PRIVATE PILOT
To become a Private Pilot it requires a medical exam, 40 hours of flight instruction and solo flight time, and passing a written, oral and flight test. As a Private Pilot you can fly by yourself or with passengers, day and night, in the United States.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has a lot of information about learning to fly. See their Let's Go Flying site to learn more.
Requirements To Be A Private Pilot
Privileges And Limitations
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has a lot of information about learning to fly. See their Let's Go Flying site to learn more.
Requirements To Be A Private Pilot
- Be at least 17 years of age.
- Be able to read, write, and converse fluently in English.
- Obtain at least a third-class FAA medical certificate.
- Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or complete a home-study course.
- Pass a knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. The private pilot knowledge test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions selected from all of the airplane-related questions in the FAA's private pilot knowledge test bank.
- Accumulate appropriate flight experience (see FAR 61.109). Receive a total of 40 hr. of flight instruction and solo flight time.
- Receive flight instruction and demonstrate skill (see FAR 61.107).
- Successfully complete a practical (flight) test, which will be given as a final exam by an FAA inspector or designated pilot examiner; it will be conducted as specified in the FAA's Private Pilot Practical Test Standards.
Privileges And Limitations
- As a private pilot, you may not act as a pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire, nor may you be paid to act as a pilot in command, except
- You may act as a pilot in command, for compensation or hire, of an aircraft in connection with any business or employment if the flight is only incidental to that business or employment and the aircraft does not carry passengers or property for compensation or hire.
- You may equally share the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, provided the expenses only involve fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or airplane rental fees.
- If you are an aircraft salesperson and have at least 200 hr. of logged flight time, you may demonstrate an airplane in flight to a prospective buyer.
- You may act as a pilot in command of a charitable, nonprofit, or community event flight described in 91.146, if the sponsor and pilot comply with the requirements of 91.146.
- You may be reimbursed for aircraft operating expenses that are directly related to search and location operations, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees, and the operation is sanctioned and under the direction and control of a local, State, or Federal agency; or an organization that conducts search and location operations.
- If you meet the requirements of 61.69, you may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft towing a glider or unpowered ultralight vehicle.