A private pilot certificate gives you the privilege of flying virtually wherver and whenever you'd like, and is also the first step toward a career as a professional pilot.  As a private pilot, you may fly for pleasure by yourself or you may carry passengers.  FAA regulations do not allow you to be compensated for your services as a private pilot, however; you may share flight expenses with your passengers. When flying as a private pilot, you will be operating under visual flight rules (VFR) wher special weather requirements pertaining to clouds and visibility must be met.

To obtain a private pilot certificate, you must be at least 17 years old, and have a minimum of 35 flight hours in an FAA part 141 approved school (non-approved schools require 40 hours). However, a realistic average is approximately 65 hours of flight training. You must also pass the FAA private pilot written examination (a 60 question multiple choice test) and a flight test with an FAA Designated Examiner. You must pass a Class III medical exam with an FAA-approved doctor every five years if you are under 40 years old;