Earning Your Private Pilot License
One-on-one Part 61 private pilot training with realistic hour planning. Understand the FAA minimums, the 75-hour national average, what impacts your total time, and the three-stage PPL curriculum.
Gomez Aviation is Dylan Gomez, an independent FAA-certified flight instructor offering one-on-one, Part 61 flight training at Long Beach Airport (KLGB) in Long Beach, California.
Beyond the Minimums
Rarely do the minimum requirements provide the necessary experience and proficiency for certification, therefore additional training time should be anticipated. Where the additional training is required will vary based on each learner.
The FAA states that the national average for pilot certification is currently 75 hours of flight. It is important to budget for the higher end of flight time in case it is needed. Treat achieving your PPL in less time as a bonus, not an expectation.
While I promise to train you as efficiently as possible, I cannot guarantee that you will be ready for a PPL checkride in the minimum amount of time. I personally needed 60 hours before I was ready to pass my PPL checkride. If you have any questions about what you can do to train as efficiently (least hours) as possible, do not hesitate to reach out!
Factors That Impact Your Total Hours
How many hours you will need to finish the course depends on a handful of factors.
As a rule of thumb, students who fly two to three times a week typically finish in about six to nine months. At one lesson a week, plan on a year or more, because skills fade between flights and time gets spent re-learning them.
- Retention of prior teaching.
- Your ability to learn concepts to acceptable standards.
- How dedicated you are to self-studying.
- Your availability to schedule lessons. Longer spacing between lessons leads to fading, which often increases total time since you will inevitably need to re-learn things.
- Aircraft availability and maintenance timing.
- Weather. Poor weather makes lessons not possible, but it is a good chance to keep up on ground work.
- FAA Pilot Examiner availability. This has been an issue across the board as of late. I attempt to schedule examiners ahead of when I think you will be ready for a checkride.
The PPL Curriculum
The PPL curriculum is designed to logically progress through the requirements as efficiently as possible. It is broken into three stages, and each stage includes both flight and ground training.
Basics and Pre-Solo
- Straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, and descents.
- Slow flight, stalls, and ground reference maneuvers.
- Landings and emergency procedures.
- Pre-solo readiness.
Cross-Country Flying
- Performance takeoffs and landings.
- Navigation and diversion planning.
- Local and longer trips, including night work.
- Solo cross-country preparation.
Checkride Preparation
- Maneuver review and landing refinement.
- Mock oral work and mock checkride flights.
- Weak-area cleanup.
- Final practical test signoff.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a private pilot license?
Most students who fly two to three times a week finish in about six to nine months. At one lesson a week, plan on a year or more. The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours, but the national average is around 75, and consistency between lessons matters more than anything else.
How much does a private pilot license cost at Gomez Aviation?
Instruction is $60 per hour and the aircraft are $160 to $210 per hour including fuel. At the 75-hour national average, most students should budget roughly $19,500 to $23,500 including ground instruction, the checkride, medical, written test, and ground school. The cost guide linked above breaks it down by aircraft and hours.
Do I need a medical certificate before I start?
Not to start, but you need at least a Third Class medical before you can solo. Gomez Aviation strongly recommends getting it before you commit to training, so a disqualifying condition is not discovered after you have invested in lessons.
What is the difference between Part 61 and Part 141 training?
Part 141 schools follow an FAA-approved syllabus with stage checks and a 35-hour minimum for the private certificate. Part 61 training, which Gomez Aviation provides, follows the same FAA standards with a 40-hour minimum but lets the instructor tailor the order and pace of lessons to you. The checkride and the certificate are identical, and the national average of about 75 hours applies to both.
Can I start training before I turn 17?
You can, as long as you will be 17 before the checkride. To keep training efficient, Gomez Aviation does not start students who are more than five months away from their 17th birthday.
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen?
No, but TSA regulations (49 CFR 1552) require proof of citizenship before flight training begins, or TSA authorization for non-citizens. A passport or birth certificate works. Neither is needed for a discovery flight.
Other Programs
Ready to plan it?
Reach out with your current certificate, goals, timeline, and questions. Gomez Aviation can help map the next flight block.