FAA Requirements to Obtain a Sport or Private Pilot Certificate

You must be at least 17 years of age [when you finish your training and take your FAA practical (flight) test]. You must be able to read, speak, write, and converse fluently in English. You must obtain at least a third-class FAA medical certificate (or a driver's license for sport pilot) and student pilot certificate. You must pass the pilot knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. All FAA tests are administered at FAA-designated computer testing centers. The sport pilot knowledge test consists of 40 multiple-choice questions selected from the FAA's sport pilot test bank. Each question, answer, and complete explanation is provided in Gleim's FAA Knowledge Test book, FAA Test Prep CD-Rom, and Online Ground School. The private pilot knowledge test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions selected from the 700+ airplane-related questions in the FAA's test bank. Each question, answer, and complete explanation is provided in Gleim's Private Pilot FAA Knowledge Test book, FAA Test Prep CD-Rom, and Online Ground School. You must undertake flight training as described in Lessons 1 through 21 in Gleim's Sport Pilot Syllabus or Lessons 1 through 25 in Gleim's Private Pilot Syllabus, for the sport or private certificate, respectively. Many of the lessons will require more than one flight to make you comfortable and proficient. For a sport pilot certificate, you must receive a minimum of 20 hours of flight training, including a minimum of 5 hours of solo flight time. For a private pilot certificate issued under Part 61 of the federal aviation regulations, you must receive a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, including a minimum of 10 hours of solo (i.e., by yourself) flight time in an airplane. As an alternative to Part 61 training, you may enroll in an FAA-certificated pilot school that has an approved private pilot certification course (airplane). These schools are known as Part 141 schools because they are authorized by Part 141 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The Part 141 course must consist of at least 35 hours of ground training and 35 hours of flight training. There is little difference between Part 61 training and Part 141 training, except that a Part 61 course has more flexibility to adjust to your individual needs. You must successfully complete a practical (flight) test, which will be given as a final exam by an FAA-designated pilot examiner. Each of the required tasks/maneuvers for the sport and private flight tests is both explained and illustrated in Gleim's Flight Maneuvers and Practical Test Prep books for sport and private pilots. FAA-designated pilot examiners are proficient, experienced flight instructors/pilots who are authorized by the FAA to conduct practical tests. They typically charge a fee for their services. If you use Gleim's Private Pilot Flight Maneuvers and Practical Test Prep or Sport Pilot Flight Maneuvers and Practical Test Prep book, you will pass your FAA practical test with CONFIDENCE! If you have any questions now or throughout your flight training, call 800-87-GLEIM or e-mail avmarketing@gleim.com. We're here to help. Get started on your flight training by ordering your Gleim Pilot Kit today. [NEXT - How to Begin Your Pilot Training]