Frequently Asked Questions
I’m interested in training for my private Pilot Certificate. What do I have to do to get started?
Learning how to fly small single-engine airplanes is the first step in your journey to becoming a pilot. If you have never been in a small airplane before, we recommend taking a discovery flight to see if it is something you would like to do.
To start training, you don’t need much but the desire to fly and access to an airplane. Luckily, if you don’t have your own, you can rent basic trainer aircraft as a member of Plus One Flyers. You’ll also need to hold an FAA medical certificate and a student pilot certificate by the time you solo. While most people can complete the process of obtaining these without problems, we recommend completing your medical exam as early as possible in case of any unforseen hurdles. You’ll have to book an appointment with a certified AME who will conduct the exam. More info can be found here and here. To apply for a medical certificate with the FAA, start here.
You will need to purchase additional materials as you start your journey. These include a headset, kneeboard, logbook, and textbooks. Contact us for more information!
But where do I get a Plane?
We understand that most people do not own an airplane. Luckily, we are authorized to instruct in Plus One Flyers airplanes. Plus One Flyers is the world’s largest flying club, allows members access to over 95 aircraft, and is located right here in San Diego! If you would like to start learning how to fly with us while using Plus One airplanes, you must become a member of Plus One. This is an easy process and costs $37.50 a month to maintain your membership.
What is the process to getting my private pilot certificate?
Private Pilot training will qualify a student pilot for a Private Pilot Certificate. This allows them to fly an airplane by visual flight rules (VFR), which essentially means you cannot fly in the clouds. A Private Pilot course can generally be divided into three separate stages:
Pre-solo
This is where you learn the fundamentals of flying an airplane. This portion of the course allows you to develop the necessary skills to safely fly and land the airplane by yourself and culminates with your first solo flight.
Cross-country
This portion of your training expands your newly developed skills and teaches you the basics of flying to other airports. You’ll learn how to plan a cross-country flight, navigate different airspace, and sharpen your communication skills. You’ll also see what it’s like to fly the airplane at night! This stage will help you develop better experience and decision-making abilities, making you a safe and proficient pilot.
Checkride Prep
You’ve made it this far and are seeing the light at the end of your Private Pilot tunnel! To qualify for your Private Pilot Certificate, you must sit with an FAA-designated pilot examiner and take a practical exam to demonstrate your newly developed knowledge and skills. This is commonly called your “checkride.” This final stage of private pilot training prepares you for becoming a certified pilot by filling in knowledge gaps and helping you polish your stick and rudder skills. Before sending you to the examiner, our students get an end-of-course check with a different instructor to prepare them for and familiarize them with the checkride process and to identify any areas of improvement.
To qualify for a Private Pilot Certificate, you’ll need to be at least 17 years of age by your checkride and be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language (if unable to meet this requirement due to medical reasons, learning to fly may still possible! Contact a certified AME for more info). Your training is going to need to include at least 40 hours of total flight time, 10 of which need to be solo, and 20 of which need to be spent with an instructor. 5 of the solo hours need to be spent doing cross-country flights. 3 of the hours spent with an instructor need to be doing cross-country training. Additionally, you’ll need 3 hours of training in flight by reference to instruments and 3 hours of training at night. You must also log ground instruction in specific subject areas with your instructor.
The full requirements can be found in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 61, Subpart E.
So all I need is 40 hours and I’ll take my checkride?
While the FAA states the above requirements as a minimum, everyone learns differently and no two students will get their Private Pilot Certificate in the same amount of time. Most student pilots demonstrate satisfactory knowledge, proficiency, and decision-making skills in about 60-70 hours of training. A responsible instructor has the student’s best interest in mind and would never send an unprepared student to their practical test.
How much money is my private pilot training going to cost me?
It is difficult to determine a fixed number to quote someone interested in beginning flight training. Factors such as airplane rental, unforeseen training delays, and the student's learning style can affect training costs. Students should plan their finances on national averages, not FAA minimums.
As of 2024, airplane rentals at Plus One Flyers cost about $150/hr. If a student passes their checkride at 65 hours, this student’s flight instruction (55 hours), ground instruction (30 hours), and plane rental (65 hours) in our program would have cost $15,700. Additional costs will be incurred in the form of materials and exam fees, which would increase the total cost. The best way for a student to save on flight training costs is to reduce the amount of instruction time needed by maintaining an organized study regimen on the ground.
Do you use a syllabus?
We do. A flight instructor’s ultimate responsibility involves helping students learn and providing adequate instruction. Our experience flight instructing within an academic environment taught us that maintaining a syllabus and following a course outline guides our students toward training goals that act as building blocks to their success.
What is the difference between you and a big-name school?
Our method of instruction allows us to develop a more personable learning environment that better meets our students' needs. At a large school, students may cycle through instructors and feel they are just checking boxes and satisfying requirements. The strict curriculum at a large school may allow little room for modifications for the purpose of skill-building. Large schools can also limit students to an inflexible schedule, making it hard for them to progress steadily. However, some students may prefer the rigidity and the financing options these name-brand schools might provide.
Learning to fly with us allows us to develop a training plan that suits your needs, according to your schedule. Ultimately, a student in either learning environment takes the same checkride and is held to the same standards by an FAA examiner. We encourage student pilots to do research and make their own decisions about what kind of experience is right for them.
This all seems pretty expensive. How can I afford this?
The unfortunate reality of aviation is that aircraft operating costs are high. There are a number of organizations that offer scholarships for student pilots:
Hera School (SF bay area)
There are also college programs in which a student may be able to use GI bill benefits or financial aid to help pay for a portion of flight training costs. Unfortunately, we are not affiliated with any of these programs, but we are knowledgeable about some of them and happy to answer any questions a student may have.
Can you Do a barrel roll?
There is a difference between “can” and “should.” We are happy to refer you to a knowledgeable aerobatics instructor.