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Private Pilot License Curriculum

Understand what makes ÐãÐãÖ±²¥’s Private Pilot License Curriculum unique.

ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ is a career-´Ú´Ç³¦³Ü²õ±ð»åÌýflight school providing students with the skills and knowledge they need for aÌýsuccessful career as a Commercial Airline Pilot.ÌýAs such,ÌýÐãÐãÖ±²¥’s Pilot Pathway Program focuses on safety, high-quality training and long-term career success.Ìý

While ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ does not offer PPL-only training,Ìýthe Private Pilot stageÌýis a criticalÌýbuilding blockÌýfor allÌýprofessionalÌýpilots. This pageÌýwill explain the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ÌýPrivate Pilot License curriculumÌýin greaterÌýdetail andÌýexplain what makes ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ unique.Ìý

Step 1: The Private Pilot License

In the Private Pilot License course, students gain the aeronautical knowledge, skill and experience necessary to safely operate an airplane as a Private Pilot with a Single-Engine Land class rating.ÌýItÌýis the first step in your Pilot PathwayÌýjourney,Ìýand some would argue, the most important. Not only is this your first certification and rating,Ìýbut this sets the groundworkÌýfor the rest of your training.ÌýÌý

At ÐãÐãÖ±²¥, we use this stage to build a solid foundation of knowledgeÌýthat will serve students for the entirety of their training,ÌýthroughÌýto their Commercial and Instructor licenses.ÌýÌý

Private Pilot License Structure

In the PrivateÌýPilot LicenseÌýcourse, our students are assignedÌýto a highlyÌýtrained and standardized flight instructor who will be with them every step of the way for their PPL training. WhileÌýstudents will fly with multipleÌýinstructors later in the Program, helping them to gainÌýtrainingÌýspeed and learn different perspectives, in the PPL stage,Ìýwe aim to keep a single flight instructorÌýwith each studentÌýto best understand their training progress and knowledge.Ìý

Beyond this, theÌýÐãÐãÖ±²¥ PPLÌýcourse is separated out intoÌý3 main Flight Blocks, each with its own objective and completion standard.ÌýWhile we complete our Pilot Pathway training usingÌýPart 61 for speed andÌýtrainingÌýflexibility,ÌýweÌýutilize components of our Part 141 programs, such as stageÌýchecks,Ìýto ensureÌýhighÌýquality of training for our students.ÌýInternal stageÌýchecks are placed at the end of eachÌýFlight BlockÌýfor a total ofÌý3ÌýPPLÌýstageÌýchecks,Ìýwhere students are placed with aÌýspecially trainedÌýCheck Airman to validate their progress through the course with their primary flight instructor, and act as preparation for the allimportantÌýcheckrideÌýat theÌýend.Ìý

Throughout theÌýCourse, students will logÌýapproximatelyÌý75Ìýtotal flight hoursÌýprior to their Private Pilot LicenseÌýcheckride,ÌýbrokenÌýout intoÌý54Ìýinstructor givenÌýdual flight hours,Ìý11 simulator hoursÌýandÌý10 solo hoursÌý– the minimum amountÌýofÌýsolo timeÌýrequired by FAA regulations prior to the PPLÌýcheckride.ÌýWhile we recognize the importance of solo flight time, theÌýÐãÐãÖ±²¥ÌýPPL curriculum is built usingÌýonlyÌýthe minimum amountÌýofÌýsoloÌýtimeÌýensuringÌýhigher safety and quality of training for our students sinceÌýmostÌýof their flight time will be with their instructor.Ìý

TheÌýPPLÌýCourseÌýpreparesÌýyou for the restÌýof your training and isÌýcrucial to your overall success as a pilot.ÌýOur goalÌýisn’tÌýjustÌýtoÌýset you upÌýfor a successfulÌýcheckride,ÌýbutÌýforÌýa successful career.ÌýFor that reason,ÌýÐãÐãÖ±²¥ adds an additional 35.5 hours of flight timeÌýin this part of the course beyond FAA Part 61 minimumsÌýto ensure greater safety and landing skillÌýfrom our student pilots.ÌýWhile this may extend the timeline to get your Private Pilot License, these hours are put toward your commercial pilot requirements, and therefore, it does not extendÌýyour overall training timelineÌýand,Ìýwith ÐãÐãÖ±²¥’s all-inclusive tuition model, doesn’t increase your cost.ÌýRather, the curriculum structureÌýmakes you a better pilot and sets you up for better successÌýto earnÌýyour future certifications and ratings.

Private Pilot License: Flight Block 1

Flight Block 1Ìýis the first section ofÌýa students’ÌýPrivate Pilot License flight trainingÌýandÌýbegins immediatelyÌýfollowingÌýtheÌýfirst week of ground school. The objective of this Flight Block is toÌýintroduceÌýstudentsÌýtoÌýthe basic flying procedures andÌýfundamentalÌýskills they’ll need for their first solo flightÌýatÌýthe beginning of Flight Block 2.ÌýStudents willÌýcomplete approximately 35 hoursÌýwithin this first block, includingÌý9 hours ofÌýsimulator timeÌýto improve their skills in an environmentÌýthat can be paused and resetÌýfor maximum effect.

Introduction to Flight

After a week of ground school,Ìýstudents are eager to fly – andÌýweÌýare too!ÌýThisÌýsecond week of training focuses on getting students familiar with the aircraft, its operating characteristics and cabin controls. First, they’ll learn how to fly the plane visually and aurally with a strong focus on visual attitude control. Students will be taught to recognize “sight pictures” or attitudes of an airplane such as climb, straight flight, descending turn, climbing turn,ÌýroundoutÌýandÌýmore. By the end of this week, students will get an introduction to precision flying and control/performance method of flying. They’ll use pitch and power, undergo aerodynamics demonstrations and will begin practicing landings as time allows.Ìý

For this stage, and the entirety of the PPL course, our students use our Piper Archer planes equipped withÌý6-pack gauges.ÌýWe find that byÌýusing theseÌýgauges students can build aÌýstrong foundation of aircraft skills. Later in the program, students will progressÌýto ourÌýG-1000, or ‘glass’ cockpits,Ìýthat use moreÌýadvanced technology.

Building on the Basics

InÌýtheirÌý3rdÌýweek of training, studentsÌýbeginÌýto recognize and recover from stalls, practice slow flight and develop their awareness of spins.ÌýStudents willÌýalsoÌýbe introduced to steep turns and power-off glides as well as elements associated with ground reference maneuvers. Students will continue to practice the maneuvers they’ve learned as well asÌýlandings.Ìý

Safe Introduction to Emergency Procedures

WeekÌý4Ìýof training isÌýconcentrated on emergency proceduresÌýand abnormal scenarios for potential in-flight malfunctions such as engine failures. Students will spendÌýmuch ofÌýtheir time in the simulatorsÌýpracticing things such as collision avoidance, emergency approach and landingsÌýas well asÌýgoarounds. Students willÌýthenÌýhave a couple of flights where theyÌýputÌýthese emergency learning intoÌýactual flight practice.Ìý

Getting Ready for the Stage Check

On or about week 5 of training, students are focusingÌýtoÌýreviewÌýeverything they’ve learned up to this point in preparation for their first stageÌýcheck. TheyÌýwillÌýcontinue to develop stabilized approaches, recognize when go-arounds are required and gain proficiency with landings. Following thisÌýreview, students receive theirÌýStage 1ÌýMockÌýOral in preparation forÌýtheir first stageÌýcheckÌýandÌýto ensure theyÌýare keeping pace with their ground studies.ÌýÌý

Once the Oral is complete, students willÌýcomplete a StageÌýCheckÌý1 preparation mission in the simulator as well as a Stage 1 preparationÌýflightÌýwith their instructor, prior to their actual stage check. TheÌýstage checkÌýCheckÌýAirmanÌýwillÌýevaluateÌýthe student’s ability to safely manage a local solo flight while acting asÌýPilot in CommandÌý(PIC).ÌýUpon successful completion, students areÌýready toÌýmove on to Stage 2 andÌýcompleteÌýtheir first solo flight!Ìý

Private Pilot License: Flight Block 2

With Flight Block 1 complete, theÌýkeyÌýobjective of Flight Block 2 isÌýtoÌýbuild on this knowledge and experience for students toÌýbeÌýready toÌýconductÌýtheir firstÌýcross-country flights.ÌýTheseÌýflights requireÌýlanding at an airportÌýother than the point of departure,Ìý50ÌýnauticalÌýmiles away or greater,Ìýand the pilot must useÌýpilotage, dead reckoning and radio navigation.ÌýÌý

The student will also be instructed in operations within the air traffic control environment under visual flight ruleÌý(VFR)Ìýconditions, as well asÌýbeingÌýintroduced to night VFR operations, performance takeoff and landings as well as basic attitude instrument flying.ÌýStudents will gainÌýapproximatelyÌý21Ìýflight hoursÌýwithin this second blockÌý– the vastÌýmajority of which is dual instructor given time, with 1 hour of Solo experienceÌýgained from the momentous first solo flight.Ìý

First Solo Flight

A student’sÌýfirst mission in Flight Block 2 is to apply their knowledge from all their previous lessons and practice landings without any instructor inputÌýin preparation for their first solo.ÌýOn the nextÌýmission, students will completeÌýtwo one-hour flight blocks back to back. The first of which is a dual flight with your instructor where your instructor is ensuring you’re ready to conduct a safe solo flight within the traffic pattern.ÌýOnce complete and signed off,Ìýyou‘ll drop off yourÌýinstructor andÌýtake your second hour flight.ÌýWelcome to your first hour of Pilot in Command timeÌý–Ìýyour instructor doesn’t need to hold your shirt tail anymore! Be prepared to cut it up andÌýsee itÌýhung proudly on theÌýÐãÐãÖ±²¥Ìýsolo wall!Ìý

For the students’ safety in the air,ÌýÐãÐãÖ±²¥Ìýdeploys strict restrictions for soloÌýflightsÌýregardingÌýlocalÌýweather andÌýairÌýtraffic, as well asÌýutilizing aÌýDuty CFIÌýto observe and monitor all solo flight operations. The Duty CFI is a highly qualified CFI on the ground, continually monitoring soloing students. They track the flights on a radar system and analyze situations relevant to weather, navigational aids, airport restrictions, airspace and environmental circumstances relevant to the student’s flight mission. In this role, Duty CFIs have direct communication with Air Traffic Control to get messages to their pilots and can modify or cancel flights as needed if any safety concerns arise.Ìý

Introducing Instrument and Cross-Country Flying

Following the first solo flight, students will begin their introduction to controlling their aircraft solely by instrumentÌýin preparation forÌýcross-country flying.ÌýThis introduction to instrumentsÌýallows for increased situational awareness and decision making in the event of inadvertent flight intoÌýIFRÌýconditions. Students will also gain an introduction to short-field and soft-field takeoffs and landings,ÌýpreparingÌýfor airports theyÌýmayÌýsoon be flying to.ÌýÌý

AroundÌýtheirÌý8thÌýweekÌýof training, students are learning the necessary information and processesÌýrequired to plan and execute a cross-country flight out of the local training area. TheyÌýwillÌýbecome familiar with integrating the skills of pilotage, dead reckoning and the use of navigational systems. During this phase of the Private Pilot License curriculum, students will conduct two different cross-country flights with their instructor during the day.Ìý

Introducing Night Operations

AboutÌýhalfwayÌýthrough Flight Block 2, students will be introduced toÌýthe academic fundamentals of night operations. Students will learn to plan and conductÌýNight VFR cross-country flights andÌýwillÌýconduct two differentÌýnight flights with their instructor. DuringÌýthese flights,ÌýtheyÌýwill gain proficiency in night operations with a focus on airport operationsÌýas well asÌýtakeoffs and landings. Students will complete a minimum of 1 cross-country night flight, 3 total hours of night flight and aÌýtotal ofÌý10 nightÌýtakeoffs and landingsÌýto a full stopÌý–ÌýfulfillingÌýthisÌýPPLÌýcheckrideÌýcriteria.Ìý

After these missions, students will begin additional preparations for their second stage checkÌýcompletingÌýa Stage 2 Mock OralÌýthat reviewsÌýinformation on performance and limitations, NOTAMs, cross-country flight planning, chart supplement andÌýmore. Students will then perform their Stage 2 mock flight in preparation for theirÌýstageÌýcheckÌýand lastly theÌýStage 2 stageÌýcheckÌýitself. This stageÌýcheck will evaluate the student’s ability to safely and legally act asÌýPilot inÌýCommand during a day solo cross-country flight, andÌýupon successful completion, students will begin Flight Block 3 where they’llÌýconductÌýsolo cross-country flights to earnÌýthe remaining 9 hours of solo flight needed to take the Private PilotÌýcheckride.

Private Pilot License: Flight Block 3

By this time, students should have a strong foundationÌýof trainingÌýto be able to complete flight missionsÌýallÌýon their ownÌýand students are about a month away from completing their Private Pilot LicenseÌýcheckrideÌýwith an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. The objective of this Flight Block is to gain solo experience while executing solo local and cross-country flightsÌýtoÌýmeet the remainder of their FAAÌýPPLÌýminimumÌýrequirements, and students will gain aÌýfurther 20 flight hours with 9 of that being solo PIC timeÌýwithin this Flight Block.Ìý

Gaining Solo Experience

Initially, Flight Block 3 will start with a review flight practicing maneuvers in preparation for the local solo flight students will take into theÌýnearbyÌýpractice area, which they will then perform on their own a day or two later.ÌýTheÌýnext missionÌýisÌýanother daytime dual cross-country flight with their instructorÌý–Ìýthe last cross-country flight with their instructor.ÌýNow,Ìýit’s time to go off alone! Students willÌýthenÌýconduct two different daytime solo cross-country flights of 3.5 hours each.

Preparing for the Checkride

This is it. The time has almost come to take theÌýcheckrideÌýand earn your Private Pilot License. Following the student’s last solo cross-country, they will complete two more flights focusing on honing their skills and proficiency for the Private Pilot Practical Test. Students will take their Stage 3 mock oral focusing on pilot qualifications, airworthiness requirements, human factors, night operations and more. From there,Ìýstudents will complete their Stage 3 mock flight in preparation for theirÌýstageÌýcheck. Lastly, students will conduct their last PPL stage checkÌýwith a Check Airman. The Airman will evaluate the student to determine they possess the required skill and level of proficiency to meet FAA standards of the Private Pilot Certificate for Airplane Single Engine Land. Upon successful completion, theirÌýcheckrideÌýis scheduledÌýwith the FAA!Ìý

Ensuring Your Own Success

ÐãÐãÖ±²¥’sÌýPrivate Pilot License curriculum is built for student success, with the goal that by the time students reach their PPLÌýcheckride, they have already hadÌý3 Stage checks, including 3 additional mockÌýcheckrides, plus a wide range of flying andÌýexperience.ÌýÌý

However, it’sÌýchallenging, and students will be required toÌýstudy diligently ensuringÌýallÌýassignmentsÌýare completed on timeÌýin the ground school – not just inÌýflight.ÌýÐãÐãÖ±²¥Ìýputs a strong focus on theory and ground school education that is intended to support our students through this accelerated program.ÌýÌý

AtÌýÐãÐãÖ±²¥, we provide students with many resources to be used for student proficiency and success. Students have access to unlimited flight simulator time, the option to backseat flights and attend ground schools fromÌýour on-goingÌýPart 141 classes. StudentsÌýcanÌýalso attend academic advisor workshopsÌýregularly held onÌýspecific areas of the courses where others have struggled. It’s essential to use these resources wisely in order to succeed in not only the Private Pilot License course, but throughout the program in its entirety.Ìý

If you’d like toÌýlearn more about the Pilot Pathway Program,Ìýfill out the form belowÌýtoÌýget connected withÌýan Enrollment Advisor.Ìý

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