Physical Requirements

Potential pilots can start training at the age of 14 but those aiming to fly solo must be at least 16 years old and to hold a licence they need to be at least 17 years of age. Student pilots on our courses must be reasonably fit and in good health. In order to fly solo in Portuguese airspace an EASA Medical Either a Class 1 2 or LAPL Certificate downloadable from the CAA or NPPL website. *****Please NOTE*****  The UK self-declaration medical certificate acceptable in UK airspace is NOT valid in Portuguese Airspace. This is due to it having no medical professional involvement and is not a medical simply a declaration.

In order to handle the aircraft safely they must be between 1.50m – 1.93m tall and weigh between 45kg – 110kg when dressed ready to fly. Furthermore although weightshift aircraft are exhilarating and immense fun to fly they demand a higher degree of skill and physical strength compared to three axis aircraft, therefore older people (50+) and those of small stature often find they make more rapid progress on the three axis microlight.

FLY365 Algarve offer flights and training in Flex Wing Microlights and Fixed Wing Microlights.

Assuming you want to go ahead and learn to fly, you can do this at your own pace – from one hour per month to a full intensive course. Good accommodation is available locally, if required. All training is completed on two-seat, dual-control aircraft, with an instructor, using radio intercom and training to the appropriate official syllabus. Training in your own aircraft, if suitable, is a possibility.

If you are thinking of becoming a pilot, don’t be put off by the thought of winter. FLY365 Algarve is situated in the Azores high-pressure region, it affords a perfect climate for most outdoor activities. Very mild winters and tempered summers due to the cooling sea breezes have made this one of the best flying environments in the world.

 FLY365 Algarve gives you access to top of the range aircraft at an affordable level and we also offer lease shares in various aircraft. Once you have gained your licence we can help you stay in the air for minimal outlay.  Please contact us for details.

What you will need to do to get your license

NPPL Microlight (National (Issued) Private Pilots Licence for a two seat single Piston Engine aircraft with a MTOW (Max Take off Weight) of 450Kg

After approximately 12-20 hours training, depending on commitment and aptitude, you will be flying solo ( any flying experience will shorten this rule). A good rule of thumb is that it will take around half your age in hours to reach the solo point. Before flying solo, you must be in possession of a current EASA medical certificate, Class 1, 2 or LAPL. However, a medical is not required to fly when under dual instruction. 

*****Please NOTE*****  The UK self-declaration medical certificate acceptable in UK airspace is NOT valid in Portuguese Airspace. This is due to it having no  medical professional involvement and is not a medical simply a declaration.

To obtain your full unrestricted licence you are required to fly a minimum total of 25 hours under training, of which 10 must be solo.

Ground exams in Air Law, Aeroplanes Technical, Navigation, Meteorology, and Human Performance and Limitations.  All exams are of the multiple choice type – exams can be taken at the Fly365 Algarve flying school. We also run a ground school in these subjects, to help those of you who have problems finding study time at home.

When complete you are then free to fly anywhere in the British Isles and Europe subject to normal air rules.

Courses and Flight Training available

For available training weeks please have a look at the website and scroll down to the calendar.

Flight Training and can include Exams on Fixed or Flexwing Microlight

One Week 10 Hours Practical Flight Training

(Designed for the student who wants a “kick Start”, Continuation training or just Hour Build)  

Two Week 20 Hours Practical Flight Training

(Designed for the student who wants to “Really Crack On” or “Complete their License)

Prerequisites of all flying in Portugal:  MUST hold and bring with you valid EASA Aviation Class 1 or 2 Medical or LAPL Medical. Read and speak English in order to achieve a satisfactory pass mark in the NPPL (M) Ground Examinations a minimum amount of tutoring is required. 

Each practical flight lesson lasts around one hour and is logged from engine start to engine stop, and we would aim to complete two separate flight lessons per day. Flight lessons include preflight briefing and study material handouts as required. If you wish to have the best of the smooth air for circuit flying be prepared to be ready to fly in the early morning with arrival time as early as 7:00 especially for the flexwing.

Theory lessons last around one hour with ‘mock’ exams and CAA examination.

Theory classes are usually held in the early afternoon.

Conversion Training from Flexwing to 3-Axis or visa-versa

Prerequisites: Minimum – NPPL (M) Restricted Licence

The Conversion course is available to qualified pilots who want to convert from weight-shift to 3 axis and vice versa, or from light aircraft to microlights.  Conversion from weight-shift to 3 axis is generally quicker than 3 axis to weight-shift but either conversion normally requires between 5 and 10 hours training.  Providing the pilot holds a licence then differences training signed off by the instructor is all that is required to be legally entitled to fly a microlight aircraft with an alternate control systems.

When can I come?

Start dates for training can be found at the link as stated above, ideally would be in two week blocks of up 20 hours although course length can be tailored to your needs. Our aim is to provide you with all the conditions to promote learning and you achieving your goals in the shortest time possible, good weather, good aircraft and personal service. A maximum of two students per week ensures good instructor/student interaction and one to one training is maintained.

How Long will it take me?

Over the twenty years I have been involved in training people to fly, the following “rule of Thumb” has shown itself to be true in the majority of cases for ab-initio students.

1. Half your age in hours will take you to the point of solo flight.
2. You then have 10 or 7 hours of solo flight tasks to do, depending on “Full” or Restricted” license.
3. This is followed by 4/5 hours of final polish and preparation for General Skills Test.  

Any previous flying experience will shorten the time required.

The syllabus can only give the minimum hours required to satisfy the training requirements and these have been set by the CAA, generally for the 18 year old who has a brain like a sponge and very good mechanical coordination. The minimum 25 hours guys or girls are only come across once or twice in a instructional career. Don’t be disappointed when you calculate the hours probably needed, everyone has been there. However, having said that, the intensive training environment we offer will give you the best chance to progress at the shortest time possible.

If a full flying course from ab-initio to Licence was you aim, experience has shown that 20 hours training over two weeks followed by a break and then a second session later has worked better than 3 – 4 weeks of intensive training. Mechanical skills once learnt are not forgotten, even if the gap between training was a year, it does not take long to regain the skills that you left with! You can even complete your training with us here at the UK school in Lincolnshire during the summer month. But the choice is yours.