Private Pilot

Getting Your Private Pilot License

Overview

Earning your Private Pilot Certificate involves a combination of ground school and hands-on flight training. You’ll start by completing online ground lessons to learn key topics such as weather, aircraft systems, flight planning, and FAA regulations. Your certified flight instructor will then help you apply that knowledge in the cockpit, guiding you through each phase of flight while you build real-world flying skills.

Once all required training is complete, your instructor will endorse you for the FAA checkride with a Designated Pilot Examiner. After passing the checkride, you’ll officially become a Private Pilot—with the skills and privileges to fly an aircraft on your own.

Hours

Because each student learns at a different pace, total flight time varies. The FAA minimum to qualify for the checkride is 40 flight hours, but most students complete their private pilot training in the 55–60 hour range. Your instructor will endorse you for the checkride once you’ve demonstrated consistent proficiency and confidence—not simply when minimums are met.

Students who fly consistently tend to progress more efficiently. For best results, we recommend flying two to three times per week to maintain momentum and minimize the overall time and cost of training.

The cost of earning your Private Pilot License varies from student to student. For those who finish near the FAA minimums, total expenses may be around $12,000, while the national average is closer to $16,000.
To get a clearer picture of what your own training might cost, try our Private Pilot Training Cost Estimate Calculator, which breaks down every component of your training.

We understand that learning to fly is a significant investment—but speaking from experience, the moment you earn your certificate and fly on your own makes every dollar worth it.

Costs