Flying can become an exciting part of your life. The sensation of breaking the bounds of the earth and navigating above the towns and fields to see our world, in a way that few experience, can only be understood by those who have done it.
Flying challenges you, provides continuous learning, builds confidence, and makes you a member of an exclusive and wonderful family called “pilots”.
Interested students commonly contact an instructor for an exciting, intro ride called a Discovery Flight. The time spent counts toward their license requirements!
License Requirements & Cost Estimates (PDF)
Airplane Private Pilot License
Basic Requirements
The requirements for being issued a private pilot license are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. To get a private pilot’s license, you must:
- be at least 17 years old
- have a current FAA third-class medical certificate
- log at least 40 total hours of flight
- have at least 20 hours of flight with an instructor
- have at least 10 hours of solo flight
- pass the FAA Private Pilot Airmen Knowledge Written Test
- pass a FAA Private Pilot Flight Exam
Although the minimum required flight time is 40 hours, the national average is approximately 65 hours and most additional time is due to instruction.
The amount of flight time necessary to achieve your license is, in part, a function of how often you fly. Students who fly twice a week are likely to earn their license with fewer logged hours than those flying only two or three times a month.
Sport Pilot License
Basic Requirements
After years of lobbying by the aviation industry and key pilot organizations, the Federal Aviation Administration in September 2004 authorized a new class of pilot (called the Sport Pilot) and a new category of airplane (called the Light Sport Aircraft). These so called SP/LSA regulations opened the door for low-cost recreational flying.
Simply stated, a Sport Pilot is very restricted as to how, when, what, and where he flies. Consequently, the training required to earn a sport pilot license is significantly less than that required to earn a private pilot license. One of the biggest restrictions placed on sport pilots is that they can only fly light sport aircraft (LSA). Generally speaking, an LSA is a small, two-seat, uncomplicated airplane that is fun and easy to fly. It is limited in size, weight, speed and capacity.
The following points summarize the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft regulation:
- be at least 17 years old
- have a a valid US driver’s license- no FAA medical required
- log at least 20 total hours of flight training (not 40 as with the private)
- have at least 15 hours with flight instructor
- have at least 5 hours solo flight
- pass the FAA Sport Pilot Airmen Knowledge Written Test
- pass a FAA Sport Pilot Flight Exam
The reduced training hours and lower operating cost of a Light Sport Airplane put achieving your dream of becoming a licensed pilot within reach.
