Private Pilot Certificate

What is a Private Pilot Certificate?
Whether you want to become an Airline Pilot, fly for fun, or anything in between, it all starts with a Private Pilot Certificate.
A Private Pilot Certificate is a license that allows individuals to fly aircraft for personal and recreational purposes. With this certificate, holders can operate aircraft for pleasure, travel, and non-commercial purposes.
Anyone Can Fly!
Private Pilot Certificate Requirements
- One night XC flight of over 100nm
- 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern at night
- One Solo XC flight of over 100nm
- Solo XC must include full-stop landings at 3 points
- Solo time must include 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower
*Three (3) hours of flight training must be conducted within the 2 calendar months preceding the test.
Applicants for a Private Pilot Certificate must:
- Be 17 years of age
- Obtain at least a Class 3 FAA Flight Medical
- Be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language
- Pass the FAA Knowledge Test (written exam)
- Receive logbook endorsements certifying preparation
- Pass an FAA Practical Test (oral exam and flight checkride)
- Meet specific flight time and training requirements per 14 CFR §61.109
- Meet and demonstrate specific flight proficiency requirements per 14 CFR §61.107
- Meet and demonstrate specific aeronautical knowledge requirements per 14 CFR §61.105
It is exceedingly rare that students are fully-prepared to meet the FAA checkride requirements at only 40 hours of logged flight time.
The national average hours logged for students passing a Private Pilot checkride is near 70 hours of flight time.
Vermont Flight Academy strongly encourages students to plan and budget for approximately twice the minimum required hours. Flying is a depreciable skill and delays typical in aviation often mean repeating lessons and flying additional hours to maintain proficiency before a test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! If you are properly rated, you simply need to receive brief instruction in the type of plane you wish to rent and take a “rental checkout quiz”. Typically the necessary instruction will consist of a brief ground session and a short flight with an instructor to verify that you are able to safely operate the new airplane.
No, as long as you hold a valid aviation medical certificate, renter’s insurance, and current Pilot Certificate and appropriate ratings, you may rent aircraft from VFA. A “rental checkout quiz”, brief ground instruction and a short flight with an instructor to verify that you are able to safely operate the airplane of choice will need to be conducted prior to rental
The length of time it takes to obtain a Private Pilot Certificate depends on how often you fly. Typically, if a student schedules 2 lessons each week, training can be completed in around 8 months. However, we are able to tailor our program to fit your needs. Many of our students schedule several lessons a week, depending on their availability. A typical lesson lasts 2 hours and includes both ground and flight instruction. Most students will obtain their Private Pilot Certificate after completing between 40 and 65 hours of flight training.
You need to be at least 17 years old in order to take the Private Pilot practical exam. You must be at least 16 years old to solo in an airplane
You can keep your Private Pilot Certificate current in one of two ways. You can add another certificate or rating, or alternatively, you can complete a flight review (required every 24 calendar months) with an authorized flight instructor
As a Private Pilot, you may not receive any form of compensation for flying. You can, however, fly with friends and share the expenses of the flight. You must fly within the legal weather limitations as prescribed by the FAA. You may require specific training and special endorsements to fly into Class B airports, which typically are high traffic volume international airports
With a Private Pilot Certificate, you can fly alone or with friends and family and share in the aircraft rental expense. Certain weather minimums must be met if you do not have an instrument rating
Your Private Pilot training will involve flight and ground instruction. You can lessen the hours spent doing ground training with your instructor by studying the material at home. Remember, ground training is not required, but you will need it to pass your written and oral exams
You may start your training at any point during the application process, however you will need to pay for your training out of pocket until the funds have been applied to your account with VFA