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Requirements for Obtaining Your Private Pilot Certificate
1. You must be at least 17 years of age when you finish your training and take your FAA practical (flight) test.
2. You must be able to read, speak, write, and converse fluently in English.
3. You must obtain a student pilot certificate (see the sample below) and at least a third-class FAA medical certificate.
a. You must be at least 16 years of age to receive a student pilot certificate.
b. You must undergo a routine medical examination that may only be administered by a FAA-designated doctor, which are called aviation medical examiners (AMEs).
1). A third-class medical certificate is valid for 3 years if the date of the examination was before your 40th birthday, or 2 years if the date of the examination was on or after your 40th birthday. The medical certificate expires on the last day of the month issued (when another medical examination is required).
c.Your certificated flight instructor (CFI) or fixed base operator (FBO) will be able to recommend an AME.
An FBO is an airport business that gives flight lessons, sells aviation fuel, repairs airplanes, etc.
d. Even if you have a physical handicap, medical certificates can be issued in many cases. Operating limitations may be imposed depending upon the nature of the disability.
4. You must pass the private pilot knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. All FAA tests are administered at FAA-designated computer testing centers (AvTest, CATS, or LaserGrade).
a. The private pilot knowledge test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions seleced fro the 738 airplane-related questions in the FAA's test bank. Each question and complete explanation is reproduced in Gleim's Private Pilot FAA Written Exam book and FAA Test Prep software. The questions test the following topics:
Airplanes and Aerodynamics
Airplane Instruments, Engines, and Systems
Airports, Air Traffic Control, and Airspace
Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)
Airplane Performance and Weight and Balance
Aeromedical Factors
Aviation Weather
Aviation Weather Services
Navigation: Charts, Publications, and Flight Computers
Navigation Systems
Cross-Country Flight Planning
b. The topics listed above are the chapters in the Private Pilot FAA Written Exam book and FAA Test Prep software. The FAA pilot knowledge test is a learning opportunity. Rather than memorizing the answers to 738 questions, studying our book or software assures you of a high passing score on the test and the acquisition of useful knowledge to make you a better, safer pilot.
5. You must undertake flight training as described in lessons 1 through 25 of Gleim's Private Pilot Syllabus and Logbook. Many of the lessons will require more than one flight to make you comfortable and proficient. The lessons/topics are shown below.
6. As an alternative to Part 61 training, you may enroll in an FAA-certificated pilot school that has an approved private pilot certification course (airplane).
7. You must successfully complete a practical (flight) test, which will be given as a final exam by an FAA-designated pilot examiner. The flight maneuvers and knowledge required to pass the practical test are thoroughly discussed and illustrated in Gleim's Private Pilot Flight Maneuvers and Practical Test Prep book, which is included in the Gleim Private Pilot Kit.