The private pilot certificate is the most common goal of a beginning aviator. With a private pilot license, you will enjoy significant
freedom in your flying choices. You will be able to fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), during day or night. You will be able to fly on
cross country flights to anywhere you choose, and take passengers with you. With additional training you are able to fly complex
airplanes with increased speed. If you so choose, you can add an instrument rating to your certificate, which will enable flight in more
weather conditions. A multi-engine rating can also be added to a private pilot certificate. As you can see, the private pilot certificate
opens up a world of possibilities and will be a source of life-long enjoyment
The length of your training time is entirely up to you. We will work with your schedule and budget. To keep your training costs to a
minimum and to facilitate better training, you should plan to fly at least twice a week or as often as your budget allows. The more
frequently you fly, the less time will be wasted repeating things you forgot from previous lessons. If you fly twice a week, you can
expect to earn your certificate in four to six months.
At Northwoods you will have a number of training options. We prefer to start a student out in our Piper J3 Cub. This is a very basic
training aircraft so you should be able to solo sooner. After solo you will transition into either a Cessna 172 (four seat airplane) or a
Cessna 150 (two seat trainer). If you prefer to do all your training in a Cessna, that is very acceptable too. We feel that learning in the
Cub up until solo has the advantages of faster solo, experience in multiple airplanes, lower rental rates, and you will have a tailwheel
endorsement.
Learning to fly does not take any superhuman skills. You don’t have to be physically strong, or be some kind of genius. About all it
takes is some persistence and the ability to do some basic math. If you have a desire to learn, aviation will welcome you with lifelong
satisfaction.
Private Pilot Certificate Requirements
Qualifications / Medical Considerations
People often wonder if they are qualified to earn a private pilot certificate. The requirements are actually easily met. You must be
able to read, write, and speak English. Be at least 17 years old; training can actually begin at a younger age, and there is no upper age
limit. You will need to pass a written test, as well as a practical test. One new requirement imposed by the TSA is that you have to
prove citizenship before you begin training. This can be accomplished by showing us a birth certificate or passport along with a
government issued photo ID. If you are not a US citizen, then additional TSA requirements must be met.
There are some limiting medical requirements, but even these are not too hard to meet. Yes, you can fly if you wear glasses (I do). All
private pilot applicants will need to obtain at least a third-class medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). The
medical certificate is also your student pilot certificate. See the Helpful Information page for a list of AME’s in the area. It is
recommended that you obtain a medical certificate as early on in training as possible, you will need it before you fly solo. Some things
that MIGHT cause you to be denied a medical certificate include: worse than 20/40 corrected vision, inability to perceive colors
necessary for the safe performance of airman duties, inability to hear normal conversation at a six foot distance, personality disorders
including substance dependence, epilepsy or disturbance of consciousness, coronary heart disease, or diabetes requiring insulin for
control. If you have one of these conditions, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can not get your private certificate. There are
procedures to get a waiver, called a Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA), which would enable you to fly. There are pilots flying
today that have all of these conditions, however they may have restrictions on their certificates. If you are seriously concerned that
you will not pass a medical exam, please discuss this with us, we will be happy to provide you with additional guidance. Also, the new
Sport Pilot Certificate allows you to fly with just a valid driver’s license in lieu of a medical certificate.
Flight Requirements and Costs
The federal aviation regulations stipulate certain minimum requirements for the private pilot certificate. Training under part 61, the
flight requirements are 40 hours total, which must consist of at least 20 hours dual flight instruction and 10 hours of solo flight. The
outline below lists more details.
20 hours of dual flight training consisting of
3 hours of cross country training time.
3 hours of night training.
One cross country over 100 nm.
10 take offs and landings to a full stop.
3 hours of instrument training time.
3 hours in preparation for the practical test within 60 days preceding the test.
10 hours of solo time consisting of
5 hours of cross country.
One cross country 150 nm total distance between three airports, with at least a 50 nm leg between two of the three airports.
Three take offs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.
Keep in mind that these are minimum times. It is possible to obtain the necessary proficiency within 40 hours, but realistically, the
national average is about 65 to 70 hours. Above all, we will train you to be a safe, competent pilot.
Some things you can do to keep your training costs to a minimum are: fly as often as possible, and come prepared for each lesson.
Most of what you learn will be learned on the ground; the airplane will mainly be used as a tool to demonstrate what you have already
learned. The good news is that you will be able to study and learn at home at no cost. Of course, your flight instructor will always be
there to answer your questions and to introduce new material. Keep in mind that learning is an active process, and the best way to
learn aviation it through the study materials. If you do your homework beforehand, you will accelerate your training. A good estimate
of the cost of earning you private certificate would be about $5000 to $7000. Please see our Helpful Information page for rental and
instruction rates.
Training Materials and Equipment
The Gleim training materials will be used to prepare you for your knowledge and practical tests. There are a number of quality training
materials available to help you study and your choices can be overwhelming. The Gleim books are straightforward and present the
information in a logical outline form. There is also a good training syllabus that you can use to keep track of your progress. Below is a
list of required and recommended materials.
Required Items
o Gleim’s Private Pilot Kit ............... $119.95
o Pilot’s Logbook ............... est. $15
o Renter’s Insurance ............... est. * $450
o Sectional Charts ............... $32
o East-Central A/FD ............... $5
o Knowledge Test Fee ............... $90
o Practical Test Fee ............... est. $300
o 3rd Class Medical Exam ............... est. $100
o Fuel Strainer ............... est. $15
Recommended Items
o Aviation Headset ............... $150 and up
o Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide ............... $13
o “Foggles” / View Limiting Device ............... $15
o Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook .. $40
o Sportys or King DVD Course ............... est. $180
o Airplane Flying Handbook ............... $20
o Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge ... $20
o Electronic E6B ............... est. $80
In addition, AOPA and EAA are great organizations that you may want to join. You can find all of these materials at a variety of pilot
shops and online. For your convenience, we sell the Gleim materials at Northwoods. Please see our Helpful Information page for a list
of web pages that will be useful in locating these items. *Discuss renter’s insurance with our instructors to determine your needs.
Simplified Training Outline
Here is a general outline of how your training will progress. The order can be switched around somewhat, but this is the basic layout.
A detailed syllabus will be included in your Gleim Books to keep you abreast of your training.
Meet with an instructor to get you started
Obtain study materials and begin flying
Practice take offs and landings as well as other maneuvers
Obtain your student pilot / medical certificate
Pass a pre-solo aeronautical knowledge test (given by instructor)
Solo the airplane (after average 10 – 15 hours)
Study for FAA knowledge test
Practice more maneuvers
Fly cross country flights
Take FAA knowledge test
Night and instrument flights
Practice
Review
Pass your practical test
