Becoming A Private Pilot
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The private pilot certificate is the one held by most active pilots. It lets you fly just about any aircraft (subject to appropriate ratings) for any noncommercial purpose, enables you to carry multiple passengers, and fly at night and in more types of airspace with no distance restrictions.
There are a lot of different ways you can become a private pilot, but these are the basic steps you will take:
To become a private pilot, you must be able to read, write, and understand English, and meet the minimum age requirements โ you have to be at least 16 to solo as a student pilot (14 for gliders), and at least 17 to get your private pilot certificate (16 for gliders).
If you haven't already, contact your local EAA chapter and take your free introductory flight, giving yourself a look at the freedom and fun of personal aviation.
In addition to helping arrange your first flight, not to mention the fun and camaraderie of spending time with people who love to fly, EAA chapters are great sources of advice and mentorship that can help you with every step of your journey toward becoming a pilot. You can find the chapters nearest you here.
Learning to fly costs money, but we can help. EAA offers scholarships to help with flight training, both directly and through your local EAA chapter. In addition, while most student pilots rent an airplane while training, in some cases buying or even building an airplane can be a cost-effective way to get started. One of the best ways you can get affordable access to an airplane is by joining โ or even starting โ a flying club.
Depending on your learning style, you have a general option of enrolling in a formal flight school or working one-on-one with an independent flight instructor. Once again, members of a nearby EAA chapter can help you learn what's available in your area and offer advice based on their experiences. The most important thing to remember is that you are in charge of your training, and it's very important that you have a healthy and trusting relationship with the person teaching you to fly.
Here's a list of things to consider when choosing a flight instructor.
Before you can fly solo as part of your training, you need a student pilot certificate from the FAA. Your instructor or flight school will guide you through the process of obtaining one.
To be a private pilot, you must have what's called a medical certificate, which you get from an FAA-approved doctor after a physical examination. While the exam itself is straightforward, it is vital that you understand its scope before scheduling an appointment, as the denial of a medical certificate can be complicated and costly to rectify. If you have any questions about your health, any underlying conditions, or regular medications, EAA has resources that can help.
Once the paperwork and medical exam are out of the way, it's time to start learning. You'll train in the airplane, of course, as your instructor has you take the controls on your very first lesson. You'll do a lot of studying on the ground as well, both with your flight instructor and on your own, as you hit the books and prepare for the written test. If you're training at a formal flight school, they will likely offer a ground school as well, where you'll work in a traditional classroom setting to learn the material. Many people prefer to self-study and learn at their own pace, reading books and taking online courses from companies like Sporty's. (Note: Sporty's online ground school course is free for student members of EAA.)
Once you've finished your ground school, whether independently or as part of a class, it's time to take the written test. An endorsement from your instructor or the course provider is required, and the test must be taken by appointment at an FAA-approved testing facility. It's generally up to you to decide when you want to take the FAA written exam for your private pilot certificate, but our recommendation is that sooner is better. Here are some tips to help you understand what goes into passing the test.
This will be one of the most memorable days of your life, the first time you fly an airplane entirely by yourself. You're still a student pilot at this stage, but, with as few as eight to 10 hours of instruction, your instructor will send you up on your own. You'll stay close to your home airport, and usually do three takeoffs and landings while your instructor watches from the ground. This is a major milestone worth celebrating!
Once you've soloed, the rest of your training will be a mix of flying by yourself and with your instructor as you study things like navigation and cross-country flying, night flying, emergency procedures, practicing maneuvers, and more. The legal minimum amount of flying time (both solo and with your instructor) required is 35 hours in a formal flight school or 40 hours with an individual instructor, but the average time required is closer to 60 to 80 hours.
You've passed the written test, built up the required flying time, and your instructor says you're ready. This is where it all comes together. On the day of your final exam, called a checkride, you'll actually take two tests with an FAA-approved examiner: first, an oral examination where you'll be quizzed extensively on your knowledge of everything from aircraft systems to rules and regulations. Once you pass that portion, then you'll get in the airplane and demonstrate what you've learned.
Once you earn your private pilot certificate, the opportunities are limitless. From lunchtime "$100 hamburger" trips to family vacations, volunteer humanitarian flights to a hop around the patch at sunset just because the sky looks so nice, becoming a pilot is one of the most rewarding things you'll ever accomplish.
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Sarina Houston was the aviation expert for The Balance Careers. She is a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor.
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The private pilot certificate (or private pilot license) has been the most commonly sought-after pilot certificate for years. Some people seek a private pilot certificate purely as a hobby or sport, while others desire the convenience of aircraft travel for vacations or to visit family members.
Some private pilots and aircraft owners use their airplane as a primary mode of transportation to business meetings or events, and for some, it's a step in the road toward becoming an airline pilot. If you've decided that the private pilot certificate is right for you, then these are the next steps.
Private pilots are trained well enough to navigate a small aircraft through the nation's airspace by themselves. While in training, a private pilot learns aircraft maneuvers, navigation techniques, emergency procedures, and cross-country flight planning. Private pilot training is more intense than training for a sports pilot certificate or a recreational pilot certificate, but not quite as extensive as for a commercial pilot certificate. Here are the steps for how to become a private pilot:
Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the regulations. See FAR 61.103 for more information. A private pilot applicant needs to be at least 17 years old, able to read, speak and understand English, successfully complete the flight training requirements and the knowledge exam. In the end, a private pilot applicant will need to pass a practical exam that consists of a verbal exam and a flight test.
You'll begin by obtaining a student pilot certificate (and typically an aviation medical certificate at the same time). You have three options for obtaining a student pilot certificate:
Obtain an aviation medical certificate. If you haven't already passed your aviation medical exam, you'll need to have one done before you can solo the airplane. Solo flight can happen quicker than you think, so it's best not to put off the medical exam. To exercise privileges of a private pilot, a person is required to have a current 3rd Class FAA-issued medical certificate.
If you don't already have a flight instructor or flight school in mind, check at your local airport. If your airport has a flight school or Fixed-Base Operation (FBO), check there first. If not, ask around at the terminal or other business on the field. It's a small community, and most of the time, there are flight instructors that are eager to teach.
Some flight schools and instructors will require you to successfully complete the FAA Private Pilot Written Exam before ever stepping foot in an airplane. Others will let you fly as much as you'd like while you study at home for the test. Either way, the test must be completed before you can take the final private pilot check ride for your certificate. It's best to take it early onโflying is easier when you have the background knowledge. It just makes sense. Don't put it off.
You'll need to gain the required flight experience. You'll start by learning basic maneuvers, such as takeoff, landing, turns, climbs, and descents. A student needs at least 10 hours to solo the aircraft, but many people take more time to learn how to fly the airplaneโwhile the primary focus might be learning how to land the airplane, you'll also need to know emergency procedures, how to communicate on the radios, etc. After your first solo, you'll work on solo cross-country flights; you'll learn navigation techniques and more difficult maneuvers. From there, you'll fine-tune your piloting skills for the final exam- the check ride.
You'll need a certain amount of experience to be eligible for the check ride. For example, a private pilot applicant is required to have at least 40 hours of flight time, of which 20 are from an instructor, and 10 are solo flights. More specifically, you'll need at least 3 hours of cross-country training with your instructor, including 3 hours of night flying, one cross-country that is over 100 nautical miles, 10 takeoffs, and landings, and 3 hours of basic instrument training. On top of that, you're required to have 10 hours of solo flying, which includes 5 hours of a solo cross-country flight, and one cross-country that is over 150 nautical miles with landings at three different airports.
The check ride is given by a designated FAA examiner, and it consists of a verbal exam and a flight exam. The exam can last from about two hours to 6 hours, depending on your level of knowledge and the examiner's methods. The ground portion is usually done first and can last from 30 minutes to a few hours. If the verbal exam is successful, the examiner will then conduct the flight portion of the exam, which typically lasts 1-2 hours.
Upon successful completion of your FAA Practical Test, the examiner will assist you in filling out the FAA paperwork online. You'll have to pay them (rates vary so check with your instructor beforehand). The examiner will give you a temporary private pilot certificate to use while you wait for the official FAA certificate to arrive in the mail.
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Becoming A Private Pilot
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