Private Pilot Certificate (PPL)
Private Pilot Course Duration
Academy of Aviation prides itself in offering accelerated Private Pilot Certificate (commonly known as your PPL, or Private Pilot License) training for quick and efficient completion of your Private Pilot Course. How fast you finish is simple math. If you can take your checkride in 35-40 hours and you fly 5-6 hours per week you could finish in as little as 6 weeks. Of course, you must study hard, pass your FAA written exam, and dedicate yourself to learning for optimal results. Your progress is up to you. Not everyone is on a career path to work for an airline and we are also happy to accommodate busy work or school committments with flexible scheduling.
What Can I Do with a Private Pilot Certificate?
An FAA Private Pilot Certificate allows you to fly throughout the United States and even internationally when you comply with the foreign country’s regulations. As a Private Pilot, you can carry passengers for fun but you can’t offer paid flight services. You can recoup operating expenses, such as fuel and tie down fees, from your passengers but you cannot charge them for the flight. Completion of your PPL grants you the privilege of flying anywhere under 18,000 feet, during the day and night, and the luxury of flying instead of sitting in highway traffic for business or vacation. Your only real restrictions are clouds and weather. Inclement weather that restricts your visibility, such as dense fog or heavy rain, should be avoided until you complete your Instrument Rating. With the additional Instrument and Multi-engine ratings you will be able to fly in most conditions that airline pilots do.
Private Pilot Training Details
During your Private Pilot Training you will learn about airspace, how an aircraft works, how to perform basic maneuvers, radio communications with Air Traffic Control, obviously takeoff procedures, and more importantly, how to land the aircraft, even in emergency situations. Like every successful pilot before you, it all begins with theoretical learning. Complete your ground school hours online or in a classroom setting with Academy of Aviation.
Take advantage of simulator training to practice at a reduced cost. Make mistakes on the ground, learn from them, and try it again without the fear of being in the air. Listen to ATC communication as often as you can and practice your own responses. If English is your second language, Academy of Aviation uses simulator time to not only practice your flying skills but role play with your Instructor as ATC. Once you and your Flight Instructor are feeling confident with your performance in the simulator you’re ready for the aircraft.
You will complete the required minimum practical training in preparation for your checkride. A huge training milestone will be your first solo flight where you will have your first chance to fly by yourself. Your Flight Instructor will ensure you have mastered the necessary theoretical and practical skills necessary to pass your checkride with a designated FAA examiner and will provide you with an endorsement for your Private Pilot License checkride to be scheduled.
The checkride consists of a verbal/oral exam in which you are asked questions about your theoretical knowledge and a flight exam to assess your skill level. You will be immediately notified if you have passed your Private Pilot License checkride or if you need to re-take a portion after some more practice. At Academy of Aviation we maintain a 92% first time pass rate for Private Pilot Course checkrides. You will be issued a printed temporary Private Pilot License until your physical card license is processed by the FAA and shipped to you in the mail.
