CAA Aircraft Registration- PPL vs MPL
CAA Aircraft Registration- PPL vs MPL
I understand that CAA registers aircraft into the MPL or PPL catagory according to the weights- what i cant get my head around is how the same aircraft type can be registered as either- obviously the weight changes- but how does a person actually change the weight to change catagories........ do you physically remove or add non essential items, do play around with fuel weights- or promise never to exceed taking passengers of a certain weight?
I have my eye on a plane on the market that is currently registered as PPL- however i do know of similiar models that have been registered as MLP..... can it be re-registered as an MPL? how does one do this??
I have my eye on a plane on the market that is currently registered as PPL- however i do know of similiar models that have been registered as MLP..... can it be re-registered as an MPL? how does one do this??
ZU-CPW..... t/bird mk2
Hoedspruit Civil Airfield
Hangar 8
Hoedspruit Civil Airfield
Hangar 8
- John Boucher
- The Big Four K
- Posts: 4330
- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:23 pm
- Location: Dana Bay, Western Cape South Africa
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Difficult ground he be treading on now....
Currently eg. Cheetah MPL MTOW - 450kg's
Cheetah PPL MTOW - 560kg's
This is all about to change with RPL around the corner with 600kg's & 2 seaters being one of the criteria I think!
Currently eg. Cheetah MPL MTOW - 450kg's
Cheetah PPL MTOW - 560kg's
This is all about to change with RPL around the corner with 600kg's & 2 seaters being one of the criteria I think!
John Boucher
MISASA Chairman 2023
jb.brokers@gmail.com
chairman@misasa.org
A Bushcat is Born - CH 211 C "Super Excited"
MISASA Chairman 2023
jb.brokers@gmail.com
chairman@misasa.org
A Bushcat is Born - CH 211 C "Super Excited"

Most of the aeries in that category will be the okes that receive the letter in June to indicate the change to aeroplane. (Not all - but most)
But also need to take into account the LSA that may or may not be in place at that time. I have not read the new proposal for LSA - I am just about all reg read out for the current 12 months - think I am past my F&D time for reg reading
But also need to take into account the LSA that may or may not be in place at that time. I have not read the new proposal for LSA - I am just about all reg read out for the current 12 months - think I am past my F&D time for reg reading

Max weight is one thing. What they are looking at now is the max empty weight.
A microlight is limited to a max empty weight of 260Kg.
The aircraft will be registered as a NTCA ULAC(Ultralight aircraft). If it is under the 260kg min and you do not exceed the 450KG max you may fly it on an MPL licence. If the plane exceeds the 260 KG empty or you exceed the 450kg max weight then you need a PPL to fly it. But you may fly a microlight on a PPL licence. It is possible to have it registered as both
Also if it was previously registered as a NTCA non ULCA but is under the 260 kg then you may easily register it as an ULAC. Otherwise not.
A microlight is limited to a max empty weight of 260Kg.
The aircraft will be registered as a NTCA ULAC(Ultralight aircraft). If it is under the 260kg min and you do not exceed the 450KG max you may fly it on an MPL licence. If the plane exceeds the 260 KG empty or you exceed the 450kg max weight then you need a PPL to fly it. But you may fly a microlight on a PPL licence. It is possible to have it registered as both
Also if it was previously registered as a NTCA non ULCA but is under the 260 kg then you may easily register it as an ULAC. Otherwise not.
.............. Ok, but how does one physically change the weights for identical models to meet one catagory or the other, i know of quite a few makes/model that can be registered as either ..... on an MPL licence do you solomly swear not to transpost cargo or pax or fuel that exceeds 450 kgs...... my question is: how do you take two of the same type of aircraft and make one an MPL and one a PPL on the register- ???If it is under the 260kg min and you do not exceed the 450KG max you may fly it on an MPL licence. If the plane exceeds the 260 KG empty or you exceed the 450kg max weight then you need a PPL to fly it
ZU-CPW..... t/bird mk2
Hoedspruit Civil Airfield
Hangar 8
Hoedspruit Civil Airfield
Hangar 8
you pretty much solemly swear.
Assume a max empty weight of not more than 260 KG which can be registered as either (some training schools have them registered as both) and the aircraft in case has been tested and approved to the two MAUW's
then if you have a MPL you are limited to not more than 450KG MAUW. If you have a PPL you can fly it to the heavier 540kg MAUW. The same plane.
The heavier you go on the same model the lower the g ratings become i.e. at 450kg it might be rated to +6, -4g and at 540KG the rating will be say +5.5, -3.6 g
Assume a max empty weight of not more than 260 KG which can be registered as either (some training schools have them registered as both) and the aircraft in case has been tested and approved to the two MAUW's
then if you have a MPL you are limited to not more than 450KG MAUW. If you have a PPL you can fly it to the heavier 540kg MAUW. The same plane.
The heavier you go on the same model the lower the g ratings become i.e. at 450kg it might be rated to +6, -4g and at 540KG the rating will be say +5.5, -3.6 g
- John Boucher
- The Big Four K
- Posts: 4330
- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:23 pm
- Location: Dana Bay, Western Cape South Africa
- Contact:
My Cheetah is registered as both - X254 & Z194
Can be used for MPL & PPL training!
Can be used for MPL & PPL training!
John Boucher
MISASA Chairman 2023
jb.brokers@gmail.com
chairman@misasa.org
A Bushcat is Born - CH 211 C "Super Excited"
MISASA Chairman 2023
jb.brokers@gmail.com
chairman@misasa.org
A Bushcat is Born - CH 211 C "Super Excited"

See, now there you have confused me againBAD NAV wrote:My Cheetah is registered as both - X254 & Z194
Can be used for MPL & PPL training!


ZU-CPW..... t/bird mk2
Hoedspruit Civil Airfield
Hangar 8
Hoedspruit Civil Airfield
Hangar 8
yes, stupid isn't it
Now because most of the modern 3-axis planes are faster, heavier, more powerful etc than the original 3-axis microlight of yesteryear (ala Skyfox and Mac CDL) it has become neccessary to alter the licence and thus training for these planes.
The new light sport class will basically put all of these planes into this new catagory, allowing a MAUW up to 600kg. There is no max empty weight. Then you would need a sport pilot's licence or higher, i.e. a PPL, etc to fly it. This might come in June/July this year
Now because most of the modern 3-axis planes are faster, heavier, more powerful etc than the original 3-axis microlight of yesteryear (ala Skyfox and Mac CDL) it has become neccessary to alter the licence and thus training for these planes.
The new light sport class will basically put all of these planes into this new catagory, allowing a MAUW up to 600kg. There is no max empty weight. Then you would need a sport pilot's licence or higher, i.e. a PPL, etc to fly it. This might come in June/July this year

- John Boucher
- The Big Four K
- Posts: 4330
- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:23 pm
- Location: Dana Bay, Western Cape South Africa
- Contact:
So Morph... you going to do the SPL / RPL whatever... to fly your Baby?
John Boucher
MISASA Chairman 2023
jb.brokers@gmail.com
chairman@misasa.org
A Bushcat is Born - CH 211 C "Super Excited"
MISASA Chairman 2023
jb.brokers@gmail.com
chairman@misasa.org
A Bushcat is Born - CH 211 C "Super Excited"

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