You Can Fly - 2020 edition - 22

CHOOSE YOUR PATH
INITIAL PILOT CERTIFICATES AT A GLANCE
PRIVATE

SPORT

RECREATIONAL

REQUIREMENTS: Include an FAA
medical certificate and a minimum of
40 hours of flight training.

REQUIREMENTS: Driver's license
accepted in lieu of an FAA medical
certificate; minimum 20 hours of
flight training required.

REQUIREMENTS: Include an FAA
medical certificate and a minimum of
30 hours of flight training.

RESTRICTIONS: High-performance,
tailwheel, retractable-gear, and
certain other airplanes require
additional training; no flight for
compensation.
PROS: Training aircraft are widely
available, offers pilots the most
privileges of initial pilot certificates.

RESTRICTIONS: No night flight,
aircraft no more than 1,320 pounds
maximum gross weight, up to two
seats (light sport aircraft only);
to fly in airspace that requires
communication with air traffic control,
you must receive extra training and
a logbook endorsement from an
instructor; no flight for compensation.
PROS: Shortest training requirement;
aircraft rentals generally less expensive
than comparably equipped four-seat
aircraft; no FAA medical required.

How much training time can you
save by attending a Part 141 school? The
private pilot certificate can be obtained
in as few as 35 hours, compared to a
minimum of 40 at a Part 61 school; the
instrument rating in 35, compared to
40; and a Part 141 student can qualify
for the commercial certificate 120 hours
later, at 190 total hours-compared to
250 hours under Part 61.

MANY FIND THE MORE
STRUCTURED PART 141
ENVIRONMENT TO BE GOOD
PREPARATION FOR AIRLINE OR
OTHER COMMERCIAL FLYING.
Remember, however, that these are
the minimum required hours, and many
students will require more time in the
cockpit-whether they're training at a
Part 61 or Part 141 school.
The best thing you can do to keep your
training progressing quickly, regardless of
what type of school you're attending, is to
22 FLIGHT TRAINING YOU CAN FLY 2020

fly consistently. Schedule three lessons per
week if you can; then, even if you miss one
from time to time-because of weather or
any other complication-you'll still progress in an efficient manner. You can still
earn a pilot certificate if you only fly once

RESTRICTIONS: Only one passenger,
no night flights; maximum four
seats, 180 horsepower; to fly crosscountry or in airspace that requires
communication with air traffic
control, you must receive extra
training and a logbook endorsement
from an instructor; no flight for
compensation.
PROS: Less training required than for
private; more aircraft available to fly
than for sport.

every few weeks, but it will take longer
because you'll spend more time repeating
tasks, getting back to where you were at
the end of the previous lesson.
mike.collins@aopa.org

Choosing a school
Partner-created
content

Career track versus
recreational training paths

Created by California Aeronautical University

ne of the initial challenges in flight training is deciding what type of
flying you want to do. Do you see yourself as a career pilot flying for
an airline, flight instructing, in the armed forces, or flying for a charter
company, or do you see yourself flying for recreational purposes? What
you love to do as a hobby may not be what you see yourself doing as a
career. Understanding your goals is the first step to executing the most
efficient and cost-effective path to becoming the pilot you have always
wanted to be.
When choosing a flight training path in pursuit of a career, timing is a
significant consideration. The goal of most career-track pilots is to complete
training in the most efficient manner with the most cost-effective options so
that you can start working as quickly as possible. Flight training providers like
universities and flight training academies conduct their flight training with
the goal of preparing you to work as a pilot. One of the benefits of these flight
training providers may be the reduction of the minimum flight hour requirements for ratings and certificates.

You Can Fly - 2020 edition

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of You Can Fly - 2020 edition