Selecting A Flight School

Private Pilot License

If you meet the requirements listed above, then you are ready to start earning your license. The first step is to find a flight school in your area. These are usually located through small private airports as well as in some of the larger commercial airports. You can also do a search online to find the schools in your vicinity. If you call or stop in to the flight school for information, you will want to ask about the time commitment and the cost involved in earning your license. Usually, the training can be worked around your schedule, so you can move through the paces as quickly, or as slowly, as you desire.

Flight Time Requirements

To be able to earn your private pilot’s license, there are some flight time requirements you must fulfill. You will need at least 40 hours of total flying time in combined dual and solo flights, as follows.

Dual Flight Time

20 hours min. of dual-flight with an authorized instructor, which includes at least:

  • 3 hours of cross country time in a single-engine airplane.
  • 3 hours of flight training on control and maneuvering solely by reference to cockpit instruments.
  • 3 hours of night-flying for applicants seeking night flying privileges: including one cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance with 10 take offs and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport. If the applicant fails to meet the night flying requirements, he is issued a license bearing the limitation “Night flying prohibited.” This limitation can be removed when the holder shows he has met those requirements.
  • 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical (FAA flight) test. (Note that this must be taken within 60 days prior to test).

Solo Flight Time

10 hours min. of solo flight in a single-engine aircraft including at least:

  • 5 hours of solo cross-country time. One solo cross country flight must be at least 150 nautical miles with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points with one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical miles between the take off and landing locations.
  • 3 solo takeoffs and landings to a full-stop at an airport with an operating control tower.
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