The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has revealed details of significant changes to the current pilot training process.

A new syllabus will be introduced in the autumn and candidates working towards a Private Pilot's Licence will have to take nine exams, rather than seven.

The CAA has introduced the reforms following a consultation and the alterations will bring the nation in line with updated European Aviation Safety Agency legislation, which now forces trainees to complete 100 hours of theoretical knowledge training.

Each exam will feature between 16 and 20 questions and the pass mark is 75 per cent.

"We very much welcomed input from industry in formulating these changes which represent a constructive outcome for everyone involved in pilot training," commented Ray Elgy, head of licensing and training standards at the CAA.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding certain aviation laws being introduced or relaxed by European leaders and their plans to change pilot fatigue regulations have drawn anger from groups such as the British Airline Pilots' Association.

The organisation thinks that extending pilots' working hours could put lives in danger.