All you need is proof of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate and driver's license or U.S. issued passport). Prior to your first solo flight you will need a medical and student pilot certificate. If you are not a U.S. citizen certain documents must be prepared. To find out the specifics for this procedure please contact us.

This is the entry-level certificate most new pilots receive. Obtaining this certificate allows you to fly and carry passengers in good weather conditions either in the day or at night. In addition, you may travel anywhere across the United States or any other country with certain limitations. You may not, however, fly for compensation or hire.

• You must read, speak and understand the English language. 

• There is no minimum age to take flying lessons.  However, you must be at least 16 years of age to fly solo and 17 years of age to receive a private pilot certificate. 

• You must have a third class medical certificate issued by an FAA medical examiner. Even if you don’t have perfect vision or are color blind you can pass this medical exam. You may take flying lessons without a medical exam, but may not fly solo. 

• You must have at least 40 hours of total flight time and at least 20 hours with a Certified Flight Instructor. 

• Complete ground training and pass an FAA written exam

• Pass an oral and practical (flight) check ride with an FAA examiner

A lot of variables affect the cost of learning to fly, including the frequency of flight lessons, weather conditions, the kind of aircraft in which you are training and its availability for scheduling, and individual aptitude. A rough estimate would range between $7,000 and $11,000.  See our cost estimate sheet to learn more about pricing. If you want to finish your license in the least amount of hours; FLY OFTEN and STUDY HARD!

The same variables that affect the cost of learning to fly will affect the time it takes to earn your certificate. The FAA has established the minimum number of flight hours needed to obtain a certificate. Under Part 61 of the federal aviation regulations, the minimum is 40 flying hours for a private pilot certificate. The national average for flight training time for a private pilot is between 60 and 75 hours.  These flight hours can be spread over a time span of several months to a year or more. We recommend flying at least twice a week to get the most value.

The training is divided into three stages: The first stage is preparing you to solo (which means flying without your flight instructor in the aircraft). In this phase of your training you learn about slow flight, stalls, ground reference maneuvers, climbs, descents, straight and level, radio procedures, aerodynamics, take offs and landings. Mastery of these maneuvers allows you to solo under the FAA minimum requirements. 

The second stage is geared toward navigation and cross country work. In this stage you focus on cross country planning, maximum performance takeoffs and landings, understanding weather, lost and diversion procedures, night flying and navigation, weight and balance, and advanced chart reading. Once you have completed these tasks you are able to fly solo cross country to airports within the Northwest during your training.

The third and final stage is the preparation for your check ride. In this stage you review all of the above procedures to the standards outlined in the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS.) The ACS is the outline of the flight and knowledge requirements in order to pass your private pilot check ride. The check ride is taken with an FAA approved examiner. It is typically 4-6 hours long and consists of oral testing and a check flight. Once you have passed this check ride, you are a certificated private pilot. This means you may fly anywhere in the United States under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

The training sessions are scheduled in two hour blocks at your convenience usually starting at 9:00 a.m. During this time, you and your flight instructor will complete ground and flight instruction. 

Ground school consists of sessions with your flight instructor as well as a web-based ground school provided by Jeppesen, King, or another company of your choosing.  The online training programs help you complete your ground training and prepare you for the FAA Written Exam.  Because it is web-based you can study at your convenience from a home computer.

To obtain a medical certificate you must be examined by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).  You may start flight training without a medical, however you’ll need to have one before you can solo the airplane.  To exercise privileges of a private pilot, a person is required to have a current 3rd Class FAA-issued medical certificate.