Private Pilot License (PPL)

The first step to become a professional pilot. You can operate an aircraft for pleasure or personal business purposes, carry an unlimited number of passengers, and fly below 18,000 feet to virtually anywhere in the U.S. PPL will allow you to fly on your own, but does not allow you to receive payment for flying.

The first step to becoming a professional pilot.

What is a Private Pilot License?

The Private Pilot Certificate, internationally referred to as the Private Pilot License (PPL), allows students to obtain the foundational knowledge and skills for all future aircraft pilot training. As a Private Pilot, you can fly an airplane day and night in visual flight conditions and carry passengers (friends, family, co-workers, etc.). You cannot fly for paid compensation or hire. However, you can share the operating expenses with your passengers. After Private Pilot, most people continue on to earn endorsements, ratings, or even another license. Please see our Flight Training page for an outline of training options and the general progression of flight training.

Requirements

👉Be at least 17 years old.

👉Have at least a third-class medical certificate

👉Read, speak, write, and understand English.

👉Proof of U.S. citizenship or TSA approval

What do I need to complete to get my Private Pilot License?

1. Complete ground training through a certified flight instructor

This should cover topics like the principles of aerodynamics, stall recovery techniques, radio communication protocols, and navigation using visual flight rules (VFR). The instructor must endorse you as being ready to take the knowledge exam.

2. Pass a written knowledge exam with a grade of at least 70 percent

This involves going to an FAA-approved testing center and answering 60 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours.

3. Log at least 40 hours of flight time

Includes at least 10 hours of solo flying, five hours of which must be dedicated to cross-country flights. Your flight instructor must also verify in your logbook that you have demonstrated sufficient skills in pre-flight procedures, takeoffs, landings, navigation, stalls, night operations, and more.4

4. Pass a practical flying test (known as a (checkride) administered by an FAA-designated evaluator

This includes an oral exam as well as the actual flying portion. The pilot examiner will have a conversation with you to see if you are completely familiar with the myriad of aviation items. Then, the instructor will take you flying to see if your pilot skills are up to FAA pilot standards. You will have to demonstrate different maneuvers like steep turns, stall recovery, and various takeoffs and landings. The whole thing takes about four hours.

Tuition / Prices

Flight – Cessna 172 or Piper Archer with Instructor	30 hours
Solo Flight – Cessna 172 or Piper Archer with Instructor	10 Hours
Simulator – Cessna 172 or Piper Archer w/ Instructor	5 Hours
One-on-One Ground Instruction	10 Hours
Check-ride preparation	6 Hours
Total Course Tuition	$10,999

*Based on the average student completion times. Individual student completion times may vary and additional training may be required.

*Course price excludes the required medical certificate, pilot supplies (eg. headset and navigation materials), knowledge tests, examiner fee, or any additional fees and/or taxes acquired during training.

*Students would be responsible for landing fees.

Questions&Answers

The more frequently you take lessons and the harder you study at home all equate to how long it will take you to get your pilot’s license. The 40-hour minimum is just that, a minimum. It will take as long as it takes for you to be safe and knowledgeable enough to pass your flight exam. The FAA says that the national average for someone learning to fly is 80-90 hours.
You don’t have to be a particular age before you can begin to take flying lessons. That said, however, you do have to be at least 16 years old before you can solo an airplane (14 years old for the operation of a balloon or glider), and 17 before you can be issued a pilot certificate.
The possibilities are endless! Contact us to talk about the opportunities available to you. Having earned your PPL means you are ready to continue on to earn your Instrument Rating. After that, you can decide if you want to continue with your Commercial Pilot’s License.

60 hours of Aviation Skills Development
7 hours simulator time in a Cessna 172 with an Instructor
40 hours flight time in a G-1000 Cessna 172
10 hours of solo flight time in a G-1000 Cessna 172
20 hours of one-on-one ground
6 hours of pre/post activity briefing

Student pilots have to pass a pre-solo written exam before taking their solo flight, the FAA private pilot written exam, and a practical exam/ checkride (flight test). These three requirements must be met to obtain a private pilot license.
After you become a private pilot, you will need an instrument rating, a commercial pilot’s certificate, a multi-engine rating and a Certified Flight Instructor certificate (CFI).

We can provide IFR training, Commercial pilot license training and Commercial multi-engine rating as well and look forward to helping you attain your flying goals!
The hours logged on a simulator or airplane do not expire, but if a pilot has not flown in a long time, they are required by the FAA to meet a standard and experience level.
- Start a new career in aviation
- Exciting vacations and day trips
- Explore new destinations
- Experience the beauty of night flights
- Learn aerobatics
- Conveniently visit friends & family
Unfortunately, headsets are not included in the tuition.

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