General Aviation Pilot Licensing Review Phase 2: Gyroplanes

We ran a consultation, CAP2974G, from 13 March to 22 May 2024 asking the UK General Aviation (GA) community for their views on our proposed strategic direction for pilot licensing and training simplification - Gyroplanes.

The consultation covered the following themes:

• Differences training and whether to add these into the Air Navigation Order 2016 as requirements rather than suggested minimum hours.
• Crediting of theoretical knowledge (TK) and flight training towards gaining an NPPL microlight as previously allowed under CAP804.
• Relaxing the restricted Flight Instructor Gyroplane (FI(G)) supervision to also include the local area to allow some flexibility in allowing restricted FI(G) to be able to gain the experience to remove the restriction.
• Maintaining the privileges of the gyroplane rating and whether to align with the new suggestions in the Aeroplane consultation paper.
• ATO requirement for FIC and how this can be made more proportionate for FIC(G).
• Creating gyroplane specific TK examinations and moving them to the eExams system.

We received 20 responses to this consultation. All respondents answered the survey questions and some left detailed comments.

• Differences training: The vast majority agreed with the proposals to incorporate the differences training, currently in Standards Document 44 (SD44), into the Air Navigation Order 2016 as requirements.
• Crediting of TK and flight training towards gaining NPPL(M): Nearly all respondents agreed with both of these proposals with only 1 individual being undecided on the flight training proposal.
• Relaxing the supervision of restricted FI(G): 70% of respondents agreed with the new proposed wording to relax the supervision and include the local flying area.
• Maintaining privileges: Only 4 respondents had a view on this topic.
• ATO requirement for FIC: 50% of respondents agreed with our approach.
• Creating gyroplane TK and moving onto eExams platform: These proposals received mixed views from respondents.

We will be proceeding with the next phase of this project to develop and move forward with proposed changes:

• We will begin work on drafting the proposed amendments to the ANO, in co-operation with the Department for Transport. 
• We will begin work on updating Standards Document 44 to capture the changes.
• We will update the PPL(G) Air Law and Gyroplane Technical examination papers and reformat the NPPL(A) Microlight examination papers for gyroplanes. Once updated these will be sent to all Ground Examiners for Gyroplanes.
• We will commence a project to amend CAP1667, to align with the DTO requirements.

We have published our consultation response document, setting out these findings in more detail: CAP3032G