The FAA Private Pilot Certificate is a certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, which allows a person to legally operate an aircraft with passengers and baggage. Whether your dream is to earn your Private Pilot’s license, or you are planning to eventually earn advanced ratings, your Private Pilot License is the most important rating you will earn. It is the basis upon which all your flight experience and advanced flight training will be built.

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Requirements: 

If you are a United States citizen, the Transportation Security Administration requires us to simply make a copy of your birth certificate and photo ID issued by a government agency or a United States Passport to verify your citizenship. If you are not an American citizen, you will be required by TSA to complete a TSA screening process. No worries, we can guide you through that process. Once TSA screening is complete, you are ready to enroll in our private pilot course.

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1. Candidate must be at least 17 years old to acquire your private pilot license. Candidate must be 16 years old to solo. There is no minimum age to begin flight training.

2. You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

3. You must possess at least a third-class FAA medical to solo.

4. You must receive flight training from a FAA certified flight instructor.

5. 40 hours minimum which consists of at least:

   1. Dual: 20 hours minimum of flight training with an instructor on the Private Pilot areas of operation including:

      1. 3 hours of cross country flight training in a single engine airplane;

      2. 3 hours of night flight training in a single engine airplane, that includes at least:
         a) 1 cross country flight of over 100 nm total distance; and
         b) 10 T/O’s and 10 landings to a full stop with each involving a flight in the traffic pattern at an airport.

      3. 3 hours of flight training by reference to instruments in a single engine airplane; and

      4. 3 hours of flight training in a single engine airplane within the 60 days prior to the practical test.

   2. Solo: 10 hours minimum of solo flying in a single engine airplane on the Private Pilot areas of operation including:

      1. 5 hours of solo cross country flying;

      2. 1 solo cross country flight of at least 150nm total distance with full stop landings at 3 points and one segment of at least 50nm between T/O and landings; and

      3. 3 T/O’s and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.

6. You must pass the written aeronautical knowledge test.

7. You must pass your Private Pilot Flight test

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Ready to get started?

Schedule your discovery flight! The discovery flight is your first opportunity to fly an aircraft. You will be introduced to flight instructor, spend about 15 minutes being introduced to your aircraft, preflight and you are airborne. We usually try to take students out over the Knik Glacier, so it is very scenic!

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Time & Hours

Each student decides what schedule of flight training will work best for their lifestyle. While some choose an accelerated schedule, others may choose to fly just once or twice weekly. At Blue River Aviation, you will pay as you go so no large amount of funds is required up front.

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The Federal Aviation Administration, has set a minimum time for an applicant to obtain the Private Pilot’s License at 40 hours of flight time but the FAA does not set a timeframe to accomplish those hours. Training can be as rapid or as relaxed as you would like it to be.

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