Private Pilot Training

Congratulations on taking your first step to becoming a Private Pilot. This is an investment that lasts a lifetime - your certificate will never expire!

This certification will enable you the freedom to travel the world and navigate as far as the skies will take you. Whether you are looking to cut time and costs of commercial airline travel or are dreaming of taking your friends and family up in the air to explore nearby attractions, you will soon see how much smaller the world becomes when you are in the pilot's seat.

Becoming a private pilot takes dedication, tenacity and passion. The aptitude is already yours and we believe that with quality instruction we provide, you too will one day be an aviator and accomplish your dreams with First Step Aviation.

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There are some requirements you must possess in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations:

✓ Be at least 17 years of age at the time of your practical test (16 years old to solo)
✓ Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language

✓ Hold at least a Third class FAA medical Certificate 

✓ Present proof of US citizenship or otherwise obtain required documentation to satisfy the TSA requirements 

✓ Pass the required FAA knowledge test
✓ Meet the aeronautical experience requirements which will be covered in depth with your Certified Flight Instructor (see detailed description below)
✓ Pass the FAA Practical Test   

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   Aeronautical Experience (minimum requirements):  

   
   40 hours of flight, to include: 

• 5 hours solo cross-country 

• One solo cross-country of 150 nautical miles total distance with 3 full stops, with one stop being at least 50 nautical miles from your departure airport. 

• Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower. 

• 10 hours of solo flight 

• 20 hours of flight with an instructor, to include: 

• 3 hours of cross-country flight training 

• 3 hours of night flight training 

• 1 cross country of over 100 nautical miles 

• 10 takeoff and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) 

• 3 hours of instrument flight training 

• 3 hours flight training in preparation of practical test within 2 calendar months of the test 
  
  The overall cost of obtaining a private pilot certificate will vary from person to person mainly because a student pilot can only obtain a certificate upon demonstrating their complete proficiency in the operation of an aircraft and everyone’s learning is different. On average, a student pilot who flies one to two times per week, can acquire their certificate in 60-80 flight hours. The National average time to solo an aircraft is between 16 and 20 flying hours. 
  
  After scheduling your discovery flight, we recommend the following next steps:
   

• Attend in-person ground school classes with our Certified Flight Instructor, conduct a self-study program (multiple online ground school options are available) or a combination of the two methods   

• Schedule 2-3 lessons per week (we fly in New England after all and the weather changes hourly).    We suggest 1.5 to 2-hour block lessons to maximize best learning practices.