To earn a private pilot certificate, a pilot must:

• Be at least 17 years of age

• Read, speak, write and understand the English language

• Hold a U.S. student pilot certificate, sport pilot certificate, or recreational pilot certificate

• Receive flight training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor

• Meet the aeronautical experience requirements for the aircraft rating sought

• Pass a practical test for the aircraft rating sought

Reference 14 CFR §61.103 for a complete listing of all requirements.

According to federal regulations, you must meet the following aeronautical flight experience requirements to earn a private pilot license. At a minimum, private pilot candidates qualified for the practical test will have logged 40 hours of flight time that includes 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor as well as 10 hours of solo flight. The training must include:

• 3 hours of cross-country flight training

• 3 hours of night flight training consisting of:

  • One cross country flight over 100 nautical miles total distance

  • 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern at an airport

• 3 hours of flight training on control and maneuvering solely by reference to instruments

• 3 hours of flight training with an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical test within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test

• 10 hours of solo flight time consisting of:

  • 5 hours of solo cross-country time

  • One solo cross country flight of 150 nautical miles total distance with full stop landings at three points and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight line distance of more than 50 nautical miles between takeoff and landing locations

  • Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower

• Total Flight Time: 40 Hours

• Cross-Country Flight Time: 3 Hours

• Night Flight Time: 3 Hours

• Instrument Training: 3 Hours

• Training with Authorized Instructor: 3 Hours

• Solo Flight Time: 10 Hours

Reference 14 CFR §61.109 for more details on flight time requirements.

In order to exercise the privileges of a private pilot license, you must hold a third-class medical certificate, which can be obtained through an aeromedical examiner (AME). This should be done early on in training as you will not be able to solo an airplane without your medical certificate. Certificates must also be renewed periodically. If you are under the age of 40, this is every 60 months. While if you are over the age of 40, you must renew your medical certificate every 24 months.

Once you’ve completed the required flight training, you’ll be eligible for the FAA Practical Exam—commonly known as the checkride.

The checkride is administered by a designated FAA examiner and includes two parts: an oral exam followed by a flight test. The flight portion is only conducted after successfully passing the oral exam.

If both parts are completed successfully, the examiner will assist with your FAA paperwork, and you’ll be issued a temporary Private Pilot Certificate. This allows you to fly as a private pilot while you wait for your official FAA certificate to arrive in the mail.