360 Aviation Dr Blountville, Tennessee 37617, United States
Private Pilot
FAA Licensed Private Pilot Course
Learning to fly is one of life's great adventures. For more and more Americans today, flying an airplane is one of life's greatest pleasures. This is your opportunity and invitation to begin the adventure of a lifetime. The Flying Service can help you meet your goal to become a pilot.
Whether you want to be a weekend flyer or prepare for a new career this is where we all begin. The Private Pilot Certificate is the foundation for all of your adventure in aviation. This Certificate can be earned in any of our aircraft, but in order to make your training successful and efficient we typically stick to our single engine trainers, the reliable and trusted Cessna 150/172
Basic Requirements
17 Years of age or older (No Minimum age to Start Training!)
40 hours of total flight experience that include
20 Hours of flight instruction
10 Hours of solo flight time
Pass FAA private pilot written exam
Pass FAA private pilot checkride
Pass FAA medical exam
A Full List of Requirements Can Be Found in FAR 61
Minimum Cost Breakdown
40 Hours of aircraft rental "Rates updated 3/6/22"
Cessna 150 Rate $145.00 x 40hrs= $5,800.00
Cessna 172 Rate $185.00 x 40hrs= $7,400.00
20 Hours of flight instruction
Rate $45.00 x 20hrs= $900
Total Cessna 150=$6,700.00
Cessna 172=$8,300.00
Each customer is unique, so overall cost of earning a private pilot certificate will vary. Training cost is directly tied to completion time because instruction and aircraft rental are billed by the hour. We do not offer fixed-price “guaranteed” training programs.
(This break down of cost only includes basic FAA flight training requirements and does not include additional flight training, aircraft rental for your check ride, FAA exams, ground instruction, supplies, and other associated cost.)
Based on realistic completion times rather than FAA minimums, you should plan to spend $8,000 to $14,000 to become a private pilot, and may spend more or less.
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Tri-Cities Airport Office 423-279-0865
Morristown Airport Office 423-748-3188 or 423-307-8097
24 Hour Contact Number 423-748-3188
FAQs
Q: What is a realistic amount of time to obtain a Private Pilots License?
A: While it is possible to take the private pilot exam with only 40 hours of flight time we find it is more common to take between 55-85hours.
Q: What can I do as a Private Pilot?
A: In short as a private pilot you can fly personal/private aircraft for your pleasure and business needs both in the United States and outside the United States
Q: What other cost could I expect?
A: Some examples of additional cost to expect include FAA Written test, FAA Designated Examiners fee, Charts, Study Guides/Books, Flight Planning Tools, additionally many students chose to use an Ipad, Personal Headset, Flight Bag, and Other Equipment/Supplies/Fees
Q: What is needed to be eligible for a private pilots license?
A: To be eligible for a private pilot certificate in an airplane, you must:
- Be at least 17 years old by the time of the practical test (checkride)
- Possess a U.S. student pilot certificate, sport pilot certificate, or recreational pilot certificate
- Possess at least a third-class medical certificate
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If you are unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, the FAA may issue a private pilot certificate with limitations that are necessary for safe operation
- Complete ground training or a home study course covering the required aeronautical knowledge areas
- Pass the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test
- Complete flight training and meet the aeronautical experience requirements
- Pass the Private Pilot Practical Test (checkride)
Q: What is the flight experience needed?
A:
You must log a minimum of 40 total hours of flight time. The time is divided between flying with an instructor (“dual”) and flying alone (“solo”) as follows:
- Minimum 20 hours of flight training including at least:
- 3 hours of cross-country flight training
- 3 hours of night flight training including:
- One night cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance
- 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop at night (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport
- 3 hours of instrument training (control and maneuvering solely by reference to instruments) including:
- Straight and level flight
- Constant airspeed climbs and descents
- Turns to a heading
- Recovery from unusual flight attitudes
- Radio communications
- The use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services
- 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test (checkride), performed within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test
- Minimum 10 hours of solo flight time including at least:
- 5 hours solo cross-country time
- One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles total distance, with full-stop landings at three points, and one segment with more than 50-nauticals straight-line distance between takeoff and landing locations
- 3 takeoffs and 3 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower
- The remaining 10 hours may be dual or solo.
The minimum training times in the regulations are just that – minimums – and a more realistic average time to complete a private pilot certificate is anywhere from 55 to 85 flight hours. Completion time varies based on how often you train, how quickly you learn, how well you study at home, etc. We recommend you schedule at least one session per week, with two or three being more ideal for making steady progress and completing the program in fewer hours.
There is no deadline to complete a private pilot certificate. It can be earned in less than a month or over a span of many years. Typically, students take three months to a year to earn a private pilot certificate.