A Private Pilot License (PPL) or, in the United States of America, a Private Pilot Certificate, is a license that permits the holder to act as the pilot of an aircraft privately (not for pay). The requirements to obtain the license are determined by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO), but the actual implementation varies widely from country to country. According to the ICAO, it is obtained by successfully completing a course with at least 40 hours (45 in the UK and Spain) of flight time, passing 7 written exams, completing an extensive solo cross country flight (minimum cumulative solo flight time is 10 hours), and successfully demonstrating flying skills to an examiner during a flight test or checkride (including an oral exam). In the US pilots can be trained under Title 14 of federal code part 141 which allows them to apply for their certificate in as little as 35 hours.[1] However, most pilots require 60–70 hours of flight time to complete training.[2] The minimum age for a Private Pilot Certificate is 16 for Balloons and Gliders, 17 for powered flight (Airplanes, Helicopters, and Gyroplanes). Pilots can begin training at any age and can solo balloons and gliders at age 14, powered aircraft at age 16.[3]
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A PPL may be issued by the FAA for American certification, the JAA for European certification, the CASA for Australian certification, or Transport Canada for Canadian certification. Each organization has different requirements. Insurance rates for private pilots are lower than those of sport or recreational pilots, because private pilots are trained to a higher degree.
Different types of private licenses are issued for the major categories of aircraft. It is possible to obtain a license for, e.g., rotorcraft or airships, without first — or ever — obtaining a rating for a fixed-wing aircraft. However, limitations, such as "Limited to Hot Air Balloons with Airborne Heater" for Hot Air Balloon ratings (as opposed to a gas balloon) will appear on the license under the "Limitations" portion of the certificate. The classes listed on the license further define which aircraft of a category the license holder is qualified to operate.
With respect to the certification of aircraft
Classes are:
Categories are:
With respect to the certification of airmen
Categories are:
A license will contain a number of sub-qualifications or ratings. These specify in more detail the actual privileges of the license, including the types of aircraft that can be flown, whether flight under Instrument Flight Rules and at night is allowed, and whether instructing and examining of trainee pilots is authorized. Ratings include Single and/or Multi-Engine Aircraft, Land or Seaplane, each of which require a checkride with an approved examiner.
In addition, a number of endorsements are available for specific skills (additional requirements apply). Endorsements only require instruction and a Flight Instructor's endorsement, they do not require any flight test with an FAA representative.
Sec. 61.31 Federal Aviation Regulations endorsements required to act as Pilot in Command (PIC) are:
Other aircraft operations for which the FAA does not require an endorsement that typically require additional training are glider towing and aerobatics. The FAA also does not require an endorsement for some commercial activities like banner towing or aerial application (crop dusting).
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