RAF Microlight Flying Association

About the Association:

The aim of the RAF Microlight Flying Association is to promote military efficiency of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, fostering esprit de corps, raising morale and developing and enhancing the mental resilience of members of the Royal Air Force.  The sport encourages and develops airmanship, air-mindedness and aviation safety awareness amongst its members, contributing towards the delivery of effective Air Power.

Whether enrolled on a National Private Pilot’s Licence (NPPL) Course at the RAFMFA Home for Sport or operating a privately-owned aircraft at a UK based airfield, the organisation brings together a range of personnel from across the RAF who enjoy the excitement and opportunities that flying light sports aircraft has to offer.

Learning to fly:

Flying Microlights is not at all difficult and most people can learn to fly them with ease.  Our experience with teaching Service personnel is that they have the necessary discipline and common sense to become very competent pilots.  It does not require vast intelligence, just determination and application.

The time it takes to learn to fly varies greatly and depends on the individual student, there’s no magic formula to work out how long you will take. The minimum hours by law is 25 for the full unrestricted licence. Most people take somewhere between 32 and 45 hours when starting from scratch. The younger you are, the quicker you will learn.  The restricted licence will take around 10 hours less and can be upgraded to a full license at any time; with the addition of navigation training. The course is delivered to the requirements of the CAA National Private Pilot’s License (NPPL) Microlights syllabus, which can be accessed through the British Microlight Aircraft Association website (see external links).  The website contains full information on licensing and training requirements. There are also medical requirements including a medical declaration form which must be signed prior to starting flying training.

Due to the weight and structure constraints of our aircraft we also have a couple of further requirements for weight and height.  Personnel must not exceed 85 Kg (13 st 5lbs) in weight fully clothed or be taller than 190 cm (6 ft 4 in).  For safety reasons, we require pilots over 6 ft to arrange a visit to the Club prior to formal application, to ensure that they are able to fit into the cockpit and operate the aircraft controls through their full range.

Potential Grants/Funding:

Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC).  RAFMFA Home for Sport is an Enhanced Learning Credits provider, and so personnel may be able to claim up to £2000 towards the cost of a course. Check out the ELCAS Website on www.enhancedlearningcredits.com for details.

RAF Central Fund.  There is a potential for funding support from the RAF Central Fund for training through the application for a grant via their website: http://www.rafcf.org.uk/grants/sports-grants/.  The website provides access to their policy and an application form which will require endorsing through the Dep Chairman of the RAF Microlight Flying Association.  Please email applications to the following RAFMFA.DepChair@rafsportsfederation.uk for the attention of the Dep Chairman RAFMFA.  Please note that grants have to be applied for ahead of training and will not be paid in retrospect.

Standard Learning Credit (SLC).  There is a potential to use a SLC towards the exam and flying test elements of your course (£180); please engage with your FDC prior to staring the course.

Want to know more?

With the low cost of our courses, flying is no longer just for the rich, you can now live your dream! The RAFMFA Home for Sport has some of the best facilities available for Microlighters in this country. Why not book a visit, have a coffee, take a look round, have a flight in a microlight and see for yourself how much fun you could be having? It’s not expensive, there’s absolutely no obligation to take on a course, but the time spent on this flight will count towards your licence should you choose to continue training, so nothing is wasted! There will never be a better time to start, so start now and enjoy flying for the rest of your life!

For full details, a course application form or to arrange a visit to the RAFMFA Home for Sport, please email the OIC (Sqn Ldr Jamie Colmey) at RAFMFA.OICHMC@rafsportsfederation.uk or contact the Chief Flying Instructor on (BT) 01296 656275