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Get your private pilot certificate with Bama Dixie Air Services
No matter what your end goal as a pilot may be, the first step is earning your Private Pilot Certificate. Both flight and ground training are part of the process to get you there and we will guide you every step of the way.
Want to make your Pilot Certificate more versatile? The Instrument Rating does just that! An Instrument Rating is an add-on rating that allows you to fly an aircraft during conditions in which most recreational pilots cannot fly – inside clouds, low visibility, and deteriorating weather conditions. This allows you to get to and from your destination with the peace of mind that your travel plans will not be delayed by cloudy days! Both flight training and ground school are a part of the process.
A Private Pilot Certificate with an Instrument Rating is the start of your journey in what we like to call “Personal Aviation” and will get you most places you want to go in your flying journeys. What is beyond this, you might ask?
Higher performance aircraft taking you further and faster, complex aircraft requiring more systems knowledge and skill, and jet aircraft flying you up in the flight levels! Want to go higher, faster, further? We can help you do that!
Understand the FAA Requirements
To become a pilot, you must meet all of the FAA mandated requirements listed below. Bama Dixie partners with you to make the process simple, efficient, and enjoyable.
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) establishes the criteria that must be met in order to obtain a Private Pilot Certificate. Those requirements are spelled out in detail in CFR §61.102-118, but the basic minimums are listed below:
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- Age: 17 Years (16 to Fly Solo)
- Total Flight Time: 40 Hours
- Instruction Flight Time: 20 Hours
- Solo Flight Time: 10 Hours
- Third-Class FAA Medical Certificate
- FAA Written Test
- FAA Practical Test (Checkride)
It’s important to keep in mind that these are the FAA-mandated minimums. The national average for students to complete their private pilot training is around 70 hours total flight time. Bama Dixie students typically receive their certificate in an average of 55-65 hours. Also, there is no minimum age to start flying lessons, the ages above only apply to solo flight and certification eligibility.
Your commitment and hard work pay off. Bama Dixie’s flight training prepares you to be a safe and proficient pilot. You’ll be a licensed pilot after passing the following exams:
- Obtain an FAA Medical Certificate
- FAA Private Pilot Test (pre-solo)
- FAA Airmen Knowledge Written Test
- Check Ride – Practical Skills Test
An instrument rating isn’t a license, but rather an add-on to an existing Private or Commercial Pilot Certificate. It allows you to act as PIC (Pilot In Command) of an airplane during IFR conditions (inside clouds, low visibility, etc.) as well as in Class A airspace. Instrument training centers around becoming proficient at flight solely by reference to instruments and also includes more in-depth study of weather and rules and procedures that apply during IFR conditions.
Obtaining an instrument rating requires dedication and effort, but the payoff is tremendous. As an instrument-rated pilot, it is much more likely that you will be able to complete a planned flight because weather conditions are less of a factor. There are specific criteria that must be met in order to be eligible for an instrument rating. The FAA details them in CFR §61.65, but here’s the shorter version:
- Prerequisite: Private or Commercial License
- Age: 17 Years
- Total Flight Time: 50 Hours PIC Cross Country
- Simulated or Actual Instrument Flight Time: 40 Hours
- Instrument Instruction Flight Time: 15 Hours
- FAA Written Test
- FAA Practical Test (Checkride)