PPL(H) and LAPL(H): privileges and recency

A LAPL(H) lets you act as pilot in command of single-engine helicopters of 2,000 kg MTOM or less, with no more than three passengers and four people on board. A PPL(H) lets you act without pay as PIC or co-pilot of helicopters in non-commercial operations, within your type ratings. Both need FCL.060 recency (or the ANO recent experience condition on the ANO LAPL(H)) to carry passengers, and both can share costs: the LAPL(H) with up to three passengers, and the PPL(H) up to the six-person cost-sharing cap.

This page covers the Part-FCL licences and the ANO Light Aircraft Pilot's Licence (Helicopters), formerly the NPPL(H). CAP 3155 (CAA guidance) confirms that "The LAPL(H) will continue to be issued."

Privileges

FCL.105.H:

"The privileges of the holder of an LAPL for helicopters are to act as PIC on single-engine helicopters with a maximum certificated take-off mass of 2 000 kg or less, carrying a maximum of 3 passengers, such that there are never more than 4 persons on board."

FCL.205.H(a):

"The privileges of the holder of a PPL(H) are to act without remuneration as PIC or co-pilot of helicopters engaged in non-commercial operations and to exercise all privileges of holders of an LAPL(H)."

Under FCL.205.H(b), a PPL(H) holder with instructor or examiner privileges may be paid for instruction for the LAPL(H) or PPL(H), for skill tests and proficiency checks, and for rating training. The CAA's LAPL(H) page says privileges are "limited to the type and class of helicopter you take your skill test on unless you complete additional training".

ANO LAPL(H) and the deemed NPPL(H)

ANO 2016 Sch. 8 Pt 1 Ch 3 entitles the holder to fly a single-engine helicopter of 2,000 kg or less "for which a class or type rating is included in the licence provided that the total number of persons carried (including the pilot) does not exceed four". It also allows commercial operation "where the excepted flights condition is met", and carrying passengers under the recent experience condition or exception. Para (2) says the holder may not fly "(c) under Instrument Flight Rules; (d) at night", unless authorised by the CAA. Para (3):

"A National Private Pilot's Licence (Helicopters) granted before 1st October 2025 is deemed to be a Light Aircraft Pilot's Licence (Helicopters)."

ANO art. 157(2) lets this licence be used without a certificate of revalidation "provided that at the time of the intended flight they have complied with FCL.135.H and FCL.140.H".

There is also a UK national PPL(H) (Sch. 8 Pt 1 Ch 2 s. 2), with night "if the licence includes a night rating (helicopters)" and the excepted flights condition.

Carrying passengers

FCL.060(b) applies:

"(1) as PIC or co-pilot unless he/she has carried out, in the preceding 90 days, at least 3 take-offs, approaches and landings in an aircraft of the same type or class or an FFS representing that type or class. [...]

(2) as PIC at night unless he/she: (i) has carried out in the preceding 90 days at least 1 take-off, approach and landing at night as a pilot flying in an aircraft of the same type or class or an FFS representing that type or class; or (ii) holds an IR;"

For several similar types, FCL.060(b)(5) says:

"When a pilot has the privilege to operate more than one type of non-complex helicopter with similar handling and operation characteristics, as defined in the operational suitability data established in accordance with Part-21, the 3 take-offs, approaches and landings required in (1) may be performed in just one of the types, provided that the pilot has completed at least 2 hours of flight in each of the types of helicopter, during the preceding 6 months."

On the ANO LAPL(H) or UK PPL(H), the ANO recent experience condition applies instead. It's the same three in 90 days, but "as the sole manipulator of the controls" (Sch. 8 Pt 1 Ch 1 para 1(2)).

Keeping the licence valid

LAPL(H). There's no rating expiry. FCL.140.H sets currency per type:

"Holders of an LAPL(H) shall exercise the privileges of their licence on a specific type only if in the last 12 months they have either:

(a) completed at least six hours of flight time on helicopters of that type as PIC, or flying dual or solo under the supervision of an instructor, including six take-offs, approaches and landings and completed a refresher training of at least 1 hour of total flight time with an instructor;

(b) passed a proficiency check with an examiner on the specific type before resuming the exercise of the privileges of their licence. [...]"

No 30 September 2026 change applies to helicopters. That change, FCL.140.A(c), is aeroplane-only.

PPL(H). Type ratings last 1 year (FCL.740(a)(1)). FCL.740.H(a) requires you to "pass a proficiency check [...] within the 3 months immediately preceding the expiry date of the rating" and to "complete at least 2 hours as a pilot of the relevant helicopter type within the validity period of the rating". The check counts towards the 2 hours. If you hold several single-engine piston types, one check can revalidate them all, provided you have "at least 2 hours of flight time as PIC on the other types during the validity period", and each check "shall be performed each time on a different type" (FCL.740.H(a)(3)). ANO Sch. 8 Pt 3 Table 2 applies the same rule to ANO helicopter type ratings, at 12 months.

Night, IMC and other ratings

FCL.810(b): "If the privileges of a PPL for helicopters are to be exercised in VFR conditions at night", you need "at least 100 hours of flight time as pilot in helicopters after the issue of the licence, including at least 60 hours as PIC on helicopters and 20 hours of cross-country flight". You also need a course of 5 hours of theory, 10 hours of dual instrument instruction, and 5 hours at night including 5 solo night circuits. An aeroplane or TMG IR is credited with 5 hours.

Unresolved for the LAPL(H). The CAA's night rating page says "A night rating for helicopters can be endorsed on a LAPL or PPL". However, the FCL.810(b) text refers only to "a PPL for helicopters", and the ANO LAPL(H) "may not fly [...] at night". The sources don't reconcile this. The cautious approach is not to fly at night on a LAPL(H) unless the CAA has endorsed a night rating on your licence and confirmed it in writing.

The ANO LAPL(H) can't fly under IFR. The IR(H) rules weren't reviewed for this page.

Medical

• LAPL(H): MED.A.030(c)(1) requires "at least a valid LAPL medical certificate or have made a medical declaration (except where the pilot is exercising the privileges of a LAPL in respect of a turbine engine helicopter, in which case the pilot shall hold at least a valid LAPL medical certificate)".
• PPL(H): class 2, or a declaration only when exercising LAPL privileges "in respect of aircraft other than turbine engine helicopters" (MED.A.030(c)(2)).
• PMD limits: ANO art. 162 and art. 163(5) apply: "not more than three passengers", VMC, by day or with a night rating, and within the UK. The CAA's medical page adds that LAPL(H) and PPL(H) holders on a PMD "must only exercise the privileges stated in UK Part-FCL.105.H on a single-engine piston helicopter".

Getting the licence

FCL.110.H: the LAPL(H) needs "40 hours of flight instruction on helicopters", of which 35 must be on the test type, including "20 hours of dual flight instruction" and "10 hours of supervised solo flight time", with a solo cross-country of at least 150 km (80 NM).

FCL.210.H: the PPL(H) needs "at least 45 hours of flight instruction on helicopters", including "25 hours of dual flight instruction" and 10 hours of supervised solo, with a cross-country of "at least 185 km (100 NM)". A LAPL(H) holder needs a course with "at least five hours of dual flight instruction time" and a 185 km solo cross-country (FCL.210.H(b)). The minimum age for both is 17.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

From 1 October 2025, SI 2025/850 renamed the ANO NPPL(H) as the Light Aircraft Pilot's Licence (Helicopters), added "or type" to its rating wording and deemed existing NPPL(H)s to be LAPL(H)s. SI 2025/878 inserted "(H)" after "LAPL" in FCL.700(a)(1). FCL.700 itself isn't quoted in the legislation cited here, so its effect isn't described here. The extracted texts of FCL.105.H, FCL.205.H, FCL.140.H and FCL.740.H show in-force dates before 2025, so they were not changed. The CAA says further amendments are planned for summer 2026. None had been found as of 17 October 2026.

Cost sharing on this licence

Air Operations Regulation art. 6(4a) covers "other-than-complex motor-powered aeroplanes and helicopters", so NCO.GEN.102 applies on Part-21 helicopters and ANO art. 13 on non-Part-21 helicopters. The ANO LAPL(H) and UK PPL(H) reach cost sharing through the "excepted flights condition".

• Persons: LAPL(H), at most 4 (FCL.105.H). PPL(H), at most 6 including you (NCO.GEN.102(a)), but only 4 if you fly on a PMD. See the six-person limit.
• Equal share: no passenger pays more than the direct costs divided equally by the number on board, pilot included (NCO.GEN.102(c); art. 13(2)(c)).
• Declarations: before the flight, each passenger is told it doesn't meet CAT (or, under the ANO, PT) safety standards and signs a declaration. You keep it 6 months (NCO.GEN.102(f)-(h); 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 collects each passenger's declaration online before the flight. For the other licences, see cost sharing by licence.