Training Courses
Private Pilot License
Basic Requirements
Here are just a few of the basics requirements for the Private Pilot License. We’ll discuss what’s entailed in each of these
requirements later in this section.
You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English Language
You must be able to obtain at least a 3rd class FAA medical certificate
You must be 16 years old to get your student pilot license
You must to be 17 years old to get your private pilot license
You have to acquire 40 hours total flying time
10 hours of the 40 hours must be solo (alone) flight time
5 hours of the 10 solo must be cross- country (flying from one airport to another)
You must pass the FAA Private Pilot written exam
You must pass the Private Pilot Oral and Practical Exam
The Student Pilot License & Medical Certificates
Your can get your student pilot license at the same time you apply for a medical certificate. They are combined into one certificate for
student pilots and they share a common application. Your flight instructor can give you a list of FAA certified medical examiners in your
area, and they take care of all the necessary paper work after the exam. At the end of the exam the doctor removes a portion of the form
you filed out and this serves as both your student pilot license and medical certificate.
As we mentioned earlier you need to be 16 years of age to get your student pilot license. This is because you have to be 16 years of
age to solo, and you instructor must sign off or verify that you are safe to fly solo on your student pilot license. You can start flying at any
age but it’s a good idea not to start much earlier than 16 because you can’t solo until that age and you can’t get your private license until
your 17. Starting earlier makes your training process longer and more expensive. However don’t let it stop you from taking and
introductory flight. That way you can’t decide if flying is something you really want to do.
Training
The first few lessons of your flight training are primarily familiarization to the aircraft you will be conducting your training in. You’re not
worrying about learning rules or procedures you learn the basics of manoeuvring the aircraft under visual flight rules or VFR. VFR
encompasses flying the aircraft by looking outside and using visual cues for aircraft control and navigation.
After the your first few flights your training focuses on getting you ready for your first solo flight. You learn about the airport traffic pattern
and radio communication with air traffic control or ATC. Once you can fly the traffic pattern and talk on the radio unassisted, its time for
your instructor to turn you lose for your first solo. This usually consists of a few take-off and landings in the airport traffic pattern. After
your initial solo you will be let lose to practice aerial manoeuvres on your own within close proximity to the airport you are learning to fly.
After your solo you move on to cross country navigation. You learn various elements of flight planning, navigation via reference to
checkpoints on the ground, and fuel management. You usually go on several cross countries with your instructor to put everything you’
ve learned to practice. Once you can find your way without assistance from the instructor, he or she will then sign you off for solo cross
country flight. Then you do a few solo cross-country flights to build your solo and cross country time in addition to your confidence.
After cross-countries there isn’t much left until your practical test or check ride as it’s more commonly known. Your instructor brushes
you up on your aerial manoeuvres such as stalls, steep turns, and slow flight. There is also a requirement for flight at night; night cross-
country and a few hours practice at flying by sole reference to your flight instruments. Also important are your emergency procedures
like dealing with engine failures, loss of radio communications and inadvertent flight into poor weather or clouds.
After you meet all the hour requirements and your instructor is confident in your abilities you receive another sign off in your logbook
saying you meet the requirements for the private pilot and your instructor feels you are ready to take the private pilot check ride. You are
then sent to a FAA examiner for the oral and practical test.
Testing
So what are all these tests and check rides about? Well they’re not all that bad, they can be a challenge, but the reward is well worth it.
There are three main tests you must pass in order to obtain your private license. They are the FAA Written, a computer test of
aeronautical knowledge, the Oral Exam which is a one on one verbal questioning by the FAA examiner and the Practical Exam which is
the actual flight test were you demonstrate your flying and navigation skills to the FAA examiner. Below is a little about each of the Tests.
The FAA Written
In addition to your flight training you will receive many hours of ground instruction either from your flight instructor or most flight schools
have an organized ground school class that meets on a regular basis. Either way you learn about the many aeronautical knowledge
areas that are covered on the FAA written exam. These areas include, aerodynamics, Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s), airspace,
navigation, cross-country planning, weather, (very important for the VFR pilot) and performance calculations such as take-off and
landing distances and weight and center of gravity calculations. There are many training aides to assist you in your studies including
videos, computer programs, review books and hopefully this website.
The FAA Oral Exam
During the oral exam the FAA examiner assesses your level of aeronautical knowledge through verbal questioning. The examiner
usually has you plan a cross-country from the airport where you are taking the check ride to some other airport of their choice. They use
your planning to ask questions to see if you know what is required to be a safe pilot. They might ask you questions about the airspace
you will be flying through on your trip, how long the flight will take and how did you come up with computed numbers on your flight plan.
Once the examiner is satisfied at your level of knowledge you will then proceed to the practical portion of the check ride
The FAA Practical Exam
The practical exam is where it all comes together. You finally get the chance to show the examiner that you have the skills to be a
private pilot. The flight usually starts out on the flight planned for the oral exam. You will usually fly to the first few checkpoints to
demonstrate your cross-country navigation skills. Satisfied with the navigation the examiner will then have you demonstrate the
required aerial maneuvers such as stalls, steep turns, flight a slow speeds. Somewhere along the way the examiners will pull the
throttle back to simulate and engine failure to see you know your procedures for making and emergency landing. Once that is
accomplished successfully you will then head back to the airport and practice some landings.
Assuming all goes well at the end of the flight the examiner fills out your temporary license (a permanent one comes in the mail) and
you are now a private pilot. You are officially licensed as a Private Pilot free to fly on your own. Some say you are now licensed to learn
Here at Privilege Aero flight school for your Private Pilot program:
Privilege Aero's Private Pilot Certificate program will take you from zero hours of flight experience through earning your first pilot
certificate. The program includes both flight training and ground instruction. Our primary goal is to ensure that you become a safe and
competent pilot--not just that you know enough to pass your FAA practical test.
Flight Training
A Privilege Aero's certified flight instructor (CFI) will conduct your flight training, using a FAA 141 certified Private Pilot course syllabus.
Your flight training will include both dual instruction (flying with your CFI) and solo flights. You will also take "progress check" flights--
one before your first solo, and other before your FAA practical test--with our chief pilot. These flights double-check your knowledge and
skills, as well as helping to assure the consistency and thoroughness of your training.
Ground Instruction
Your ground instruction is accomplished primarily through our FAA certified courses syllabus. Each lesson includes quizzes, and
preview of the corresponding flight in your course syllabus--helping to make your flight training as effective and cost-efficient as
possible.
Training Time Required
The Federal Aviation Regulations require a minimum of 35 hours of flight time to earn your Private Pilot certificate (with our Part 141
certified training course). This time must include:
at least 20 hours of dual instruction, including
three hours of day cross-country instruction,
three hours of instrument instruction,
three hours of local and cross-country night instruction, and
three hours of instruction in preparation for the FAA practical test.
at least 5 hours of solo flight, including five hours of cross-country flight (two flights).
Despite these minimums, most new pilots require more experience to be safe and competent. The national average for Private Pilots
is about 75 hours total flight time, including about 60 hours of dual instruction. Our average student who uses our State of The Art Full
Motion Based Flight Simulator and flies at least twice a week is fully trained and ready for the practical test after about minimum hours
of flight time required, including 30 hours of dual instruction.
Prerequisites to Take the FAA Practical Test
Before you can take the FAA practical test to become a private pilot, your CFI must endorse your logbook to show that you have
completed your ground and flight instruction. In addition, you must:
Be 17 years old (although you only need to be 16 years old to solo, and you can begin flight instruction at any age),
Be able to read, write and understand the English language,
Hold at least a Class III medical certificate, and
Pass the FAA knowledge test (You will need to get 80% or better to pass for FAA 141 certificate).
Estimated Costs
Because different customers learn at different rates, it is impossible to give a fixed cost for your pilot certificate. The estimates below
are based on the FAA minimum flight times and on the flight times logged by the typical pilot in this course.
FAA Minimums Typical Pilot
Textbook, course syllabus, pilot logbook, $300 $300
Cessna 172 aircraft rental (at $140 per hour) $4,900 $10,500
Flight instruction (at $45 per hour) $1,350 $2,925
Total $6,550 $13,725
In addition to the costs above, you should know about these costs and fees that you will pay to others in the course of earning your
pilot's certificate:
Medical certificate (payable to aviation medical examiner) - approximate $80
FAA knowledge test fee (payable to testing center) $80
FAA practical test fee (payable to FAA designated pilot examiner) $400
Headset (prices vary depending on features desired) $100 to $500
Other supplies (charts, airport/facility directory, etc.) $50
Tips for Minimizing Your Training Costs -- Privilege Aero's Advantage
Use our State of The Art Full Motion Based Flight Simulator as frequently as possible. As with any other activity that requires learning
new motor skills--such as tennis or skiing--the less time that elapses between your lessons, the Full Motion Based Flight Simulator
has the full range of motion just like if you are flying a real airplane except you can also pause, go back and try again, change weather
conditions on the fly, fail any instrument at any time, practice take offs and landings, cross wind landings, even stalls. As a result, you'll
be able to master flying skills with a minimum required actual airplane flying hours. That means a direct saving out of your pocket.
Come prepared for your flight lessons. Always review the course material, so that you will know what to expect during your flight
lesson, and how to perform any new maneuvers. Make a list of any questions that you have, and bring them with you to the lesson so
you can discuss them beforehand with your CFI.
Train with a friend. If you have a friend who also wants to learn to fly, schedule your lessons back-to-back. This will enable each of you
to fly as a back-seat observer on the other's flights (weight and balance limitations permitting). By observing when you're not busy
trying to fly the airplane, you'll reinforce your own knowledge and each learn from the other's mistakes. You'll also reduce the amount of
flight time spent getting out to your practice area or airport.
Here are just a few of the basics requirements for the Private Pilot License. We’ll discuss what’s entailed in each of these
requirements later in this section.
You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English Language
You must be able to obtain at least a 3rd class FAA medical certificate
You must be 16 years old to get your student pilot license
You must to be 17 years old to get your private pilot license
You have to acquire 40 hours total flying time
10 hours of the 40 hours must be solo (alone) flight time
5 hours of the 10 solo must be cross- country (flying from one airport to another)
You must pass the FAA Private Pilot written exam
You must pass the Private Pilot Oral and Practical Exam
The Student Pilot License & Medical Certificates
Your can get your student pilot license at the same time you apply for a medical certificate. They are combined into one certificate for
student pilots and they share a common application. Your flight instructor can give you a list of FAA certified medical examiners in your
area, and they take care of all the necessary paper work after the exam. At the end of the exam the doctor removes a portion of the form
you filed out and this serves as both your student pilot license and medical certificate.
As we mentioned earlier you need to be 16 years of age to get your student pilot license. This is because you have to be 16 years of
age to solo, and you instructor must sign off or verify that you are safe to fly solo on your student pilot license. You can start flying at any
age but it’s a good idea not to start much earlier than 16 because you can’t solo until that age and you can’t get your private license until
your 17. Starting earlier makes your training process longer and more expensive. However don’t let it stop you from taking and
introductory flight. That way you can’t decide if flying is something you really want to do.
Training
The first few lessons of your flight training are primarily familiarization to the aircraft you will be conducting your training in. You’re not
worrying about learning rules or procedures you learn the basics of manoeuvring the aircraft under visual flight rules or VFR. VFR
encompasses flying the aircraft by looking outside and using visual cues for aircraft control and navigation.
After the your first few flights your training focuses on getting you ready for your first solo flight. You learn about the airport traffic pattern
and radio communication with air traffic control or ATC. Once you can fly the traffic pattern and talk on the radio unassisted, its time for
your instructor to turn you lose for your first solo. This usually consists of a few take-off and landings in the airport traffic pattern. After
your initial solo you will be let lose to practice aerial manoeuvres on your own within close proximity to the airport you are learning to fly.
After your solo you move on to cross country navigation. You learn various elements of flight planning, navigation via reference to
checkpoints on the ground, and fuel management. You usually go on several cross countries with your instructor to put everything you’
ve learned to practice. Once you can find your way without assistance from the instructor, he or she will then sign you off for solo cross
country flight. Then you do a few solo cross-country flights to build your solo and cross country time in addition to your confidence.
After cross-countries there isn’t much left until your practical test or check ride as it’s more commonly known. Your instructor brushes
you up on your aerial manoeuvres such as stalls, steep turns, and slow flight. There is also a requirement for flight at night; night cross-
country and a few hours practice at flying by sole reference to your flight instruments. Also important are your emergency procedures
like dealing with engine failures, loss of radio communications and inadvertent flight into poor weather or clouds.
After you meet all the hour requirements and your instructor is confident in your abilities you receive another sign off in your logbook
saying you meet the requirements for the private pilot and your instructor feels you are ready to take the private pilot check ride. You are
then sent to a FAA examiner for the oral and practical test.
Testing
So what are all these tests and check rides about? Well they’re not all that bad, they can be a challenge, but the reward is well worth it.
There are three main tests you must pass in order to obtain your private license. They are the FAA Written, a computer test of
aeronautical knowledge, the Oral Exam which is a one on one verbal questioning by the FAA examiner and the Practical Exam which is
the actual flight test were you demonstrate your flying and navigation skills to the FAA examiner. Below is a little about each of the Tests.
The FAA Written
In addition to your flight training you will receive many hours of ground instruction either from your flight instructor or most flight schools
have an organized ground school class that meets on a regular basis. Either way you learn about the many aeronautical knowledge
areas that are covered on the FAA written exam. These areas include, aerodynamics, Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s), airspace,
navigation, cross-country planning, weather, (very important for the VFR pilot) and performance calculations such as take-off and
landing distances and weight and center of gravity calculations. There are many training aides to assist you in your studies including
videos, computer programs, review books and hopefully this website.
The FAA Oral Exam
During the oral exam the FAA examiner assesses your level of aeronautical knowledge through verbal questioning. The examiner
usually has you plan a cross-country from the airport where you are taking the check ride to some other airport of their choice. They use
your planning to ask questions to see if you know what is required to be a safe pilot. They might ask you questions about the airspace
you will be flying through on your trip, how long the flight will take and how did you come up with computed numbers on your flight plan.
Once the examiner is satisfied at your level of knowledge you will then proceed to the practical portion of the check ride
The FAA Practical Exam
The practical exam is where it all comes together. You finally get the chance to show the examiner that you have the skills to be a
private pilot. The flight usually starts out on the flight planned for the oral exam. You will usually fly to the first few checkpoints to
demonstrate your cross-country navigation skills. Satisfied with the navigation the examiner will then have you demonstrate the
required aerial maneuvers such as stalls, steep turns, flight a slow speeds. Somewhere along the way the examiners will pull the
throttle back to simulate and engine failure to see you know your procedures for making and emergency landing. Once that is
accomplished successfully you will then head back to the airport and practice some landings.
Assuming all goes well at the end of the flight the examiner fills out your temporary license (a permanent one comes in the mail) and
you are now a private pilot. You are officially licensed as a Private Pilot free to fly on your own. Some say you are now licensed to learn
Here at Privilege Aero flight school for your Private Pilot program:
Privilege Aero's Private Pilot Certificate program will take you from zero hours of flight experience through earning your first pilot
certificate. The program includes both flight training and ground instruction. Our primary goal is to ensure that you become a safe and
competent pilot--not just that you know enough to pass your FAA practical test.
Flight Training
A Privilege Aero's certified flight instructor (CFI) will conduct your flight training, using a FAA 141 certified Private Pilot course syllabus.
Your flight training will include both dual instruction (flying with your CFI) and solo flights. You will also take "progress check" flights--
one before your first solo, and other before your FAA practical test--with our chief pilot. These flights double-check your knowledge and
skills, as well as helping to assure the consistency and thoroughness of your training.
Ground Instruction
Your ground instruction is accomplished primarily through our FAA certified courses syllabus. Each lesson includes quizzes, and
preview of the corresponding flight in your course syllabus--helping to make your flight training as effective and cost-efficient as
possible.
Training Time Required
The Federal Aviation Regulations require a minimum of 35 hours of flight time to earn your Private Pilot certificate (with our Part 141
certified training course). This time must include:
at least 20 hours of dual instruction, including
three hours of day cross-country instruction,
three hours of instrument instruction,
three hours of local and cross-country night instruction, and
three hours of instruction in preparation for the FAA practical test.
at least 5 hours of solo flight, including five hours of cross-country flight (two flights).
Despite these minimums, most new pilots require more experience to be safe and competent. The national average for Private Pilots
is about 75 hours total flight time, including about 60 hours of dual instruction. Our average student who uses our State of The Art Full
Motion Based Flight Simulator and flies at least twice a week is fully trained and ready for the practical test after about minimum hours
of flight time required, including 30 hours of dual instruction.
Prerequisites to Take the FAA Practical Test
Before you can take the FAA practical test to become a private pilot, your CFI must endorse your logbook to show that you have
completed your ground and flight instruction. In addition, you must:
Be 17 years old (although you only need to be 16 years old to solo, and you can begin flight instruction at any age),
Be able to read, write and understand the English language,
Hold at least a Class III medical certificate, and
Pass the FAA knowledge test (You will need to get 80% or better to pass for FAA 141 certificate).
Estimated Costs
Because different customers learn at different rates, it is impossible to give a fixed cost for your pilot certificate. The estimates below
are based on the FAA minimum flight times and on the flight times logged by the typical pilot in this course.
FAA Minimums Typical Pilot
Textbook, course syllabus, pilot logbook, $300 $300
Cessna 172 aircraft rental (at $140 per hour) $4,900 $10,500
Flight instruction (at $45 per hour) $1,350 $2,925
Total $6,550 $13,725
In addition to the costs above, you should know about these costs and fees that you will pay to others in the course of earning your
pilot's certificate:
Medical certificate (payable to aviation medical examiner) - approximate $80
FAA knowledge test fee (payable to testing center) $80
FAA practical test fee (payable to FAA designated pilot examiner) $400
Headset (prices vary depending on features desired) $100 to $500
Other supplies (charts, airport/facility directory, etc.) $50
Tips for Minimizing Your Training Costs -- Privilege Aero's Advantage
Use our State of The Art Full Motion Based Flight Simulator as frequently as possible. As with any other activity that requires learning
new motor skills--such as tennis or skiing--the less time that elapses between your lessons, the Full Motion Based Flight Simulator
has the full range of motion just like if you are flying a real airplane except you can also pause, go back and try again, change weather
conditions on the fly, fail any instrument at any time, practice take offs and landings, cross wind landings, even stalls. As a result, you'll
be able to master flying skills with a minimum required actual airplane flying hours. That means a direct saving out of your pocket.
Come prepared for your flight lessons. Always review the course material, so that you will know what to expect during your flight
lesson, and how to perform any new maneuvers. Make a list of any questions that you have, and bring them with you to the lesson so
you can discuss them beforehand with your CFI.
Train with a friend. If you have a friend who also wants to learn to fly, schedule your lessons back-to-back. This will enable each of you
to fly as a back-seat observer on the other's flights (weight and balance limitations permitting). By observing when you're not busy
trying to fly the airplane, you'll reinforce your own knowledge and each learn from the other's mistakes. You'll also reduce the amount of
flight time spent getting out to your practice area or airport.
