BasecampBaseCamp
New Route
Cliff Dweller Inc.
Hit the Links
Contact!

How to Get Your Private Pilot License

Good News and Bad News: The Bad First....the VAST majority of people who start this process will never finish it. The Good News...that's why I wrote this page! I intend to steer you clear of the common mistakes and poor planning that trips up most aspiring pilots.

This whole page is about how to sidestep the biggest pitfall: What is written below is a very good way to spend the minimum amount of time and money. It's an "if I could do it all over again knowing what I know now" approach that should keep your costs down to 4-5K dollars.

I've also embedded links here that will take you DIRECTLY to every thing you will need along the way.

If you must fly right now, today: If you just cannot wait to get in the airplane, I FULLY understand that. You can be flying from your first lesson on...just be disciplined about simultaneously preparing for the written test, or chances are good that you will not finish your training.

Avoiding the Main Pitfall: Getting stuck at the written test hurdle is what makes the cost skyrocket for most people, sabotaging their dreams of flight. They put it off (for whatever reason) until they get to a point where they cannot progress in their training until they take and pass it. There is nothing to be intimidated by, if that's the reason for putting it off. It's not too bad, after all. Once someone stops flying to focus on The Written, most will not make it back to flying. Life often gets in the way once they get unfocused; and if they do take up their lessons again, they will have to repeat many "in-the-plane" sessions from before, potentially doubling their costs beyond their means. This page is what I believe is the most efficient path.

READY? Okay, let's go step-by-step

I. First...buy this book Private Pilot and Recreational Pilot FAA Written Exam for the FAA Computer-Based Pilot Knowledge Test and start studying. It's only 11 chapters, and it is EVERYTHING you need for the written test in one place. I was able to knock out two chapters in a day sometimes. Some chapters will take longer, but not more than a few days if you are halfway serious. There are a lot of test prep resources on the market, and some training videos are also very helpful, but the Red Book really is all you need. Know too that ground school is not a requirement for getting your license. If you have just a little self-discipline, this book is genius. All possible questions are in here, word-for-word, with the wrong and right answers spelled out completely. All charts and references are inside the book, so there's no flipping back and forth between books like with the ASA equivalent. The Red Book is easy to tote around and whip out every time you just have a spare ten minutes.

Tips for using the book:

  • Learn the CONCEPTS...don't just memorize the answers. I don't want to fly with anyone who can say "I remembered that all the answers for any question related to the Anniston airport were "A" on the test." Do you want to be that kind of pilot for your family? I didn't think so.

  • Realize that this book is meant SOLELY to get you over the hump of the written test. It IS NOT intended to make you a proficient pilot. Your flight instructor and all the experiences you get in the air and from other resources will help with that if you have the sound judgment to absorb what's out there. That's what makes a safe pilot....always learning. Other aviation books go into more detail....buy them after you have passed the written test.

  • I went through each question three times. Each time I got it right, I put a check mark by it. Each time I got it wrong, I made an index card flash card and put an X by it in the book. Three checks and I never looked at it again. Two X's merited special attention

  • On your last run through of the questions (again, I went through each THREE times) look only at the right answer. Have them highlighted by this time. This will make the right answer jump off the screen at you come test time.

Do you need Ground School? If you need the structure of a Ground School curriculum, then it will be available from the Flight School / CFI of your choice (See Step II). Of course, there will be more cost and more time attached to this approach. Some of the more formal flight schools may require it.

Ia: Locate an FAA certified Medical Examiner and schedule your exam for a Class III medical certificate (approx $80)

Ib: Join AOPA. All the best resources you need to be a responsible pilot, during training and for the rest of your life. AOPA does SO MUCH for the General Aviation community, and they are worthy of our support.

II. Locate a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) / Flight School either during or after your study of the Red Book. A CFI can answer questions while you are studying (when you need) and you will need a signature from a CFI when you go to the CATS testing center to take the test.

III. Take the Written Test: Click on CATS testing centers to find a place near you. Or, if you are Fred Flintstone,  call at 1-800-947-4228 On the test, you will be asked any 60 questions out of a possible 700-something. Break a leg! Any that you get wrong will be reviewed with you until you understand it ... by your FAA examiner at Check Ride time.

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: Once you pass the FAA Written Test for your Private Pilot license, get this book.

 

 

IV. Locate a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) / Flight School and go fly the wings off some airplanes!: Please, not literally. If you get the test and medical exam out of the way first, any CFI will be thrilled that they can focus on flying with you. They are all pretty used to losing students who just couldn't get their act together enough to get the written test done. You'll make their day by having this taken care of, and you two can focus on stick-and-rudder like you need to. Note: If you are using VA benefits, you will need to find a Part 141 certified Flight School. Most schools that focus on creating PROFESSIONAL PILOTS are Part 141 schools. Click here for more info on the different types of flights schools.

  • You will do your first ten or fifteen hours with an instructor teaching you the basics of preflight, startup, flying traffic patterns, and learning to land.

  • After about ten to fifteen hours, you will solo. Before you do, you will need to have your medical certificate (see above) and a sign off from your CFI, who will be watching you from the ground.

  • From then on you can solo in the pattern and to CFI approved specific airports for which  you are signed off. Use these hours to practice mandatory maneuvers. Take your instructor along when you need him. You will also do some night flying.

  • Start practicing Cross country (X/C) flights to approved airports. A X/C flight is one that is at least 50 nautical miles (NM) away. Get good at navigating and finding airports. Rack up the necessary X/C hours you need before the check ride. One of these flights has to form a triangle with one leg of at least 100NM.

  • When you have logged a minimum total of 40 hours in the airplane - with all the necessary types of flights - and all the sign offs you need along the way from your CFI - you can schedule your final check ride with the FAA. Note: Nobody is ready at 40 hrs...as many as 60 is perfectly normal.

V. Check Ride: Contact your choice of FAA flight Examiners and take your final exam - the Check Ride. Get an examiner who has a good reputation. Avoid the ones with a reputation for failing first try aspirants. Such guys do this so they can charge you again for the check ride. Ask around the airport for who to call...although by the time you are ready you will probably know who to avoid. The Check Ride consists of an oral portion and a flight with the examiner. Know the airports around your departure airport...as part of the flight test is a "surprise" diversion to another airfield when the make-believe weather gets bad ahead of you. When you pass your check ride...

...you are now a Certificated Private Pilot! Congratulations!

What does that mean? It means you are now licensed to carry passengers (who may share your expenses equally with you) in a single engine land (SEL) airplane, in good weather and visibility (VFR), during night or day, but not for hire. Good pilots consider the Private Pilot certificate a "License to Learn." Never stop training. AOPA's regular emails are among the best ways to get the best tips.

To Stay Current

To stay current (but I wouldn't say proficient) to carry passengers, you will need a minimum of three landings every 90 days; and a biennial flight review with a CFI of your choice. If you ever go over 90 days, you don't need a CFI. You MAY simply fly solo and get all three of those currency landings in one flight (as long as your biennial is current) and then go pick up passengers again.

What's Next?

Additional Endorsements

To fly new types of airplanes (beyond trainers, etc) you may be required (either by the airplane owner or the FAA) to obtain CFI training and an endorsement from that CFI in the model of airplane you wish to fly - even if your certificate includes that type. The standard Private Pilot (SEL) license, for example, does not qualify you to fly a single engine high performance, or retractable, or tail-wheeled airplane. If your certificate does not certify your for that type of airplane then you will need the endorsement for these types.

Ratings

For even more complicated types, an additional Rating is required. More involved than a simple endorsement, a Rating cannot be given by just any CFI. You will need another FAA Examiner for another check ride. Ratings are for things like Multi-engine aircraft and aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds.

Other Ratings Qualify you for flying in certain conditions...like an Instrument Rating that certifies you to fly in fog or other visibility-restricting conditions, for example.

Note: It is also prudent to get extra training if you are flying in unfamiliar conditions (like in the mountains) even if you are not legally required to do so. When in any doubt, get with a CFI and get training before you do anything solo that you aren't comfortable with.  

VI: Next The Instrument Rating will make cross country travel practical....as it will keep you from getting "weathered in" when you want to leave at the end of the weekend. Get your Commercial License if you want to fly for compensation. You'll need additional training and endorsements if you want to fly Seaplanes; Tail-wheeled aircraft; High Performance aircraft (over 200hp); Complex airplanes (retractable gear and or variable pitch propellers). Additional certifications and training are required for planes with more than one engine; are over 12,500 pounds (each plane over 12.5 requires a type rating that is specific to THAT particular airplane....as you would expect of Lear jets and other business jets). Airline Pilots need an Airline Transport Pilot certificate. This is the highest level short of astronaut.

Still Interested? Believe me, it's all well worth what it takes to get it. There's nothing in the world like being able to get into an aircraft and go where you want, when you want. It's even better when you can share it with other people. If this page makes it sound like more than you bargained for...then don't start the process because you are not the pilot type. The pilot type loves that there is always so much more to discover, and the pilot type enjoys the challenge of it.

My two cents: Regarding people who would say "I just want to get my license and be able to fly from point A to point B. I don't want it to consume my life." I think that these are the majority of the people you will read about later on the nightly news. I believe that flying does have to be a profession - or an avid and time-consuming hobby - for you to do it well.

Other Input: Don't Take My Word for It: What AOPA has to say about getting your license

Student Testimonials on YouTube here