Private Pilot Flight Training: The Truth About Required Flight Hours
TLDR
The minimum required flight hours for a private pilot certificate depends on whether the training is done under Part 61 or Part 141. Under Part 61, the minimum required is 40 total flight hours. Under Part 141, the minimum required is 35 total. There are sub-requirements for the number of cross-country, night, instrument and checkride prep hours which are detailed in this article. Part 141 training requires an FAA approved syllabus and stage-checks and is often less flexible than Part 61 training. It is important for students to understand that these are only averages and the national average is closer to 70 hours to obtain a Private Pilot certificate.
In order to receive your endorsement for a FAA Practical Checkride, your instructor has to ensure that you meet a set of minimum flight hours in different types of flight environments. This article details the truth about required flight hours for your private pilot training. Knowing these requirements and keeping your logbook up to date can be a very easy way to save yourself some time and money. Do not expect your instructor to keep track of this for you.
Having a good idea of what is needed for each requirement will keep you focused on the right things and will help you avoid repeating flight lessons that do not to be repeated. If you think that sounds crazy, don’t… it happens. And trust me when I tell you that there are flight schools out there that take advantage of students not knowing what is actually required from the FAA.
The required minimum hours to get your private pilot license depend on if your flight school/club operates under Part 61 or Part 141. To read more about the differences between Part 61 and Part 141, click here.
Required Flight Hours for Part 61
A person who applies for a private pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 40 hours of flight time of which at least 20 hours of that time is flight training from and with an authorized flight instructor. This 40 hours of minimum training can be further broken down into the following requirements:
- At least 3 hours of cross-country flight
- At least 3 hours of night flight
- With part of this training including a 100 nm or more night cross-country
- With at least 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop at night (at an airport)
- At least 3 hours using instruments only
- At least 3 hours of practical checkride prep (must be within 2 preceding calendar months from month of test)
- At least 10 hours of solo flight
- With 5 hours being solo cross-county flight
- With on solo cross-country a flight of 150 nm or more in total distance (with 3 full stop landings at 3 separate points and one segment of flight a straight-line distance over 50 nm)
- With 3 takeoffs and 3 landings to full stop at airport with operating control tower
Required Flight Hours for Part 141
A person who applies for a private pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 35 hours of flight time of which at least 20 hours of that time is flight training from and with an authorized flight instructor. This 35 hours of minimum training can be further broken down into the following requirements:
- At least 3 hours of cross-country flight
- At least 3 hours of night flight
- With part of this training including a 100 nm or more night cross-country
- With at least 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop at night (at an airport)
- At least 3 hours using instruments only
- At least 3 hours of practical checkride prep (must be within 2 preceding calendar months from month of test)
- At least 5 hours of solo flight
- With 3 hours being solo cross-county flight
- With one solo cross-country a flight of 150 nm or more in total distance (with 3 full stop landings at 3 separate points and one segment of flight a straight-line distance over 50 nm)
- With 3 takeoffs and 3 landings to full stop at airport with operating control tower
But… How Long does it Really Take to get your Private Pilot License
In reality the vast majority of student pilots do NOT finish their hours in the minimum amount. Only those able to fly full-time and at least 3-4 days a week are able to finish in the minimum amount of time. In reality the national average is closer to 70 total hours.
This is why we recommend a Part 61 school because of it’s flexibility in training. Students are often drawn to the 5 less hours needed in a Part 141 but in reality the Part 141 has more requirements and costs more (see more info about Part 141 vs 61 here). The amount of hours it will actually take you depends on…
- How often you can fly: Much of flying is not only becoming comfortable with the plane, but also muscle memory! This is where flying often keeps you proficient and develop almost a muscle memory to your controls!!
- How often you can study: Although flying is a ton of fun, you must have a strong foundation in many subject areas so that you are well prepared for anything to happen!
- Finding A School That Fits Your Needs: If you are working or in school, find a school that is willing to work the times that you are able to and will have the availability to put you as a priority.
So, it’s important to understand the training minimums for which school you chose. Upon completion of each school’s requirements, keep in mind that those hours are the minimums and no matter which school you choose, the average is still 60-70 hours. For this reason, the minor difference in total flight hours of Part 61 and Part 141 might be insignificant in your decision when selecting a flight school.
The number 1 way to ensure your success in becoming a pilot is by properly managing your time & money
And the easiest way to properly manage your time & money is by doing ground school before it’s too late and ACTUALLY understanding the material
5 years ago I saw NO ONE mentoring unsuspecting students on the traps in flight training that was costing them $1000s
This is why I created the Part Time Pilot Online Ground Schools
The ground schools were created with these ideas at the heart of our mission statement:
- Mentoring students from start to finish
- Providing content that saves time & money & provides a deep understanding
How does Part Time Pilot compare to other Online Ground Schools?
I went to the website of each of the Top10 Online Ground Schools and gathered ALL the relevant info a student pilot like you needs to make an informed decision.
Things like cost, student ratings, lifetime access or not, types of lessons, bonuses included, scholarships included, support available and more.
Then, I lined them all up and compared them all in a single table so that student pilots could make the best, most informed decision on their training.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the topic of the costs of flight training.
What are the Eligibility Requirements to become a Pilot?
In order to be eligible to become a private pilot, someone must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 16 years old when they fly solo
- Be at least 17 years when they receive their Private Pilot certificate
- Be able to read, speak, write and understand English
- Obtain at least a 3rd Class FAA Medical Certificate
- Hold a US Student Pilot Certificate
How to become a Private Pilot?
In order to become a Private Pilot, someone must first meet the eligibility requirements of:
- Be at least 16 years old when they fly solo
- Be at least 17 years when they receive their Private Pilot certificate
- Be able to read, speak, write and understand English
- Obtain at least a 3rd Class FAA Medical Certificate
- Hold a US Student Pilot Certificate
Then, they must meet the minimum hour requirements according to their type of training:
- 40 total hours minimum plus sub-requirements listed above in this article for Part 61 students
- 35 total hours minimum plus sub-requirements listed above in this article
Then, this person must receive endorsements for both the FAA knowledge exam and FAA practical checkride from the certified instructor who performed their training stating that they are ready for the specific exam.
Then, this person must pass the FAA knowledge exam with a 70% or higher prior to passing the FAA practical checkride oral and flight exam.
How Long does it take to become a Private Pilot?
This varies depending upon several factors but mostly on how often you perform flight training lessons and how quickly you progress through the lessons in the eyes of your flight instructor.
The FAA minimum number of hours to become a Private Pilot is 40 hours for Part 61 or 35 hours for Part 141. However, there are several underlying requirements such as solo flight hours, night flight hours, cross-country flight hours, simulated instrument flight hours, ground training and more. Even if you meet all minimum hour requirements, your flight instructor still needs to endorse you for your final checkride exam to become a pilot. In order for your instructor to endorse you, they must deem you proficient in all areas required by the FAA in the Airmen Certificate Standards (ACS) document.
Students that are able to progress and gain proficiency quickly while flying full-time (every day or every other day) can finish near the minimum hour requirement (35 to 50 hours) in about 2-3 months. These students also perform their ground training and have a good understanding of the knowledge prior to starting flight lessons.
Students that aren’t able to fly full-time but on the weekends or off-days from work are more likely to finish in 50-70 hours and in about 4-6 months.
And students that have gaps in their training lasting multiple weeks or that aren’t able to fly each week are going to finish in the higher range of 70-100 hours and 6 months to a year or more.
Can I get a PPL in 3 months or less?
Yes it is possible to get a Private Pilot certificate in 3 months or less if and only if you are flying multiple times per week, gaining proficiency in the required skills quickly and you have performed ground training at a high level prior to your flight lessons.
How long does it take to become an Airline Pilot?
The journey to becoming an airline pilot is a multi-stage process that typically takes 2.5 to 5 years from starting with no flight experience to being eligible for airline employment. This comprehensive timeline includes earning your Private Pilot Certificate (3-6 months), Instrument Rating (2-4 months), Commercial Pilot Certificate with multi-engine rating (6-12 months), and then gaining the crucial flight experience necessary for the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate, often by working as a flight instructor for 1.5 to 2.5 years to reach the required 1,000-1,500 flight hours. The final steps involve completing the ATP Certification Training Program and passing the ATP knowledge and practical tests, leading to readiness for airline interviews.
What's the fastest way to become a Private Pilot?
The fastest way to become a private pilot is all up to the student and the availability of their instructor and aircraft rental. Other factors such as weather, aircraft maintenance and a student’s finances also come into play. It doesn’t matter if you are training under Part 141 or Part 61 for the following things to help you achieve your private pilot license in as little time and as little money as possible:
- Perform ground school first and use a comprehensive ground school and written test prep
- Pass the FAA Written before or early in your training
- Fly as often as possible 4-6 times per week with no breaks
- Try to fly with the same aircraft and instructor throughout your training
- Fly when the weather has the best chances of being clear and stable
- Come to each flight lesson prepared for the flight
How many Solo hours are required to become Private Pilot?
For students flying under Part 61 there are 10 solo hours required and for students flying under Part 141 there are 5 solo hours required as a minimum.
Can I use a Flight Simulator for Private Pilot hours?
Yes, you can use a simulator for the hours required for instrument flight. But there is a maximum amount of hours that can count towards your minimum hour requirements for a private pilot certificate and it must be on a FAA approved flight simulator. The time must also be conducted with instructor supervision.
FAA-Approved Devices Only: The simulator time must be conducted in an FAA-approved Aviation Training Device (ATD), Flight Training Device (FTD), or Full Flight Simulator (FFS). This means your home computer flight simulator (like Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane) does not count towards logged hours.
Specific Hour Limits:
- Under Part 61 rules: You can log a maximum of 2.5 hours of FAA-approved flight simulator time. Crucially, this 2.5 hours can only be applied towards the instrument training requirement.
- Under Part 141 rules: If you are training at an FAA-approved Part 141 flight school, you can credit a slightly higher percentage: a maximum of 4 hours of training in an approved flight simulator or flight training device.
Instructor Supervision: Any simulator time that counts towards your certificate minimums must be logged with an authorized instructor present and providing instruction. The instructor must sign your logbook entry.
Is it worth it to get a Private Pilot License?
Yes! But this depends heavily on your goals. If you want to have the maximum amount of privileges as a pilot with the minimum amount of training then a Private Pilot certificate is worth it. If you want to become an Airline Pilot or fly as a career then you are required to first get a Private Pilot certificate and in that case, it would be worth it as well. So whether you want to be a hobby pilot and able to fly family or friends from state to state or you want to fly for the Airlines one day, a Private Pilot certificate is the best choice. This is why Private Pilot certificates are by far the most popular certificate in the US.
What is the Cheapest Way to become a Pilot?
The cheapest way to become a pilot explained step by step in Part Time Pilot’s free email course called “How to Become a Pilot and Save Money” and summarized below. There is no one trick or one flight school that allows a student pilot to save the most money. Rather, it is a series of things student pilots can prepare and plan ahead for that will make their flight training journey as cheap and as stress-free as possible. Some of those things are:
- Doing Ground School before Flight Training
- Doing a complete Ground School & understanding the concepts in the material rather than just doing FAA Written Test Prep
- Planning ahead financially instead of flying paycheck to paycheck
- Doing flight training at a Flying Club
- Doing flight training in rural parts of the US
- Taking time off work and avoiding travel during flight training
- Flying during the sunniest months of the year
- Buying your own aircraft if you plan to fly a significant amount after receiving a Private Pilot certificate
- And more outlined in the Free “How to Become a Pilot & Save Money” course
