BMAA Link

Page 1 of TIL027

All aeroplanes, whether microlights or otherwise have some kind of instrumentation fitted. BCAR Section S as a minimum requires that a microlight should be fitted with an altimeter and ASI, along with the minimum engine instruments required by the engine manufacturer.

To obtain a NPPL with a Microlight Class Rating you must complete flight training with a UK Civil Aviation Authority authorised flying instructor entitled to instruct on microlights. You must be at least 16 to fly solo, and you must be at least 17 to hold a UK NPPL.

BMAA LINK

This is used by a ground handler to tell the pilot to stop immediately.

see page 55 of CAPS637

page 86 Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

90 day rule: In order to carry passengers, you must have completed within the previous 90 days, three take-offs and landings as sole manipulator of the controls in the same type or class to be used on the flight.

Page 22 of the SKYWAY CODE LINK

In the UK, under the Air Navigation Order (ANO), aircraft logbooks must be preserved for 2 years after the aircraft (or its specific equipment) has been destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use.

This rule ensures that a complete maintenance and operational history is available for investigation or audit purposes even after the aircraft is no longer flying.

What needs to be kept?

This retention rule applies to the three primary logbooks for a registered aircraft:

• Aircraft Logbook: The main record of the airframe, flying hours, and structural inspections.

• Engine Logbook: A dedicated record for each engine fitted.

• Propeller Logbook: A record for any variable-pitch propellers (if applicable to your microlight).

CAA Ref 227/10  in ANO 2016

See Page 74 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) in the UK are official alerts issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to inform pilots and airspace users about temporary hazards, changes to facilities, services, or procedures that are essential for safe flight operations, covering activities from air displays and drone flights to construction projects

See Page 88 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

NOTAMS LINK

To see your height (your distance directly above the ground at a specific airfield), you use the QFE setting.

1. QFE (Query Field Elevation)

• Definition: This is the atmospheric pressure at the airfield you are using.

• Result: When you set the QFE, your altimeter will read zero while you are on the runway.

• Use: It is mostly used by pilots flying in the “circuit” (the local traffic pattern) at an airport so they know exactly how high they are above that specific runway.

• Mnemonic: Think of the “F” in QFE as standing for Field (as in “Field Elevation”)

See page 109 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

• Pilot Licence & Medical: Valid UK Pilot Licence (with appropriate ratings) and a medical certificate accepted by the destination country (UK Medical Declaration usually not enough for Europe).
• Aircraft Documents: Valid UK Registration Document, National Permit to Fly (for non-SSDRs), and Insurance Certificate (valid for Europe).
• Radio Licence: Valid Radio Station Licence and Pilot’s Radio Licence (LPE).
• Passport/ID: Valid passport for the pilot and any passengers. 

BMAA LINK

See Page 89 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

• United Kingdom (CAA): Lighting is legally mandated for structures of a height of 150 meters AGL or more that are not in the immediate vicinity of a licensed aerodrome. Structures with a height of 45 meters or higher generally require some form of medium-intensity lighting.

CAA LINK

See page 87 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

The Legal Definition

This is defined in The Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016, specifically under Article 3 (Meaning of “in flight”). You can find this in the CAA’s publication CAP 393.

The definition changes depending on what you are flying:

• Piloted Flying Machines (Aeroplanes, Helicopters, etc.): From the moment the aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of taking off (after the crew has embarked), until the moment it next comes to rest after landing.

• Gliders and Pilotless Machines: From the moment the aircraft first moves for the purpose of taking off until it comes to rest after landing.

Ref Page 78 of Cosgrove

Raise right arm to head level with wand pointing up and start a circular motion with hand; at the same time, with left arm raised above head level, point to engine to be started.

See page 86 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition or

Page 57 of CAP637

In simple terms, an Airway is a “motorway in the sky.” It is a designated corridor of controlled airspace that connects major airports and navigation points.

Just like a motorway has a specific width and speed, a UK Airway has defined dimensions and strict rules.

1. The Dimensions

• Width: Most UK airways are 10 nautical miles wide (5 miles on either side of the centre line).

• The Floor (Base): They don’t start at the ground. Most have a “floor” that starts at Flight Level 70 (7,000 ft) or Flight Level 100 (10,000 feet).

See page 75 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

You may fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) when
in ‘visual meteorological conditions’ (VMC). Flying
under VFR essentially means you may fly and
manoeuvre as you wish, subject to the Rules of
the Air and clearance to enter controlled airspace.

See page 73 of Brian Cosgrove (8th Edition)

Page 65 of the Skyway Code LINK

For non-Part 21 aircraft flying within the UK, there are no document carriage requirements other than charts for navigation.

Page 25 of the SKYWAY CODE  LINK

For BMAA microlight flying, you typically use the CAA Pilot Medical Declaration (Self-Declaration) for ages 14-70, confirming fitness to fly, similar to driving standards.

BMAA LINK

Restricted airspace (temporary) may be established around large air displays or other significant public gatherings.
Under the Restriction of Flying Regulations, entry
to such airspace may be prohibited or restricted.
This will normally be detailed in a ‘Mauve’ AIC.

See Page 32 of the Skyway Code LINK

Flying 10nm off the coast—a flight plan is not legally mandatory, but it is strongly advised.

You must file a flight plan if your flight falls into any of these categories:

• Crossing International Borders: If you fly from the UK to France, the Republic of Ireland, or even just cross the FIR boundary (the line between UK and international airspace), a flight plan is a legal requirement.

• Controlled Airspace: If you need to enter Class A, B, C, or D airspace (like a Control Zone around a major airport), a flight plan is required.

See page 77 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

The aircraft must not be flown closer than 500 ft to any person, vessel, vehicle or structure except with the permission of the CAA.

Page 60 of the Skyway Code LINK

See page 78 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

When flying VFR (Visual Flight Rules) in the UK at altitudes above 3,000 feet, the vertical clearance you must maintain from cloud is 1,000 feet.

This is part of the standard VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions) minima. While your rules below 3,000 feet allow you to simply stay “clear of cloud,” once you climb higher, the requirements become more strict to ensure separation from faster-moving traffic.

The Full Set of Requirements (Above 3,000 ft)

Between 3,000 feet and Flight Level 100 (10,000 ft), you must maintain the following:

• Vertical Distance from Cloud: 1,000 ft (both above and below).

• Horizontal Distance from Cloud: 1,500 m

• Flight Visibility: 5km

CAA Sera LINK

See page 73 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

A red letter L displayed on the dumb-bell signifies that light aircraft are permitted to take-off and land either on a runway or on the area on the aerodrome designated by a large white letter L.

Page 47 of CAP673 (Visual Aids) LINK

See Page 83 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition