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Private Pilot Training - What You NeedTo Get Your PPL in The US.

Private Pilot Training in the United States

To obtain a private pilot license in the United States, all you need is a flight instructor and an airplane. Head on down to your local flying club or flight school.

Before you can successfully stick your private license in your wallet, you will need a certain amount of training.

You need a minimum of 40 hours of flight time and you have to pass a written exam.

If you go with a flight club you can usually buy the textbooks and study on your own to pass the written exam, or you can sign up for an online ground school course.

The private pilot exam is a computer based multiple-choice test of 60 questions.

If you decide to train with a flight school, they may offer ground school classes that cover all the topics that you will be responsible for on the exam.

USAF AWACS In conjunction with ground school, you will start your flight training certified instructor. He/she will teach you the basics needed to safely fly an aircraft.

After 15-20 hours of flight time you will fly your first solo flight. Believe me, there is nothing greater than that first solo flight! It is pure adreneline!

The remaining 20-50 hours are are used to hone your skills. You will continue to fly dual flights with your instructor. You will also start cross country flights to learn how to properly navigate, as well as solo training flights and solo cross country flights.

When your instructor feels that you have mastered the necessary skills he/she will sign you up for a flight test.

Student and Flight Instructor Your flight test will be conducted by a certified examiner and is done in the airplane you learned to fly in. For example, if you did the bulk of your private pilot training on a Cessna 172 then this is the airplane you will do your flight test in.

You start your flight test with an oral exam of about an hour and then the flight portion which lasts roughly an hour to an hour and a half. You will be tested on the basic areas of flying, navigation skills, take offs and landings, and emergencies both during the cross country portion and in the circuit/pattern.

After you pass your flight test the examiner will issue you a private pilot license and you are now a newly minted FAA pilot.




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