Private Pilot Certificate
A private pilot certificate allows you to:
- Fly day or night, in VFR (Visual Flight Rules – flight by outside visual references).
- Carry passengers with a limitless range of where you want to go.
To hold a private pilot certificate you must meet the following requirements:
- Pass a basic medical exam.
- Be at least 17 years old to obtain your license – but you may begin training at any age!
- Must be a citizen of the U.S. (or obtain TSA approval before training – PSA will assist in qualifying)
Training Requirements:
While the FAA prescribes a minimum flight time requirement of 40 hours, the national average time for a Private Pilot is between 65 to 75 hours. Below we have laid out costing for the minimum (40 hours) and the average time (70 hours) to give you a realistic look at what it costs to train.
- 30 Hours of Dual Training to include:
- 3 hours of Cross Country
- 3 hours of Night Training
- 3 hours of Instrument Training
- 3 hours in preparation of flight test
- 10 hours of solo flight to include:
- 5 hours of cross-country (airport over 50 miles from departure point)
- 3 takeoff and landings at an airport with an operating control tower
Accelerated Training Model
- PSA instructors will guide you through Accelerated Private Pilot Training in as little as 4 - 6 weeks. Our structured approach to training, using our proprietary syllabus, ensures you stay on track.
- Students choose the best aircraft for them (see our FAQ on Which aircraft is best for me?) and qualify for accelerated rates by booking a minimum of 10 lessons per week.
- The tables below show the different costing scenarios based on the minimum FAA requirement of 40 hours.
Accelerated Rates:
AATD Flight Simulator $75/hr ($90 non-accelerated)
Cessna 172 $165/hr ($175 non-accelerated)
Instruction $85/hr
Non-accelerated Training Model
- Students schedule training with their instructors to fit their busy lives.
- Our structured approach to training, using our proprietary syllabus, ensures you stay on track.
- Students choose the best aircraft for them (see our FAQ on Which aircraft is best for me?).
- The tables below show the different costing scenarios based on the minimum FAA requirement of 40 hours.
Non-accelerated Rates:
AATD Flight Simulator $90/hr ($75 accelerated)
Cessna 172 $175/hr ($165 accelerated)
Instruction $75/hr
Accelerated Training Model
- PSA instructors will guide you through Accelerated Private Pilot Training in as little as 4 - 6 weeks. Our structured approach to training, using our proprietary syllabus, ensures you stay on track.
- Students choose the best aircraft for them (see our FAQ on Which aircraft is best for me?) and qualify for accelerated rates by booking a minimum of 10 lessons per week.
- The tables below show the different costing scenarios based on the minimum FAA requirement of 40 hours.
Accelerated Rates:
AATD Flight Simulator $75/hr ($90 non-accelerated)
Cessna 152 $115/hr ($125 non-accelerated)
Instruction $75/hr
Non-accelerated Training Model
- Students schedule training with their instructors to fit their busy lives.
- Our structured approach to training, using our proprietary syllabus, ensures you stay on track.
- Students choose the best aircraft for them (see our FAQ on Which aircraft is best for me?).
- The tables below show the different costing scenarios based on the minimum FAA requirement of 40 hours.
Non-accelerated Rates:
AATD Flight Simulator $90/hr ($75 accelerated)
Cessna 172 $125/hr ($115 accelerated)
Instruction $75/hr