What is required for Flight Training?

Student pilots will learn to fly with an instructor in the airplane. The FAA requires that student pilots complete at least 40 hours of flight time, including 10 hours of solo flight without their instructor. On average, students complete their training with about 50-70 hours of flight time. Students must also pass a written exam that will cover basic knowledge of aviation, aerodynamics, weather, and other important topics, but this need not be done before starting training. When the instructor feels the student is ready, the student will take a practical test flight, called a checkride, with an FAA examiner to earn a private pilot’s license.