PRIVATE PILOT

Earning the Title of ‘Pilot in Command’​
 

Whether it’s just for fun or you’re working towards a career in aviation, earning a private pilot license is one of the greatest achievements one could accomplish. Ever want to just hop on over to that amazing bakery in San Francisco? Do your friends want to take a spontaneous ski trip to Big Bear? In just a few weeks, the ability to fly there could be as simple as driving a car. 

 

What do I need to start?

• Must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.

• Must be at least 17 years old (16 years old in order to solo)

• Obtain a medical certificate from an authorized medical examiner (before solo flight)

 

What’s training like?

• Learning fun challenging maneuvers such as

  • Steep turns

  • Stall recoveries

  • Ground reference maneuvers

  • Forward and side slips

  • Emergency landings 

 

• Receiving 1-on-1 ground lessons with your instructor
   

• Planning and flying cross country trips to various possible locations such as: 

  • San Diego

  • San Luis Obispo

  • Santa Barbara

  • Camarillo

  • Palm Springs

  • Many others!

  • (You’ll even fly cross country at night!)
     

• Learning navigation, meteorology, aeronautical mechanics, aerodynamics, medical factors, etc.
   

•  Flying solo for 10 hours before you even take your private pilot checkride
   

• Learning the basics of flying solely by reference to instruments
   

• Joining a community of like-minded individuals to share your experiences with

 

How long will it take to earn my private pilot certificate?

 

On average, it takes student pilots between 65-75 hours to complete their private pilot phase. However, the minimum amount of time required to complete this phase is only 40 hours, including 10 hours of solo flight time! 

 

Since we work around your schedule, you dictate how long you want your training to be. With full-time training, you can get your private pilot certificate in a matter of weeks! Talk to us about your preferred timeline and we’ll work diligently towards reaching your goals.

 

Below is a break-down of the Aeronautical Experience you will be accumulating: 

 

• 3 hours of cross-country training
   

• 3 hours of night flight training, including

  • One cross-country flight over 100 nautical miles total distance, with

  • 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport
     

• 3 hours of flight training controlling the airplane solely by reference to instruments
   

• 3 hours of training with an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical test
   

• 5 hours of solo cross-country time, including

  • One solo cross-country flight of 150 nautical miles total distance with full-stop landings at 3 points (one leg of journey will be over 50 nautical miles), and

  • 3 takeoff and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower

 

Since we work around your schedule, you dictate how long you want your training to be. With full-time training, you can get your private pilot certificate in a matter of weeks! Talk to us about your preferred timeline and we’ll work diligently towards reaching your goals. 

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Take your first step into the larger world of aviation by scheduling a demo flight! The sky is never the limit with Pacific Air Flight School.

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