A private pilot’s license (PPL) is the most common license granted in aviation. It is not necessarily the easiest or cheapest license to get— for instance, a sport license still allows the pilot solo flight privileges and requires fewer hours to attain— but a PPL remains the most sought after certificate amongst pilots.
Is a PPL worth it? Absolutely, a Private Pilot’s License is worth it! Every person begins flying for different reasons, but most would agree that having a PPL is the first major step for anyone that hopes to continue flying professionally or as a hobby.
There is nothing wrong with other licenses, however, in the final analysis of costs and effort, pilots often decide that a PPL is the license most worth their time and effort.
In this article, we’re going to discuss some license designations people decide to get instead of a PPL, the reasons the PPL is a desirable license, and the potential uses of a PPL.
Table of Contents
Common Licenses
People commonly choose between pursuing three licenses when beginning in aviation;
- Sport pilot license
- Recreational Pilot License
- Private Pilot License
Each license has its own requirements and limitations, which are broken down below.
NOTE: Student Pilot – A pilot must receive a student license first to begin flying solo, one of the requirements to move forward and attain any of the following licenses. Requirements include registration with the FAA, a medical examination, and a flight instructor endorsement. To advance to any other license level, a pilot must begin with a student license.
Sport Pilot License SPL
Some people opt to get a Sport Pilot’s License. This certificate allows the pilot to fly solo or with no more than one passenger. They must fly in a ‘sport-rated’ category of aircraft, which means it is generally lighter and less horsepower than other aircraft. The license only requires a minimum of 20 hours of logged flight time but has several restrictions.
Requirements:
- Be at least 17 years of age
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
- Log at least 20 hours of flight time (15 dual instruction, 5 hours solo, 2 hours cross-country)
- Practical Test
- Pass a Knowledge (written) test
- Pass a Practical (oral and flight) test
Restrictions:
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- They may not carry more than one passenger
- They may only fly during the day
- Their maximum takeoff weight is 1320 lbs
- They may not fly above 10,000 feet MSL (mean sea level) or 2,000 AGL (above ground level)
- They must obtain an additional endorsement to fly in any airspace that requires radio communication
- They are not eligible for additional ratings (such as instrument, commercial, or flight instructor)
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Recreational Pilot -RPL
A recreational pilot has more privileges than a sport pilot but less than a private pilot. They may fly aircraft that have up to 180 horsepower and 4 seats, ONLY in the daytime.
Additional endorsements are available to recreational pilots, such as for flying at night or over longer distances. These additional endorsements require flight time with a certified flight instructor.
Generally, if more than one or two endorsements are desired by the pilot, then it is often more economical to simply fulfill the requirements for a PPL.
Requirements:
- Be at least 17 years old
- Be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language
- Pass a required knowledge test
- Pass a required oral and practical flight test administered by an FAA-designated examiner
- Hold either a student or a sport pilot certificate.[12]
- 30 hours of flight time (15 hours of flight training, 3 hours of solo time, 2 hours of cross country)
Restrictions:
- May not carry more than one passenger.
- May not fly to an airport further than 50 NM from the departure point.
- May not fly in Class B, C, D airspace, or to any controlled airport.
- May not fly an aircraft that has more than four seats, a tailwheel, more than one engine, or more than 180 hp.
- May not fly aircraft falling under the definition of a complex airplane, with retractable gear, adjustable flaps, and a variable-pitch propeller.
- May not fly between sunset and sunrise.
- May not fly above 10,000 ft MSL or 2,000 ft AGL (whichever is higher)
Private Pilot (PPL)
A private pilot is authorized to fly any aircraft in which they are rated, day or night, with passengers, and with the options of advancing to instrument-rated (to fly using only the airplanes instrument panel in the case of reduced visibility). A private pilot may fly any distance (within the operating limits of the aircraft) and has several additional privileges, such as the authorization to fly for business, rather than strictly as a hobby.
Requirements:
- Be at least 17 years old
- Be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language
- Obtain at least a third-class medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner
- Pass an aeronautical knowledge test
- 40 hours of flight time including:
- 20 hours of flight with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight
- 3 hours of night flight training
- 3 hours of flight training on the control and maneuvering solely by reference to instruments
- 3 hours of flight training for cross-country flights
- 3 hours of flight training with an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical test
- Pass an oral test and flight test administered by an FAA inspector
After considering the above information, many aviators opt to pursue a PPL. While there are more flight requirements (and therefore more costs), the license allows for far more freedom than a sport or recreational license.
Things to do with a PPL
So, what can you do with a PPL? Probably the most obvious and common reason people choose to get their initial license is the incredible unique experiences that being a pilot provides!
A private pilot’s license allows you to fly almost any plane (that you are rated for) day or night, alone or with passengers. There is no other feeling on earth quite like soaring above the earth amongst the clouds looking at your own familiar locale from an entirely new perspective. Flying puts things in view unlike any other method of self-transportation.
What once was a 45-minute drive turns into 5 minutes in the air. You can fly-eye level with hikers summiting a 10,000-foot mountain, fly along the coastline at sunset, or see the city lights at night from above.
Many pilots get their private license and simply take the plane out locally and practice maneuvers just for the feel that flying an airplane provides.
Other common uses for a PPL include:
- Flying with friends and family
- Flying for business
- Long-distance vacations
- Exploring new locales
- Charitable flights and Search and Rescue Operations
- Photography
- Joining a flying club
- Advancing to an instrument, commercial, or even airline transport pilot rating
Check out our list covering 14 things you can do with a Private Pilot License!
Want to rent an aircraft: With a PPL you can!
Many of the above uses include traveling to new places and flying locally. How is this possible?
In the aviation world, rental aircraft are available in many, many places.
Generally, a company renting their aircraft will require at least a PPL— a sport or recreational won’t cut it.
After ensuring you’re certified, they may check you out for a few landings (ensuring you know enough to land wheels down) and then let you loose! This system allows you to fly from small airports all over the world, enabling you to explore from a view most people will never see!
Summary
A private pilot’s license allows the pilot to fly solo or with passengers any distance, day or night, in any aircraft in which they are certified. While there are licenses with fewer requirements to attain, the limitations generally encourage students to pursue a PPL. Other common license types are sport and recreational.
A private pilot’s license is not only a gateway to more advanced license ratings, such as instrument or commercial, it is also an industry standard to be able to rent aircraft in airports outside of the pilot’s locale.
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