Private Pilot
The private pilot certificate is the certificate held by the majority of active pilots. It allows command of any aircraft (subject to appropriate ratings) for any non-commercial purpose, and gives almost unlimited authority to fly under visual flight rules (VFR). Passengers may be carried and flight in furtherance of a business is permitted; however, a private pilot may not be compensated in any way for services as a pilot, although passengers can pay a pro rata share of flight expenses, such as fuel or rental costs. Private pilots may also operate charity flights, subject to certain restrictions, and may participate in similar activities, such as Angel Flights.
The requirements to obtain a private pilot certificate for "airplane, single-engine, land", or ASEL, (which is the most common certificate) are:
- Be at least 17 years old (training can begin at any age, and one can "solo" a plane at 16 years old)
- Be able to read, speak, and write the English language
- Obtain at least a third class medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner
- Pass a computerized aeronautical knowledge test
- Accumulate and log a specified amount of training and experience,
including the following:
- If training under Part 61, experience requirements are specified in
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 61.109 including at
least 40 hours of piloting time including 20 hours of flight with an
instructor and 10 hours of solo flight, and other requirements including
"cross-country", 10 hours of solo (i.e., by yourself) flight time in an
airplane, including at least
- Solo requirements:
- 5 hours of solo cross-country time
- One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 NM total distance, with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points and with one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 NM between the takeoff and landing locations
- Three solo takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.
- Night requirements:
- 3 hours of night flight training
- One cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles (190 km) 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 the control and maneuvering solely by reference to instruments
- Solo requirements:
- If training under Part 141, at least 35 hours of piloting time including 20 hours with an instructor and 5 hours of solo flight, and other requirements including cross-country and night flights
- If training under Part 61, experience requirements are specified in
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 61.109 including at
least 40 hours of piloting time including 20 hours of flight with an
instructor and 10 hours of solo flight, and other requirements including
"cross-country", 10 hours of solo (i.e., by yourself) flight time in an
airplane, including at least
- Pass an oral test and flight test administered by an FAA inspector, FAA-designated examiner
