The Private Pilot Certificate is the most common pilot certificate, and it has been for many years. There are a variety of reasons why someone might seek to obtain their Private Pilot Certificate. In this article we talk about why you need your Private Pilot Certificate, what you can do with it, and the step-by-step process to getting it.
Some people want to become a private pilot because flying is a sport or hobby to them. Others might pursue a Private Pilot Certificate because they want to fly their own aircraft for business, travel, etc. Lastly, most people obtain a Private Pilot Certificate because it is a necessary step in the road for their career. For example, if you want to pursue a career in commercial aviation flying for a major/regional airline, charter company, cargo carrier, law enforcement agency, and more, you’ll need to get your private pilot license first.
There are many perks to becoming a private pilot and we will discuss some of them here. A Private Pilot Certificate will allow you to operate as pilot in command (PIC) of certain qualified aircraft. As a private pilot, you can fly solo or you can carry a limited number of passengers.
During your private pilot training, you will learn aircraft maneuvers, navigation techniques, cross-country flight planning, and emergency procedures. Training for your Private Pilot Certificate focuses on basic academic concepts and flight maneuvers, whereas Commercial Pilot training tends to be more intense and comprehensive.
You will be able to fly in all airspace except Class A which starts at 18,000 feet. However, that is not a big deal for now. You will be able to fly at 10,000 feet at night or during the day. However, you will not be able to fly in the clouds (requires an Instrument Rating). As a private pilot, you’ll be able to travel across the country unlike recreational pilots and also do it at night, unlike sport pilots. You still may not, however, fly passengers or cargo for hire or any other form of compensation. To do this, you will need a Commercial Pilot Certificate. Please read this article to learn more about obtaining your Commercial Pilot Certificate.
As you can see, there are many benefits to becoming a private pilot. Earning your Private Pilot Certificate is an extremely thrilling and rewarding experience, but there are a number of steps you need to take before achieving this goal. In the remainder of this article, we will cover the basic requirements you must meet to become a private pilot, the steps needed to obtain your certificate, the cost and time of training, and best practices for selecting a flight school.
Basic Requirements
The FAA specifies some requirements for becoming a private pilot. An applicant must be 17 years of age, although you can start training at an earlier age and solo at 16. You must also be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. Before beginning your training, you must obtain at least a 3rd Class FAA medical certificate. Click here to find an Aviation Medical Examiner near you.
You must also receive a Student Pilot Certificate prior to starting your training. The good news is that you can get this certificate at the same time as your medical. If you already have your medical and need a Student Pilot Certificate, go to the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and submit an application. Most of the time, your flight school or instructor will assist you with getting this certificate.
After obtaining your Student Pilot Certificate and Medical, you will be ready to begin your training and will be eligible to take the written exam. Once your training is complete and you have passed the written exam, you will be ready to take the practical exam, or checkride. We will cover all of this later in the article.
For more information on the requirements, read the FAR 61.103.
Selecting Your Flight School
There are many factors to consider when selecting your flight school, and believe it or not, it is not all about time and money.
First, you should consider the number of aircraft and instructors available at each flight school. This gives you a backup plan if an instructor leaves or an aircraft is grounded for maintenance.
Maintenance and safety are also critical factors. You shouldn’t select an inexpensive option at the expense of safety! I highly recommend visiting prospective flight schools. While you’re there, speak with instructors and students, take an introductory flight, and check out the operation.
Another major consideration is proximity. The further the flight school, the more excuse to procrastinate and push off your training. If possible, choose a flight school that is close to home if you are not training full-time in an accelerated program.If you are looking at accredited or collegiate programs, moving to their location, at least temporarily is a good idea.
The Pilot Pipeline Flight School Finder is a great tool to help you search for flight schools and make an informed decision. This tool allows you to sort through schools based on rating, location, military needs, and much more.
Feeling confused on your next steps? Sign up for a free 1-on-1 consulting session to discuss your goals and formulate a forward-looking strategy.
Time and Cost of Becoming a Private Pilot
Obtaining your Private Pilot Certificate can take anywhere between one and six months, depending on the flight school and program you are enrolled in. On average, Part 141 students complete their training sooner than Part 61 students due to the structured syllabus of Part 141 schools. However, you can quickly obtain your certificate at a Part 61 school if you are extremely dedicated to your training. It is important to note that the time to complete the program is largely in your hands if you are flying Part 61. If you take the training seriously and show up constantly, you can complete your training in a month. On the other hand, it can take up to 6 months if you procrastinate and fly infrequently.
A Private Pilot Certificate can be expensive, but it is definitely worth the cost if you are serious about flying. There is an important tradeoff between speed and cost when it comes to flight training. If you go with an accelerated program, you will pay more but finish your training sooner. The opposite holds true for Part 61, or part-time training.
All things considered, you should be prepared to spend between $10,000 and $15,000 for your training. There are a few other cost factors that you should consider: logbook, headset, electronic flight bag (EFB), and exam costs. If you attend a Part 141 school, examination fees are usually included in the cost, however, under Part 61, expect to pay between $500 and $1,200 for the practical exam with the FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE).
The price is starting to add up, I know. Luckily, there are plenty of financing options available to you. Pilot Pipeline offers a Scholarship Finder to its Premium members, which allows you to sort and filter through over $25 million worth of scholarships based on demographics, ratings, organization, and much more. If you are interested in learning more about other financing options, read this article.
Taking the FAA Written Exam
Some schools will require you to take the exam before flying and others will not. Either way, it is best to get it out of the way early. Flying is much easier when you have foundational knowledge and the time to focus on what your instructor is teaching you.
The FAA Private Pilot Written Exam is a 60 question multiple choice test that you must take at an approved testing center (find one here). Your flight instructor must endorse your logbook recommending you for the test. A passing score is 70% – if you fail, you must review the missed questions with your instructor who will then re-endorse your logbook and recommend you for a retake. Your test results will be good for 24 months. Please remember to keep the initial paper test results, which can be expensive and difficult to replace.
Before taking your exam, we recommend you go through one or both of these free resources offered by AOPA and Sporty’s.
Flight Training – The Fun Part!
You are finally ready to begin the fun part – your flight training! Before you can take your practical exam (checkride), the FAA requires you to meet certain criteria:
- 40 total flight hours
- Note that most students need more than the minimum 40 hours and it is not unlikely to have 50 to 70+ hours
- 20 hours with a flight instructor
- 10 hours of solo flying including:
- 3 takeoffs and landings at an airport with an operating control tower
- 5 hours of solo cross -country flight
- One solo cross-country flight of 150 nautical miles with takeoffs and landings at 3 points. One leg must be longer than 50 nautical miles
- 3 hours of cross country flight training
- 3 hours of night flight training with 10 takeoffs and landings
- One night cross-country flight of 100+ nautical miles
- 3 hours of actual or simulated instrument flight training
- 3 hours of flight training with a CFI in the 60 days prior your practical exam
I am sure that this looks like a lot of stressful flying, but it is not. This is the best part of the process and you’ll be sad when it’s over and time for your checkride.
Passing Your FAA Checkride
When the time for your checkride comes, you’ll fly with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). The FAA publishes a document called the Airman Certifications Standards (ACS) that specifies exactly what you’ll be tested on during your checkride. I recommend that you download a copy and take notes as you prepare for your checkride. (PDF | Paperback)
On the day of your checkride, you’ll start with an oral exam to test your knowledge. Then, you will move to your practical (flying) exam. During this, expect to perform: each type of takeoff and landing, a simulated engine failure to a landing on a runway, and a sampling of all the maneuvers.
During the checkride, you will be acting as the pilot in command (PIC). The examiner cannot offer assistance or direction. Checkrides can be stressful, but they are truly nothing to worry about. You trained and studied hard for this moment. Just keep your focus, stay calm, and fly the way you learned! At the conclusion of a successful checkride, the DPE will issue you a temporary pilot certificate. Congratulations!
Check out our Master Index of Study Materials to find reference materials you need to successfully prepare for the practical exam for any FAA pilot rating. Additionally, read this article to learn how you can ace any checkride in your future.
Wrapping Up
Obtaining your Private Pilot Certificate can seem like a lot of hard work – and it is. However, the reward far outweighs the stress. When you are done, you will be able to fly freely with friends and family, showing off your skills. Or if you are pursuing a job as a pilot, this is a necessary step in your journey. The completion of your Private Pilot Certificate means you are ready to take on a new challenge and you are one step closer to your dream job.
Please remember to stay focused, remain calm, and fly safely. But most importantly, enjoy the process and have fun! Good luck!
Career Guidance and Planning
If you are looking to pursue your Private Pilot Certificate or manage your career and navigate the process of becoming a pilot, check out Pilot Pipeline. The software uses your current experience and end-goal to curate a custom pathway that will guide you through the process. The best part? It’s completely free! Sign up for a free account or commit to a Premium account that will grant you access to the Timeline Assistant and Scholarship Finder.
If you ever feel that you need further guidance from someone with a great deal of experience, check out Pilot Pipeline Consulting. Services range from General Career Guidance to Application Review and Interview Preparation. Set up a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your goals and develop a strategy moving forward.
Join Our Community
At Pilot Pipeline, we are very proud of the community we’ve created and would love for you to join us. Subscribe to the Pilot Pipeline Newsletter for important weekly updates! In the newsletter, we cover trending aviation news, hiring updates, pilot side hustles, aviation photography, and more!
If you want more frequent news updates or simply want to network / engage with other aviation enthusiasts, join our Facebook group, the Pilot Pipeline Community!
