How to Get a Private Pilot License

To fly a plane legally in the United States, you’ll need a license. People earn licenses to fly for different reasons — as a fun pastime or a way to move around easily without the challenges of commercial air travel. For some, a private pilot certificate is a step in their journey to become commercial airline pilots.

The United States Civil Airmen Statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that, as of 2021, there were over 700 000 certified active pilots. Over 150 000 of these were private pilots. The FAA is the only body licensed to issue private pilot certificates in the United States.

A private pilot certificate allows you to operate almost any aircraft. Earning the certificate, however, is no small feat. Getting the license takes grit and dedication and is a big financial commitment. Many start the process and never complete it. Although the time range varies, you can get a private pilot certificate in an average of two months.

To begin, you must carefully consider the requirements. While you can start training much earlier, you must be at least 17 years old to apply for the certificate. Understanding, speaking, and writing the English language is also an essential requirement.

To begin flight training, start by getting certified as a student pilot. Then, to be allowed to fly alone, you need to pass a third-class aviation medical exam. If you pass, the FAA will issue you a medical certificate.

Next, you should enroll in a certified flight school or get an accredited flying instructor to teach you. You will go through ground and flight training during your flight instructions. In flight training, you will learn the basics of aviation and safety and communication guidelines.

In flight school, you begin the practical aspects and learn to fly an aircraft. Of course, you also become familiar with the emergency procedures. After completing your training, you take the tests.

Many pilots take the written test even before beginning flight training. Either way is acceptable. To pass the written test, you need a minimum score of 70 percent. The final test is the check ride. You need at least 20 hours of flight time with an instructor and at least 10 hours flying alone to be eligible. In total, you must have at least 40 hours of flight time.

Once you have passed the check ride, your examiner will issue you a temporary license pending your permanent certificate and a visual flight rule rating. The rating is a certification that permits you to fly an aircraft using VFR guidelines, meaning you must fly using visual references and landmarks and only in certain weather conditions. Because of these restrictions, many private pilots choose to get an additional certification to become Instrument Rated and fly under Instrument Flight Rules. The rating allows the pilot to fly with fewer restrictions, and because you need to take classes and pass the exam to become Instrument Rated, it improves your piloting skill.

The multi-engine rating is another certification that private pilots can add to their portfolio. It allows you to make the jump from single-engine aircraft to significantly larger multi-engine aircraft.