What is the Private Pilot Certificate (License)?
The private pilot certificate (Word to the wise: technically, pilots hold "certificates," not licenses, to fly, although hardly anyone except the FAA calls them that.) is the certificate held by the majority of active pilots. The Private Pilot Certificate lets you take command of any aircraft (subject to appropriate ratings) for any non-commercial purpose(you can’t get paid for flying), and gives almost unlimited authority to fly under visual flight rules (VFR-Nice Weather). Passengers may be carried and flight in furtherance of a business is permitted; however, a private pilot may not be compensated in any way for services as a pilot, although passengers can pay a pro rata share of flight expenses, such as fuel or rental costs. So you can split the cost with all your passengers, you just can’t make them pay for the whole thing. Private pilots may also operate charity flights, subject to certain restrictions, and may participate in similar activities, such as Angel Flight.
Why would you want to get your Private Pilots Certificate?
There are lots of reasons why people just like you want to become private pilots. Some people just want to fly for fun because it’s been their lifelong dream. Some people want to fly for the airline and make it a career. No matter what your reason is to become a pilot, you will never regret it. Becoming a pilot will be one of the greatest accomplishments of your life.
What age can I start my Private Pilot Training?
You can start flying at any age. That’s right, any age. You must be at least 16 years old before you can solo the airplane and 17 years old to get your Private Pilot Certificate.
The requirements to obtain a private pilot certificate for “airplane, single-engine, land”, or ASEL, (which is the most common certificate) are:
- You must be at least 17 years old to get your Private Pilot Certificate (you can Solo at 16 years old).
- You must be able to read, speak and write the English Language. (English is the Mandated International Language of Aviation. You will need to speak English so you can communicate with other pilots and air traffic controllers.)
- You must obtain at least a third class medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner. (If you ever plan on becoming an airline pilot then you should get your First Class Medical Certificate. If you have some kind of medical condition that will stop you from flying then you will find out before you spend money on your flight training).
- You must log at least 40 hours of flight time. At least 20 hours of flight time with a certified flight instructor, and at least 10 hours of solo flight time. (The national average to obtain your Private Pilot Certificate is about 65 to 70 hours of flight time).
- You will have to pass two knowledge tests. 1) The computerized FAA Private Pilot Airmen Knowledge written test (on which you must score at least 70%). 2) An oral exam administered by an FAA Designated Flight Examiner during a portion of your checkride. There is no pass/fail score given, simply a session where the examiner ensures that you have the proper knowledge to safely conduct flight as a private pilot. There is no requirement as to what questions must be asked or how long it should take, it is up to the discretion of the examiner. Some have been rumored to do straight Question/Answer oral exams, while others conduct their oral exam more like a discussion.
- You will receive your Private Pilot Certificate once you pass your checkride.
How do you start your Private Pilot Training?
The most important thing you have to do before you start your flight training is take an introductory flight. You want to make sure that you like flying before you spend your money on flight training. Almost all flight schools offer introductory flight. An introductory fight is usually your first flight. You will get to fly the airplane with a certified flight instructor for about an hour. This flight time will also go towards your private pilot training requirements. Typically Introductory flights run about $99-$150 depending on the location and the type of airplane that you fly.
Choosing a flight school?
There are two types of aviation schools: the larger more corporate flight schools, known as a "Part 141" school (a reference to the section of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) which dictates operation of said school), like Sporty's, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, etc, and the smaller "Part 61" flight schools, that typically are more one on one with students. The FAR Part that the flight school operates under has nothing to do with the quality of instructor you will find there. Either school will get you to where you wish to be. However, Part 141 schools are normally designed for "streamlined" training, which is, creating a lot of pilots in a short amount of time. These types of schools are typically more beneficial for those seeking to become professional pilots, due to slightly lower minimum requirements in terms of hours, and are usually structured as an "aviation immersion", where you walk, talk, eat and sleep aviation. A Part 141 school is overseen by the FAA very closely, ensuring that the pilots, instructors, aircraft, and owner/operators all meet the standards as outlined in 14CFR 141. Part 141 schools are generally much larger then a Part 61 operation, and are required to have an FAA approved curriculum. Part 61 operations can be owned by one or two instructors, and are typically small. Keep in mind; though there are schools that operate under part 61, it does NOT have to be an official "school" to teach you how to fly. Your neighbor the flight instructor could instruct you under part 61 regardless of a school affiliation. However, there are regulations that pertain to the aircraft used for flight instruction, which your instructor needs to be aware of if he is using a privately owned aircraft. Whether you conduct your training under Part 61 or 141, you can reach the same level, and attain the same certificate without limitations.
You should also read this article: How to find the right flight school.
Cost of flight training:
Typically you will pay about $10,000 +/- to get your Private Pilot Certificate. It all depends on what kind of airplane you fly and the experience of your flight instructor. Aircraft rental can be anywhere from $99 per hour up to $200 an hour or more. Flight instruction can cost you anywhere from $25 an hour all the way up to $70 an hour or more. Every flight school is different that’s why you should do a lot of research before you choose a flight school.
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