What Can I Do With A Private Pilot License?

So you’re thinking of becoming a pilot, but what’s the right path for you? Should you aim for a job on a commercial airliner, flying across the country or around the globe? Should you consider an instructor position, a test pilot role, or even a stunt gig?

These all have potential, but one of the most gratifying options in the industry is to get a private pilot license (PPL). While that does mean you can’t earn income flying yet, it is a great stepping stone if you’re considering becoming a pilot for work. Many people, however, decide to remain private pilots, flying only for fun, or to give their friends and family a treat.

Below, we will consider the many things you can do with a private license, as well as what kinds of aircraft you can fly, what the training process is like, and how you might expand your options after you get your PPL. We’ll also take a quick look at what to do after flight school , whether you want a career in aviation or not.

Ready? Let’s take flight.

The main thing to know about a PPL is that you can’t fly commercially or make money in the air. However, you have the freedom to go up any time once you’ve earned your license. That means day or night, alone or with others, in multiple types of aircraft (see section below). So what can you do while you’re up there? Here are a few of our favorite ideas.

Keep in mind that if you don’t have your own plane, then flying is expensive. Any time you can get someone to share the cost of going up with you, your bank account (and your copilot) will thank you!

With PPL in hand, you’ve got a pretty long list of aircraft options. The only restrictions are:

You can get a private pilot license with as little as 35 hours of flight time, the minimum amount required by the Federal Aviation Administration. Typically, 5-10 of those need to be solo, 20 with an instructor, 3 at night and at least 3 on a cross-country flight. The number of hours you actually fly in each category may vary depending on the flight training program you choose.

The license also includes a test, much like a driver’s license for a car. Once you’ve completed your hour requirements, you can sit for the exam. You can study for this exam in one of two ways:

Typically, ground school through a program will take around 4 weeks, and will prepare you to go up in the air and start earning those hours for certification.

Already have a PPL? Congrats! If you’re wondering how to put it to better use, though, you do have several options:

How do you do that? Keep reading.

So, you want to get a job flying? You’re not alone, of course. Many people wish to get an airline pilot job after flight school. While this is a competitive field, with the right approach, you can absolutely turn your expertise into a gratifying and profitable career.

The path to becoming a commercial airline pilot is admittedly a long one. When you graduate from flight school, you’ll have anywhere from 40 to a couple hundred hours under your belt. The airlines and Federal Aviation Administration require 1,500 hours, however, which means you’ll need to log many more hours flying. You can do that in a number of ways, including:

If you’re curious about getting your airline transport pilot (ATP) license, or simply want to learn more about the freedom and fun that come with a PPL, please get in touch with JA Flight Training today !