With your private pilot’s license you can take trips for business, take friends or family
flying to dinner dates, or just enjoy the freedom of the wild blue yonder.
In order to obtain your private pilot’s license you must:
-Be at least age 16 to solo
-Be at least age 17 to take your FAA checkride
-Be able to pass at least a third-class medical examination
Before we continue, lets go over what exactly is a solo, checkride, and medical.
The FAA requires a third class medical for anyone wishing to fully pursue a private pilot
certificate. Those in good health shouldn’t have a problem passing. Most medical
physicians are very willing to work with their patients. 95% of all medical applicants will
usually pass, however it may take some persistence. Although a medical is not needed
to start your flight training it will be needed for your solo.
Like when you first pulled out of the driveway by yourself, your solo is the flying
equivalent. After proper endorsements to your logbook and medical, students will
preform 3 touch and go landings without the aid of their flight instructor.
The FAA checkride is the entire reason you started your flight training. On this day your
instructor will set you up with a DPE (designated pilot examiner). You will plan a cross
country that you and the DPE will discuss on the ground along with other basic
aeronautical knowledge and then go fly. During the flight you will start and partially fly
your planned cross country after that it’s really up to the DPE. He or she will choose the
maneuvers, number of landings, etc.
Below is a checklist of the FAA requirements to receive your private pilot’s license:
– Total hours required 40
Within that 40 you must have
-20 hours of instruction
-10 solo hours
-5 solo cross country hours (50nm or more)
-3 hours of cross country flight instruction
-3 instrument flight hours
-3 hours of test prep
-3 hours of night flight
-70% grade on written exam
The cost – Most flight schools will quote anywhere between 5,000 – 6,000 dollars,
however prices will vary depending on how quickly you grasp the subject matter and the
study time you put in.
Also view our 5 Tips for better flight maneuvers post for more advice on your flight training.
Or to help cut costs on your flight training view 10 ways to make your pilots license more affordable
