Becoming a Private Pilot – Step by Step

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 pilot, “Private Pilot is one of the most common. There are also Sport and Recreational Pilot certifications with fewer qualifications that come with some restrictions. For a Private pilot, these are the basic steps you will take:

Eligibility

To become a private pilot, you must be able to read, write, and understand English, and meet the minimum age requirements — you must 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).

Paperwork

Before you can fly solo as part of your training, you need a student pilot certificate from the FAA, a medical and a TSA endorsement certifying your citizenship. Your instructor will guide you through the process of obtaining these.

Medical Exam

To be a private pilot, you must have a medical certificate, which you get from an FAA-approved doctor (AME) 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, contact a flight instructor who can put you in touch with an AME.

Studying and Practicing

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. Many people prefer to self-study and learn at their own pace, reading books and taking online courses.

Written Test

Once you've finished your ground school, it's time to take the written test. An endorsement from your instructor 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.

First Solo

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!

Additional Instruction

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 40 hours with an individual instructor, but the time required may be more to become proficient.

Final Exam(s)

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/check ride, you'll meet 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, 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. This is also the first step to Multi Engine, Commercial, Flight Instructor and Airline Transport Pilot certificates.