Personnel Licensing, Medical Fitness and Privileges
Licence privileges
Under EASA Part-FCL, a PPL(A) allows the holder to act as PIC or co-pilot in non-commercial operations and to carry passengers, but not for remuneration. Cost-sharing is allowed only when the pilot pays a fair share, the flight is not advertised, and the costs are genuine. Being paid to fly, or holding out to the public, requires a commercial licence and an operator's approval.
Issue requirements
A PPL applicant must be at least 17, hold a valid Class 2 medical certificate, pass the theoretical examinations, and complete at least 45 hours of flight time, including 25 hours dual and 10 hours solo. The solo time must include at least 5 hours solo cross-country and a navigation flight of at least 270 km with full stops at two aerodromes. A Class 2 medical is valid for 24 months below age 40 and 12 months from age 40. Training may begin earlier, and supervised solo flight is permitted from age 16.
Worked example
A 17-year-old applicant has 46 hours total, 26 hours dual and 8 hours solo, including one 200 km cross-country flight. The licence cannot be issued. Total and dual hours are met, but the applicant lacks 10 hours solo and the 270 km navigation flight. Extra dual instruction cannot replace the solo requirement, because the rule specifically requires supervised solo flight.
Traps
Cost-sharing is not a commercial privilege; it must not be advertised and must not produce a profit. Do not confuse the age for first solo (16) with the age for licence issue (17). The medical must be valid on the day the privilege is exercised, not merely at licence issue. Dual time logged does not count as PIC time.