How to keep your PPL valid in South Africa

A South African private pilot licence (PPL) is issued for 10 years, but you can only use it while four things are in order: a valid medical, a revalidation check passed in the last 24 months, your currency fees and paperwork, and, to carry passengers, recent take-offs and landings.¹²⁵

1. The revalidation check

Your first revalidation check is due within 12 months of the licence being issued. After that it's due every 24 months.³ If you fly it in the 90 days before the current one expires, the new 24 months are counted from the start of the month after your old expiry date, so you don't lose time by going a little early. Fly it before that window and they're counted from the start of the month after the check.³

The check is flown in an aircraft heavier than 450 kg maximum certificated mass.⁶ If you haven't flown at least 3 hours as pilot in command in the 6 months before it, you first do enough ground and flight training at an Approved Training Organisation to reach the standard.⁶ Book it through a flight school; how to check a school is approved.

2. If it has lapsed

The Air Law exam is R427 a subject at SACAA's 2026 rates.⁷ Either way, it's far cheaper than starting again, so it's worth coming back before the 36 months run out.

3. Currency fees and paperwork

The licence stays valid for its 10 years only while the currency fees are paid and, under regulation 61.03.6, you send in the application form each year with certified copies of the last three pages of your logbook, a summary of your flight time by category, class and type, and certified copies of any logbook endorsements from the previous 12 months.¹ You can't use the licence while any fee is outstanding.⁸

The fee schedule from 1 October 2026 sets the PPL currency fee at R1 463, as a biennial (two-yearly) fee; for comparison, a CPL is R918 a year and an ATPL R1 042 a year.⁴ Because the regulations describe the paperwork as yearly and the fee as two-yearly, ask SACAA's licensing department what's due on your anniversary date before you pay.

4. Recency: before you carry passengers

• By day: you may not fly passengers as pilot in command unless, in the 90 days before the flight, you've made at least three take-offs and three landings in the same class (or type) of aeroplane. Landings can be in an approved simulator; in a tailwheel aeroplane each must be to a full stop.⁵
• At night: with passengers you also need at least one take-off and landing at night in the previous 90 days, unless you hold an instrument rating.⁵ You need a night rating to fly at night at all.
• Recency gained in a multi-engine aeroplane counts for single-engine too.⁵

5. Your medical

You may not use the licence without a valid medical certificate, and you must carry it when you fly.²⁹ A Class 2 lasts 60 months under 40, 24 months past your 40th birthday and 12 months past your 50th.¹⁰ See aviation medicals explained.

A simple routine

1. Put your licence anniversary, revalidation due date and medical expiry in your calendar, each with a reminder a month before.
2. Book the revalidation check inside the 90-day window so you keep your dates.
3. Fly at least every few weeks; if it's been a while, fly with an instructor before taking passengers.
4. Keep your logbook totals up to date so the annual summary takes minutes.

Looking for an aircraft to stay current in? See Hire & fly, or join a flying club.