What's the Difference Between
a PPL and a CPL?
Both are pilot licences — but they serve very different purposes. Understanding the difference helps you plan your training realistically, especially if commercial flying is ever part of your ambition.
The PPL — Private Pilot Licence
The Private Pilot Licence allows you to fly as pilot-in-command of a single-engine piston aircraft. You can carry passengers, fly across the UK and internationally, and share flight costs with those on board — but you cannot be paid to fly. It is a recreational licence.
The PPL is issued by the UK CAA after completing a minimum of 40 flight hours, passing nine theoretical knowledge exams, and passing the General Skills Test with a CAA examiner. A valid Class 2 medical certificate is required throughout.
For most people, the PPL is the end goal — and it's a genuinely significant achievement that opens up a world of flying.
The CPL — Commercial Pilot Licence
The Commercial Pilot Licence allows you to be paid to fly — as a charter pilot, flight instructor, aerial survey pilot, or in a range of other commercial roles. It demands a higher standard across all areas, requires significantly more flight experience, and requires a Class 1 medical certificate rather than a Class 2.
The CPL is built on the foundations of the PPL — it is not a separate path, but an extension of one. Hours logged during PPL training count towards the CPL requirements.
| PPL | CPL | |
|---|---|---|
| Can be paid to fly | No | Yes |
| Medical required | Class 2 | Class 1 |
| Min. flight hours | 40 hours | 200+ hours |
| Starting point | From scratch | Builds on PPL |
Beyond the CPL
For airline flying, the relevant qualification is the ATPL — Airline Transport Pilot Licence. This is the highest level of pilot licence and is required to act as captain of a commercial air transport aircraft. It builds on the CPL and requires substantially more flight experience and additional examinations.
Many pilots also add ratings to their licences along the way — an Instrument Rating (IR) allows flight in cloud and low visibility conditions, and a Multi-Engine Piston (MEP) rating adds twins to what you can fly. These are separate qualifications added after the PPL or CPL.
The full commercial pathway is a significant undertaking in terms of both time and cost. If that's your direction, it's worth understanding the route early — and a Class 1 medical is the first thing to sort.
Where to start
Almost everyone begins with the PPL — including those who ultimately want to fly commercially. The PPL builds the core skills, airmanship, and confidence that everything else is built on. There is no shortcut around it.
If commercial flying is your long-term goal, the most important early step is to get a Class 1 medical assessment. The Class 1 standard is more stringent than the Class 2, and it's better to know early whether you meet it before investing heavily in training. We cover this in more detail in our article on medical certificates.
Many students who start with recreational flying in mind go on to pursue commercial licences later. The PPL is the right first step either way — and nothing you do towards it is wasted.