CAA Licensing Changes – What You Need to Know

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced major updates to the way private pilot licences are issued and maintained as part of its Licensing and Training Simplification programme.

From 1 October 2025, the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) will no longer be issued.Students currently training for a LAPL who have not had their licence issued by this date will instead be issued an NPPL (National Private Pilot Licence).

New Students

New students should plan to train toward the NPPL or PPL routes going forward.

Existing LAPL Students

Students who began LAPL training but did not complete before 1 October 2025 will be transitioned to the NPPL route in line with CAA policy. Westair will support each student individually to ensure a smooth transition.

Existing LAPL Holders

If you already hold a LAPL(A), your licence remains valid. However, you must ensure compliance with the new requirements outlined in FCL.740.A by 1 October 2026. The CAA has also confirmed that LAPL ratings will no longer be endorsed in logbooks after this change. We recommend that all LAPL holders review their currency and revalidation requirements ahead of the 2026 deadline.

Westair will continue to provide guidance and transition support to anyone affected. If you have any questions about how these updates affect your training or licence, please contact the Westair team or speak to your instructor.

You can read the official CAA information on these changes here: CAA Licensing & Training Simplification CAA LAPL Guidance

NPPL: CAP 3181