![[Original size] Upwind Logo.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e96fc1_aadf74c906874c6f90fd8cb53bb54f5b~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_131,w_500,h_238/fill/w_228,h_108,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/%5BOriginal%20size%5D%20Upwind%20Logo.png)
Private Pilot Course
Earning your Private Pilot Certificate opens the door to a world of flying opportunities and is truly an investment in your future. The FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight, 30 hours with an instructor and 10 hours solo. However, the national average is around 70 hours. While every student learns different, I break down training into 3 main phases:
​
Stage 1 - Pre Solo
During this stage, the student builds the foundation for all future aviation training. You'll learn how to use the airplane controls to establish and maintain specific flight attitudes and ground tracks. The student learns how to recognize and recover from stalls and gains the proficiency to solo the training airplane in the traffic pattern. ​
​
At the end of this stage, you'll be ready to fly solo!
Stage 2 - Cross Country Flight / Night Operations / Performance Takeoffs and Landings
During this stage, the student will expand on the skills previously learned. They'll be introduced to short field and soft field takeoff and landing procedures, as well as night operations, which are important steps in preparation for cross country training. In the cross country phase, the student learns to effectively plan and conduct cross country flights using pilotage and dead reckoning.
Stage 3 - Check Ride Preparation
In this final stage, the student will receive instruction in preparation for the checkride. This stage will be complete when the student demonstrates performance of private pilot operations at a standard that meets or exceeds the criteria specified by the FAA.
Check Ride
After all the phases are complete, you will take a check ride with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). The check ride has two parts, an oral portion and a flight portion. During the oral portion, the DPE will quiz on you on material that you have learned. As the trainee, you will also have prepared a flight plan ahead of time that will be discussed. After the oral is successfully completed, you will then proceed to the airplane and complete the flight portion. The examiner will have you perform many of the maneuvers you learned during your training. You skills and decision making throughout the flight will be assessed.
​
If all is successful, the DPE will print out your Private Pilot Certificate and you can walk away and into the world of aviation!
Estimated Costs
