Private Pilot

The open sky awaits. Our Private Pilot Course will give you all you need to get your license and start flying.
Earning a Private Pilot License (PPL) is the key to unlocking the world of aviation. The PPL is your ticket to freedom with access to over 5,000 general aviation airports nationwide. Begin the journey of a lifetime today with the Williamsburg Flight Center!

In the classroom, you’ll become familiar with the airplane you’ll be flying and learn the basics of flying safety skills. In the air, you’ll learn take-offs and landings, along with maneuvers like turns, climbs, and descents.

When you’re finished you’ll earn an FAA Private Pilot Certificate.  Your certificate does not expire and is valid throughout the United States and recognized by most countries around the world.

Let us know you’re interested and one of our representatives will contact you with more details.

Basic Requirement

  • FAA medical

Checkride requirements

  • At least 17 Years old
  • Minimum of 40 hours
  • Pass Private Pilot written exam

Save Time with the Simulator

Williamsburg Flight Center offer BATD Gleim simulator allows students to accelerate their training and save money.

Training Requirements:

The Federal Aviation Regulations require a minimum of 40 hours of flight time to earn your Private Pilot certificate.  This time must include:

  • at least 20 hours of dual instruction, including
    • three hours of day cross-country instruction,
    • three hours of instrument instruction,
    • three hours of local and cross-country night instruction, and
    • three hours of instruction in preparation for the FAA practical test.
  • at least 10 hours of solo flight, including five hours of cross-country flight (two flights).

Despite these minimums, most new pilots require more experience to be safe and competent.  The national average for Private Pilots is about 60 – 65 hours total flight time, including about 50 hours of dual instruction.

 
Prerequisites to Take the FAA Practical Test

Before you can take the FAA practical test to become a private pilot, your CFI must endorse your logbook to show that you have completed your ground and flight instruction.  In addition, you must:

  • Be 17 years old (you need to be 16 years old to fly solo),
  • Be able to read, write and understand the English language,
  • Hold at least a Class III medical certificate, and
  • Pass the FAA knowledge test.

Instrument Rating

You can fly just about anywhere with your Private Pilot’s Certificate. To fly in low visibility conditions you might go on to earn your Instrument Rating.

Why Get Instrument Rated?

There will come a time in your flying journey that the weather will be just poor enough that a flight can not be completed under visual flight rules. Adding an Instrument Rating to your Private Pilot Certificate can help you be less bound by weather, meaning less cancelled trips. 

  • Instrument training course is approved by the FAA under Part 61.
  • Train both in flight and in our BATD Gleim simulator.
  • Custom programs can be created at a potentially lower cost if you already have some cross-country pilot in command and/or instrument time. 
Prerequisites

To take the FAA Instrument Airplane rating (Part 61) practical test, you must:

  • Be able to read, write and speak the English language.
  • Complete the Computer-Based Instruction course.
  • Pass the FAA knowledge test before taking the practical test.
  • Hold at least a Private Pilot certificate with Airplane rating.
  • Have at least 50 hours of pilot in command cross-country flight time.
Training Time Required

To add the Instrument Airplane rating to your pilot certificate, the FAA requires:

  • At least 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument flight time, and
  • At least 15 hours of dual instrument flight instruction (although 30-40 hours are typically needed for safety and competency), including:
    • one dual IFR cross-country of at least 250 nm with different instrument approaches at each of three airports, and
    • 3 hours of instrument flight in preparation for the FAA practical test.

Note that any actual or simulated instrument flight time that you have logged before beginning your Instrument rating training (such as the three hours of instrument flight time required for the Private Pilot certificate) will count toward these requirements.

Commercial Rating

This course is designed for pilots who have met the prerequisites for a commercial license other than the 10 hours of flight time in a complex or technically advanced aircraft.

Includes:
  • All required ground and flight instruction
  • Up to 5 hours of BATD Gleim simulator time
  • Up to 10 hours of dual instruction in Technically Advanced Aircraft

Prerequisites

  • Written test complete
  • At least 250 hours total flight time
  • All aeronautical experience requirements for commercial except for 10 hours of complex and 3 hours checkride prep
  • Must be able to fly to private pilot standards.
  • Strong working knowledge of the oral topics in the commercial ACS
  • Have a current medical certificate (3rd class or better)

To take the FAA Commercial Pilot ASEL practical test, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Be able to read, write and speak the English language.
  • Receive ground school in the knowledge areas listed in FAR 61.125 
  • Pass the FAA knowledge test before taking the practical test.
  • Hold at least a Private Pilot certificate.
  • Hold an appropriate medical certificate (at least Class III to take the test, but at least Class II to exercise Commercial Pilot privileges)

You must have at least 250 hours total flight time, including at least:

  • 100 hours in powered aircraft, at least 50 of which is in airplanes
  • 100 hours as pilot in command (at least 50 of which is in airplanes)
  • 50 hours of PIC cross-country flight (at least 10 of which is in airplanes)

Training Time Required

To receive the Commercial Pilot certificate with an Airplane Single-Engine Land rating, the FAA requires:

At least 20 hours of flight training that includes:

  • 10 hours of instrument training (at least 5 of which must be in a single-engine airplane).
  • 10 hours of training in a complex airplane (that is, with a constant speed propeller, flaps and retractable landing gear).
  • 3 hours of dual instruction in preparation for the practical test.
  • One dual day VFR cross-country flight of at least 2 hours with a straight line distance of more than 100 nm from the departure point.
  • One dual night VFR cross-country flight of at least 2 hours with a straight line distance of more than 100 nm from the departure point.

At least 10 hours of solo flight that includes:

  • One cross-country of at least 300 nm total distance with landings at at least three points, one of which is at least 250 nm straight line distance from the departure point.
  • 5 hours in night VFR conditions with at least 10 take-offs and landings at an airport with an operating control tower.

Note that flying experience you have before beginning the Commercial Pilot course may count toward the required flight times. For example, if you hold an Instrument Airplane rating, you will already have met the Commercial Pilot requirement for instrument training.

Certified Flight Instructor Course (CFI)

  • Up to 80 hours of ground and flight instruction
  • Up to 10 hours flight training
  • Spin endorsement
  • Use of aircraft for checkride flight (up to 2 hours)
  • Endorsement for CFI initial checkride

Certified Flight Instrument Instructor Course (CFII)

CFII or Certified Flight Instructor Instrument allows you to teach instrument rating applicants; both on ground (aeronautical knowledge) and flight training. If your career goals are to be an airline or corporate aviation pilot.  Getting your CFII add-on rating to your existing CFI certificate is another way to renew or reinstate your CFI certificate for another 24 months. 

The following are requirements for your training:

  • Pilot Certificate, CFI Certificate, Medical (at least 3rd class), Logbook
  • Evidence of citizenship: US passport or birth certificate with government issued picture ID or TSA Training Authorization.

To take the FAA Instrument Airplane rating (Part 61) practical test, you must:

  • Be able to read, write and speak the English language.
  • Complete the Computer-Based Instruction course.
  • Pass the FAA knowledge test before taking the practical test.
  • Hold at least a Private Pilot certificate with Airplane rating.
  • Have at least 50 hours of pilot in command cross-country flight time.
  • Training Time Required

To add the Instrument Airplane rating to your pilot certificate, the FAA requires:

  • At least 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument flight time, and
  • At least 15 hours of dual instrument flight instruction (although 30-40 hours are typically needed for safety and competency), including:
  • one dual IFR cross-country of at least 250 nm with different instrument approaches at each of three airports, and
  • 3 hours of instrument flight in preparation for the FAA practical test.
  • Note that any actual or simulated instrument flight time that you have logged before beginning your Instrument rating training (such as the three hours of instrument flight time required for the Private Pilot certificate) will count toward these requirements.