Private Spaceflight Licence

The Private Spaceflight Licence is the first certificate most pilots ever earn and the foundation of every career path at Lumen. Issued by the Interplanetary Flight Standards Board, it permits the holder to act as pilot in command of light single-pilot craft, such as the Sparrow Trainer, anywhere within cislunar space, provided no one aboard is paying for the trip.

To qualify you must hold a class 2 aeromedical certificate, pass the written ground school examination, log at least 45 hours of flight time including a solo navigation exercise, and pass a final check ride with an independent examiner. Our First Solo: Foundation Flight course covers all of this in 14 weeks.

The licence does not expire, but you must complete a flight review with an instructor every 24 months to keep exercising its privileges. Many holders fly purely for pleasure; most of our students treat it as a stepping stone towards the Commercial Pilot Licence (Orbital) and then a type rating.

The full handbook, with sample examination questions and the check ride marking scheme, is published openly so that prospective students can see exactly what is expected before they enrol.

Holders may carry non-paying friends or family once they have logged 60 hours in total. The licence is recognised throughout cislunar space and is the most common first step for career changers as well as school leavers.