlight privilege for the Part-FCL PPL(A) or LAPL(A). From 1 October 2025, FCL.035(a)(5) lets some three-axis hours count towards FCL.140.A(a), FCL.740.A and FCL.210.A(a). CAP 3155 calls this credit "from three axis control system microlight aircraft". That's crediting hours, not a privilege to fly microlights.

Carrying passengers

NPPL(A) para (1)(e) needs the recent experience condition or exception. Sch. 8 Pt 1 Ch 1 para 1(2)(a):

"as pilot in command or co-pilot unless the holder has carried out, in the preceding 90 days, at least three take-offs, approaches and landings as the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft of the same type or class or a full flight simulator representing that type or class;"

For night, para 1(2)(b) requires one night take-off, approach and landing in 90 days or an instrument rating. The exception covers "a single passenger who is also qualified to act as pilot in command on that flight", where you have told them you don't meet the condition (para 2(2)).

Licences with operational limitations

CAP 3181 para 2.13 sets the limitations on a licence issued after the shorter course:

"Limitation 1: No person in addition to the pilot shall be carried in the aeroplane other than a qualified Flight Instructor in a microlight aeroplane equipped with dual controls, provided that where the pilot has gained not less than 25 hours experience on microlight aeroplanes, including not less than 10 hours as PIC and such experience has been entered in his/her personal flying logbook and has been certified by a person holding a Flight Examiner authorisation, then this Limitation shall cease to apply."

Limitation 2 requires no cloud below 1,000 ft agl and at least 10 km visibility. Limitation 3 keeps you within 8 NM of the take-off site. With Limitation 1 in place, you can't take a passenger at all, including on a cost-sharing flight.

Keeping the licence valid

ANO art. 157 requires a valid certificate of revalidation. Sch. 8 Pt 3 Ch 2 para 4(2) applies the same experience requirements to microlight ratings as to SEP and TMG ratings (CAP 3181 para 5.11). Within the validity period you must have flown "at least 12 hours which includes at least 6 hours as pilot in command", "at least 12 take-offs and at least 12 landings", "at least six hours in the 12 months preceding the expiry date of the rating", and "at least one hour of flying training in an aeroplane with an instructor entitled to give instructions on aeroplanes of that class". Without the hour of training, the certificate "must be endorsed 'single seat only'". The alternative is an NPPL General Skill Test.

The 5 in 13 transition: final period to 31 October 2026

The CAA's "5 in 13" page explains that exemption ORS4 1633 let holders of a UK PPL(A) "(with the exception to the NPPL(A))" with a microlight or SLMG rating "issued before 1 February 2008" revalidate on "5 flight hours in the preceding 13 months". The page says: "The exemption was reissued for a final 13-month period until 31 October 2026", and "all pilots are reminded that they must comply with the current requirements set out in The Order by 31 October 2026". The exemption text itself wasn't checked.

Night, IMC and other ratings

This is unresolved. NPPL(A) para (1)(f) allows night PIC "where the licence includes a night rating (aeroplanes)". The CAA's night rating page is titled "Night rating for aeroplanes/microlights". However, CAP 3181 para 4.66 describes endorsing the night rating only "if the applicant holds a valid SEP or TMG class rating". The sources checked contain no provision that clearly allows or prohibits a night rating on a microlight-only NPPL(A), and Rules of the Air and permit conditions weren't checked. The cautious approach is not to fly a microlight at night on a microlight-only licence without written confirmation from the CAA or BMAA.

Under ANO art. 153A, an NPPL(A) first issued after 30 September 2025 needs an aerobatic rating before you act as PIC during aerobatic manoeuvres.

Medical

ANO art. 163(2) allows an art. 161 certificate, a Part-MED certificate (including a LAPL medical) or a medical declaration. On a declaration, art. 163(5) limits you to "not more than three passengers", VMC or an IMC rating, day or a night rating, and the UK unless you have permission. The CAA's medical page states that no PMD changes are planned for microlight instructors.

Getting the licence

From CAP 3181 Chapter 2 (Version 2, August 2026):

• Three-axis or weight-shift, with operational limitations: "15 hours flight training as pilot of microlight aeroplanes [...] including seven hours as PIC" (para 2.12). Limitations 2 and 3 can be removed after 25 hours, including five hours of navigation training (paras 2.14-2.15).
• Without limitations: "a minimum of 25 hours training [...] including ten hours supervised solo flight time and five hours navigation flying training" (para 2.16), with qualifying solo cross-countries (two of 40 NM, or one of 80 NM).
• Powered parachute: at least four hours with limitations (para 2.22), or 15 hours without (para 2.26). These lead to a "Microlight – Powered Parachute only" rating.

The skill test is taken in one class and one control system (para 2.30). Applications go to the BMAA on form 102 M, and the CAA page says the BMAA "will issue the licence" for a microlight-only NPPL(A).

What changed in 2025 and 2026

From 1 October 2025, SI 2025/850 substituted the NPPL(A) privileges, made the SEP rating include microlight privileges (with differences training) and set the 12-hour revalidation requirement in para 4(2) for SEP, TMG and microlight ratings alike. CAP 3181 Version 2 followed in August 2026. The 5 in 13 exemption runs out on 31 October 2026. As of 17 October 2026, no 2026 SI amending Sch. 8 had been found.

Cost sharing on this licence

Microlights are non-Part-21 aircraft, so ANO 2016 art. 13 applies, not NCO.GEN.102. NPPL(A) para (1)(c)(ii) allows a "microlight aeroplane or TMG" to be flown for commercial operation "where the excepted flights condition is met", which covers cost-shared flights under art. 6(4a).

• Persons: two, you and one passenger, whatever the six-person cap in art. 13(2)(a) allows (six-person limit).
• Equal share: the passenger pays no more than half the direct costs (art. 13(2)(c)), and you pay all other costs (art. 13(2)(b)).
• Declarations: before the flight, the passenger is told it doesn't meet CAT or PT safety standards and signs a declaration. You keep it 6 months (art. 13(2)(f)-(h)). A passenger who holds or has held a pilot's licence needs no signed record (AMC1 NCO.GEN.102(g)). See passenger declarations and records and giving a passenger briefing.

Split My Flight handles the declaration and record for that one passenger. For other licences, see cost sharing by licence.