May: act as PIC/co-pilot on SEP aircraft for non-commercial flights, carry passengers, fly cross-country, fly in any EASA/ICAO state. May not: receive payment, fly IFR without IR, fly at night without night rating, fly aircraft outside your class ratings. May share operating costs equally with passengers.
No. One exception: PPL holders with a Flight Instructor (FI) rating may receive payment for instruction (FI requires 200+ hours and additional training). You may share costs with passengers but cannot profit. For any other paid flying, you need at minimum a CPL.
Yes — must meet recency: 3 takeoffs and 3 landings in preceding 90 days in same type/class. No passenger number limit from the licence — determined by aircraft capacity. For night flights: additional night-specific recency (1 takeoff, approach, landing at night in 90 days). Always provide a safety briefing.
Pilot pays at least proportional share (25% with 3 passengers). Direct costs only: fuel, oil, airfield fees, rental charges. Pilot cannot profit. Flight must not be arranged primarily as commercial transport. Platforms like Wingly operate under this framework. National interpretations vary slightly.
Yes. EASA requires a night rating for VFR flight at night. Without it, you must land before evening civil twilight and cannot depart before morning civil twilight. Different from FAA where night is included in PPL. Night rating costs EUR1,000-2,500 and requires 5 hours of training.
Valid across all 31 EASA states directly. ICAO-compliant, so accepted worldwide subject to the destination country's validation/conversion requirements. Some countries accept EASA directly with minimal paperwork; others require temporary validation. LAPL is EASA-only.
Yes — all are EASA member states (EFTA countries). Your EASA PPL is fully valid with no conversion needed. UK post-Brexit is different: UK now operates under UK CAA rules with limited mutual recognition.
Depends on countries. France generally requires flight plans for all flights. Others only for controlled airspace or certain routes. Schengen vs non-Schengen matters for border formalities. Filing a VFR flight plan is good practice for any cross-border flight and required for SAR activation.
Within Schengen: no routine border checks between Schengen states. To/from non-Schengen (UK, Ireland): use designated customs/immigration airfields, carry valid ID/passport, complete GAR forms, give advance notice. Some countries require PPR (Prior Permission Required). Check country-specific requirements.
Class C/D/E (controlled): visibility 5km, 1500m horizontal / 1000ft vertical from cloud. Class G above 3000ft AMSL: same. Class G at/below 3000ft or 1000ft AGL: visibility 5km (1500m for slow aircraft), clear of cloud, surface in sight. Special VFR in CTR: visibility 1500m minimum for aeroplanes.
