Skip links

Airplane Private Pilot Course

Take the first step toward a flight career training.

Our Private Pilot training course will allow you to fly virtually anywhere by yourself, or with your friends and family on board, and will provide the foundation you will need to continue your training in more advanced courses. Whether you plan to fly for fun or gain knowledge and experience for future ratings, it begins with your PPL training.

Private Pilot License Course Requirements

To obtain a Private Pilot License, one must meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and HAA requirements:

  • Age: At 18 years old to enroll in HAA’s course
  • Flight Training: Must receive a minimum of 40 hours (20 hours dual instruction and 20 hours solo) of flight training from an FAA-approved flight instructor.
    Additional requirements include cross-country, night flight hours, and instrument time.
  • Ground Training: A minimum of 30 hours
  • Written Exams: Must must pass the FAA Knowledge Test
  • Practical Exam: Must pass with an FAA-designated examiner

What You’ll Learn

  • Takeoffs & Landings
  • Basic Airplane Operations
  • Cross-Country Flying
  • Tower-Controlled Airport Operations
  • Emergency Procedures
  • And So Much More

Discover the joy of flying during training for a Private Pilot Certificate. Learn fundamental skills such as pre-flight preparation, takeoffs and landings, basic maneuvers, navigation, and how to safely deal with malfunctions during a flight.

In this complete private pilot training course, you will learn how to fly a single-engine airplane and start preparing to make your first solo flight, which is perhaps the most exciting and memorable flight you will ever have. You will also learn the skills you need to venture farther away from your base airport and prepare to make your first solo cross-country flight to an airport more than 50 nautical miles away.

Before the final FAA practical exam, also known as the check ride, we’ll help you polish and sharpen all of the skills you have learned in your private pilot course. You take the test with an FAA-designated examiner and when you complete it successfully, you’ll be issued your Private Pilot Certificate. The FAA minimum hour requirement for a Part 141 Private Pilot Certificate is 30 hours of ground training and 35 hours of flight training, although the average completion time is 75 hours, according to the FAA. We can’t guarantee a specific minimum for your private pilot course, because every person learns at their own pace. We won’t compromise your safety to guarantee a minimum number of training hours.

How much does a Private Pilot License cost?

The cost of a Private license is typically between $15,000 to $18,000. The majority of the cost is for the flight training, but our cost estimate at HAA includes the ground training, written exam, and aircraft rental for your check ride.

FAQs

A private pilot license (PPL) allows you to fly aircraft for personal use, including carrying passengers, traveling, and participating in aviation events, but not for commercial operations.

At Hillsboro Aero Academy, it takes students on average 6 months to complete their PPL depending on their training track and the time of year in which they begin their training.