• Course summary
    Course summary
    • Cost: from $12,875
    • Status: Part-time
    • Duration: 40hrs of flight time (minimum)
    • Required experience: None
    • Training aircraft: Cessna 172 SP (Other aircraft available at additional cost)
    • Location: Orlando Sanford International Airport
  • Graduation qualifications
    Graduation qualifications
    • Private Pilot License

Pilot training programs and courses

Private Pilot License (PPL) Training

Whether you’re seeking a career in aviation or just want to learn for fun, our Part 61 Private Pilot License (PPL) training will provide you with the theoretical resources and practical skills necessary to take to the skies and earn your Private Pilot License (PPL).

Takes to the skies with Private Pilot License (PPL) training

A Private Pilot License (PPL) allows you to take to the skies, day or night, in visual flight conditions by yourself. With a PPL you can fly solo or take passengers, however, you may not be compensated or paid to fly.

The L3Harris Part 61 Private Pilot Course teaches the skills required to become a proficient pilot and is a great first step if you are interested in a career as an airline pilot or just want to fly for fun!

Course summary

  • Cost: from $12,875
  • Status: Part-time
  • Duration: 40hrs of flight time (minimum)
  • Required experience: None
  • Training aircraft: Cessna 172 SP (Other aircraft available at additional cost)
  • Location: Orlando Sanford International Airport

Future career prospects

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Private Pilot License (PPL) Training

What can I do with a Private Pilot License?

Upon successful completion of your Private Pilot License you can fly in and out of all civil airports. You can fly a plane as a hobby, meaning you can take friends & family out for non-commercial reasons without compensation on an aircraft which you are appropriately rated, in visual flight conditions.

After getting your Private Pilot License, you may want to continue your flight training and become a commercial pilot or a Certified Flight Instructor. In this case, there are many different courses you can consider at our Florida aviation academy including our commercial pilot training Professional Pilot Program or our Accelerated Airline Pilot Track and Commercial Pilot Track programs.

Courses and programs

What can I fly?

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Private Pilot License (PPL) Training

What aircraft can I fly with a Private Pilot License?

Once you have successfully completed your PPL training and are a qualified private pilot, you are allowed to fly any aircraft for which you are appropriately rated, both “category” and “class rating”.

For example, “category” would be “airplane” or “helicopter”; “class rating” would be “single-engine”.

At L3Harris Flight Academy, you will train on a Cessna 172 SP. This means, once you have obtained your Private Pilot Certificate, you are successfully rated to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) of a single-engine airplane.

What are the admission requirements?

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Private Pilot License (PPL) Training

Private Pilot License admission requirements

To enroll on our PPL training program, the minimum Private Pilot License requirements are as follows, for additional requirements please contact admissions.

Age

Applicants must be at least 17 years and 6 months old at the start of the program.

Medical

All applicants must provide a photocopy of an FAA Medical Certificate.

Selection

Cadets must complete a Wonderlic assessment and meet or exceed the minimum score requirement of 17.

 

To successfully obtain your Private Pilot License, you will be evaluated by an FAA examiner during a practical test and a written knowledge examination.

How much does it cost?

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Private Pilot License (PPL) Training

How much is a Private Pilot License?

This PPL training program is paid as you go, so the amount of time required to earn your Private Pilot License may vary. Below is a breakdown of the estimated costs using the minimum required flight time to earn your Private Pilot Certificate. For any additional PPL flight training time required, you can calculate the cost using the per hour pricing below.

 

Cost (per hour)

Time

Total

Aircraft rental - for training with instructor (Cessna 172SP) 

$165

30 hours

$4,950

Solo time (Cessna 172SP)

$165

10 hours

$1,650

Flight instruction

$85

30 hours

$2,550

Flight briefing

$85

15 hours

$1,275

Ground instruction

$85

20 hours

$1,700

FAA examiner fee

---

---

$600

FAA written exam fee

---

---

$150

TOTAL

---

---

$12,875

 

If you dream of learning to fly and need financial support for your PPL training, there are various funding options available including aviation scholarships and flight school loans and grants - if eligible, these funding options can help you pay for some or all of your pilot training.

Please, get in touch with our financial aid department for more information: usfinancialaid.cts@l3harris.com.

Take a trial flight first

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Private Pilot License (PPL) Training

Take a trial flight

Undertaking any form of aviation training is a large personal and financial investment. If you have never had the chance to fly a plane before starting your Private Pilot License training then booking a trial flight is a great way to see if it is the right choice for you.

During a trial flight a Certified Flight Instructor can explain what is involved in becoming a pilot and give you a flavor of life in the air.

Book a Discovery Flight

Ready to start your application?

Take your first step towards becoming an airline pilot and apply today. Good luck and we look forward to welcoming you to our Flight Academy!

  • 100% funding available to 
    those who qualify
  • 10 airline 
    partners
  • 96% graduates who stay as CFI
    placed with airlines
  • 60+ single and multi-engine 
    aircraft

PPL training FAQs

What are the steps to becoming a Private Pilot?

In its simplest form, these are the steps to becoming a Private Pilot:

  1. Take a trial flight - Find out whether flying is for you by booking a Discovery Flight with L3Harris.
  2. Check you meet Private Pilot requirements - You must be at least 17 years and 6 months old, hold a third-class medical certificate, proficient in English, and possess basic mathematical skills.
  3. Complete ground school training - You will learn the theoretical concepts of flying and aviation including Federal Aviation Regulations, radio communication protocols, aerodynamics, navigation, flight planning, and weather. To complete your ground school training, you will be required to take the FAA written test.
  4. Complete flight school training - You will learn how to fly an aircraft. This includes day and night flying, cross-country, and flight maneuvers.
  5. Pass your Checkride - Your practical exam, often called a ‘Checkride’ is the final requirement for obtaining your PPL. An FAA examiner will evaluate your knowledge and skills as a Pilot-In-Command (PIC).

For more information, please read our guide to becoming a Private Pilot.

How long does it take to complete Private Pilot License training?

The length of time it takes to complete your PPL training can vary and is dependent on factors such as weather conditions, availability and finances.

You are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of flight time as part of your Private Pilot License. However, at our Orlando campus, your training shouldn’t be as disrupted by weather conditions as Florida provides over 300 flyable days a year!

Our PPL training program is paid as you go, allowing you to stagger the course costs and learn at your own pace.

Can I get paid to fly with a Private Pilot Certificate?

No, you may not get paid compensation when acting as a pilot-in-command with a Private Pilot Certificate.

Your Private Pilot License enables you to fly a single-engine aircraft for non-commercial reasons.

For both non-commercial reasons and charity events, you can act as a pilot-in-command and be reimbursed for fuel, oil, airport expenses, and rental fees from others onboard the aircraft or the charity fundraiser organizers.

What aeronautical flight experience am I required to know to get my PPL?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states, you will need to have the following aeronautical flight experience to earn a Private Pilot License:

  • 40hrs of Flight Time including at least 20hrs of flight training with a CFI and 10hrs of solo flight training. The total 40hrs must include:
    • 3hrs of cross-country flight training
    • 3hrs of night flight training that includes one cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance
    • 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop at an airport
  • 3hrs of flight training in a single-engine aircraft on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments.
  • 3hrs of flight training an authorized instructor in a single-engine aircraft in preparation for the practical test within the preceding 2 calendar months of your test
  • 10hrs of solo flight time consisting of:
    • 5hrs of solo cross-country time
    • One solo cross country flight of 150 nautical miles total distance, with full-stop landings at three points and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight line distance of more than 50 nautical miles between takeoff and landing locations
    • Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower

How can I fund my Private Pilot License training?

If you need help funding your PPL training, there are various funding options. These include Aviation Scholarships, flight school loans and grants. For more information on funding options, please read about our pilot training costs or get in touch with our Financial Aid department - usfinancialaid.cts@l3harris.com.

Where will I complete my Private Pilot License training?

You will complete your PPL training at our L3Harris Flight Academy in Orlando, Florida. You have access to:

  • 5 Flight Training Devices (FTDs)
  • 8 Flight Simulators
  • 60+ aircraft fleet
  • 100+ Flight Instructors
  • State-of-the-art facilities such as high-intensity runway lighting, AWOS weather reporting system, FAA control tower, pre-and-post-flight briefing areas and a dispatch center

Request info today!

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