• Q: Is there an age limit for obtaining a private pilot rating? (What about max age?)
  The Federal Aviation Regulations require an individual to be at least 16 years of age to operate an aircraft solo and 17 years of age to obtain a private pilot certificate. There is not an age limitation on beginning flight lessons with a certified flight instructor. There is no maximum age for acquiring a private pilot certificate. Once someone gets this certificate, they may exercise the privileges of that certificate as long as they continue to get a medical certificate and a biannual flight review.
• Q: What written tests and flight tests are required to obtain my private pilot rating?
  Student pilots have to pass a pre-solo written exam before solo, a private pilot written exam (FAA), and a practical exam (flight test).
• Q: What is a medical certificate?
  Every pilot must obtain a medical certificate in order to exercise the privileges of their pilot's license – there are three classes; 1st (most stringent, and good for twelve months), 2nd (good for one year and required for use with a commercial rating), and 3rd (good for five years if you are under 40, two years if 40 or older).
• Q: What is the difference between a Part 141 school and Part 61?
  The "Parts" refer to different sections of the Federal Aviation Regulations, and the different Parts dictate different requirements for flight schools. Generally, Part 61 flight schools have less stringent requirements – no chief flight instructor required – and they have the flexibility to progress through their training syllabi as needed. Part 141 schools must have a chief flight instructor, have their syllabus or training course outline (TCO) approved by the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), and progress through that syllabus exactly as outlined – no flexibility.
  
• Q: What is an Introductory Flight?
   An Introductory Flight is a flight of approximately 30 minutes intended to familiarize a student with the airplane, the airport, and with the flying environment. During most Intro Flights, the student sits in the left seat, and the instructor allows the student to fly for a majority of the flight
• Q: How and where can I get a student pilot certificate?
  An aviation medical examiner (AME) typically gives you a student pilot certificate to fill out as part of the third class medical exam. Your flight instructor will likely refer you to a local AME, or you can find an examiner online using AOPA’s database of AME's searchable by city and state. A student pilot certificate is valid for 24 calendar months and a third class medical could be valid for up to 36 months, depending on your age at the time of your AME visit. If your student pilot certificate expires first, you can get a new one from a designated pilot examiner (DPE) or your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).

• Q: For how long is a student pilot certificate valid?
  A student pilot certificate is valid for 24 calendar months..
• Q: What are the vision, hearing, and general medical health requirements that must be met in order to be a pilot?
  Your vision must be at least 20/40 for near and distant vision with or without corrective lenses, and you must be able to perceive those colors necessary for the safe pilot performance. For general health and medical related questions, refer to AOPA's medical subject reports Web page prior to visiting your AME.
• Q: How much does it cost to learn to fly and get a pilot certificate?
  There are a lot of variables that 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 to obtain your Private certificate would range between $10,000 and $15,000.

• Q: How long does it take to learn to fly and get a pilot certificate?
   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, you need a minimum of 40 hours for a private pilot certificate. Some schools operate under an alternate regulation, Part 141, which provides more FAA oversight, more rigid schedules, and more paperwork. The added requirements allow them to reduce the minimum hours of private pilot training to 35 hours. However, many schools believe that a true average flight training time for a private pilot is between 50 hours and 60 hours, whether the school operates under Part 61 or Part 141 schools. Others believe that 68 to 70 hours is the more likely average. Cessna published the national average as 75 flight hours. These flight hours can be spread over a time span of several months to a year or more.
• Q: I heard that some Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements must be fulfilled before I can receive flight training. How will these requirements affect me?
  You're referring to the TSA's alien flight training and citizenship validation rule. The effects of this rule depend on whether you are a U.S. citizen or an alien.

• Q: For how long is a student pilot certificate valid?
  A student pilot certificate is valid for 24 calendar months..

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