Get Your Private Pilot License in Chicago

Have you ever looked up at the sky and wished you were soaring through the clouds in an airplane you are piloting yourself? This dream is actually more achievable than you might think.

To legally fly an airplane, you must obtain at least a Private Pilot License. This will open up doors to both solo flights and flights with passengers, as long as these flights are for personal rather than commercial purposes.

Wondering how to get a private pilot license? J.A. Flight Training is a premium flight school in Chicago, where you can obtain a private pilot license (and eventually even higher ratings if you choose to do so). In this article, we explain the basics of what a private pilot license is and how to get one.

A Private Pilot License (sometimes abbreviated as “PPL”, and also called a Private Pilot Certificate) allows you to fly an aircraft for personal purposes. With a private pilot license, you can fly day or night in visual flight conditions. You can fly solo or take friends and family for flights. You can also fly for charitable or community events.

A private pilot license does not allow you to fly for hire as a professional pilot or to charge money for flights on an independent basis. Also, you can only fly aircraft for which you are appropriately rated. That being said, you are allowed to share the operating costs with your passengers, as long as you share these costs equally and do not make a profit.

Maybe you love the thought of flying a plane, but already have a full-time career outside of the flight industry and do not want to become a professional pilot. If so, a private pilot license could be an ideal choice for you.

Alternatively, maybe you do aspire to be a professional pilot. A private pilot license is one of the early and necessary steps towards becoming a professional pilot.

Is it Hard to Get a Private Pilot License?

With diligence and training, getting a private pilot license is not hard. The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) explains in their FAQs , “People of all shapes and sizes, ages and abilities have learned to fly. It’s fun, and from the beginning of your training, you get to do most of the actual flying!”

However, it does require time and money to get a private pilot license. As we explain in further detail below, you will have to complete ground school training, acquire at least 40 hours of flight time, and pass tests. Although rates vary based on the student’s learning speed and the flight school’s rate, the average cost to get a private pilot license is $13,000 – $15,000, which is a substantial investment. If you truly want to become a pilot, this investment will be more than worth it.

There are some foundational requirements that every person must meet to get a private pilot license.

If you are able to meet all of these requirements, it’s time to start working towards a private pilot license.

The first step to getting a private pilot license is to complete ground school training. Ground school teaches a wide range of topics pertinent to flying, such as aerodynamics, airport rules, flight planning, navigation, and weather. Typically, it takes about four weeks to complete ground school. J.A. Flight offers ground school training in formats including scheduled classroom courses, weekend classes, and FAA-approved home study courses. To complete your ground school training, you must pass an FAA written exam.

Next, it’s time to start flight training. Here, you will have the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge to a hands-on, practical setting. Among other topics, you will practice taking off, landing, turns, flying at night, and flying in different types of weather. You will also learn more about aviation rules, emergency operations, and electronic navigation. At J.A. Flight, all our flight training is provided one-on-one with a certified flight instructor, so that you have personalized instruction from an expert.

The FAA requires you to complete a minimum of 40 flight hours to earn a private pilot license, which includes at least 20 hours of dual flight (i.e. with an instructor) and at least 10 hours of solo flight. For more details on the FAA flight time requirements, consult 14 CFR §61.109. Although 40 hours is the minimum, most students complete 50 hours or more in order to be fully competent. A flight simulator can supplement these flight hours and increase a student’s confidence; at J.A. Flight, we have a premium Redbird simulator for students to use.

Finally, you will need to pass the FAA check-ride in order to receive your private pilot license. The check-ride is where you will demonstrate your knowledge and skills by planning a flight, interacting with air traffic control, and following instructions from the FAA examiner. Once you have passed the check-ride, you will officially have a private pilot license. Congratulations, you are officially a pilot!

J.A. Flight Training provides expert flight training in Chicago. Our private pilot program utilizes the Cessna Private Pilot curriculum, which is an online course that coincides with flying one of our Garmin-equipped G1000 aircraft and state-of-the-art Redbird simulator. We tailor our flight training programs to your specific needs and schedule. Contact us today to set up a meeting with an FAA Certified Flight Instructor to start training for your private pilot license.