How many hours for PPL, CPL and an instrument rating under EASA

The minimum flight hours EASA asks for the PPL(A), the CPL(A) and the instrument rating, and what actually counts toward each.

The short answer

PPL(A): at least 45 hours of flight instruction. CPL(A) on the modular route: 200 hours total before the skill test. Instrument rating: 50 hours of cross country flight as PIC before the course, plus the course itself. Most pilots need more than the minimum.

PPL(A)

At least 45 hours of flight instruction in aeroplanes, of which up to 5 may be in a simulator. Inside those 45:

• 25 hours of dual instruction
• 10 hours of supervised solo, including 5 hours of solo cross country
• One solo cross country of at least 270 km (150 NM) with full stop landings at two aerodromes other than the departure one

CPL(A), modular

Before the skill test you need 200 hours of flight time, including:

• 100 hours as PIC
• 20 hours of VFR cross country as PIC, including one flight of at least 540 km (300 NM) with full stop landings at two other aerodromes
• 5 hours at night, including 3 hours of dual and 5 solo takeoffs and landings
• 10 hours of instrument instruction
• 25 hours of dual instruction on the CPL course itself

Instrument rating

To start the modular IR(A) course you need a PPL or CPL with night flying and at least 50 hours of cross country flight as PIC, of which at least 10 must be in aeroplanes; the rest may be in TMGs, helicopters or airships. The course itself is 50 hours of instrument time for single engine, 55 for multi engine.

The Competency Based IR and the en route IR offer shorter paths for pilots with existing instrument experience.

Checking where you stand

The hard part is not the numbers, it is adding up the right columns. caeloo reads your logbook and shows each requirement filling up, so you know how many PIC or cross country hours are still missing. Your flying school and authority have the final word on your specific case.