How to Become a Private Pilot

This article will explain the steps necessary to become a private pilot. This article will also explain the requirements needed to begin training on a private pilots license.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• money
• time
• motivation

1. The first thing someone needs to do to get a private pilot license is to schedule a discovery flight with a flight school. To schedule a discovery flight just look up a flight school in the yellow pages. This introductory flight gives people the chance to see if flight training is for them or not.

2. After the decision is made to continue flight training, a medical certificate is needed. The truth is that there are three levels of medical certificates the FAA offers. To be a airline pilot you must have a first class medical. Go to www.faa.gov for more information on the qualification for each type of medical. Most people can get an FAA medical now an days.

3. Anybody can start flight training without a medical, but they can not solo until they have a medical. Private pilot training is divided into two parts pre solo and navigational training.

4. Requirements for a private pilot certificate single engine land under part 61,
   1) Must speak, write, and read English
   2) Must be 17 years old
   3) Able to obtain 3 class medical
   4) 40 hours of piloting time
   5) 20 hours of flight instruction
   6) 10 hours of solo flight
   7) 5 hours of solo cross country time
   8) 1 cross country of a total distance of 150nm, three full stop landings at three points, first leg must 50nm none stop
   9) 3 solo takeoffs and landings at a airport with a control tower
   10) 3 hours of night flight time
   11) 10 takeoffs and landings at night
   12) One cross country flight of at least 100nm at night
   13) 3 hours of flying just on instruments

5. If operating under part 141 rules the requirements are as follow,
   35 hours of piloting time, and 20 hours of flight instruction in airplane, as well as 5 hours of solo flight time. There are some night and cross country requirements that must be met also that are not listed here for a private pilots license under part 141.

6. After all private pilot requirements are met, a 60 question FAA test is administered to the student pilot. The FAA test for a private pilots license is required under part 61 or part 141. After the test is taken and passed with a score 70% or better, the student pilot can then take a check ride

Tips & Warnings

• Most people can become pilots, it just takes motivation
• These steps are just to obtain a private pilot license

[tclough]

on 8/5/2009 Great introduction to the private rating.