EASA Licences and ratings

PPL in aviation stands for Private Pilot Licence. 

The PPL abbreviation always comes with an aircraft category designator at the end.

• PPL(A) stands for Aeroplanes
• PPL(H) stands for Helicopters
• PPL(As) stands for Airships

It is internationally accepted abbreviation of the non-commercial pilot licence giving the holder the privileges to exercise non-commercial flights. In majority of the countries it is the very first step for a man to become a pilot. However under EASA the LAPL - Light Aircraft Pilot Licence was established, which is a lower licence than PPL. LAPL is however not recognised by ICAO member states and the privileges could only be exercised in EASA airspace and in EASA aircraft.