Average Cost - $0 - 150

A Student Pilot Certificate is commonly called "the License to Learn". This certificate (and at least a Third-Class medical) is required before you are allowed to fly solo. In order to obtain a Student Pilot Certificate, one must:

• Be 16 years of age for aircraft other than gliders or balloons.

  • For gliders and balloons you may be 14 years of age.

• You must read, speak and understand English.

The Pros of the Student Pilot Certificate:

• The certificate never expires (but Medical Certificates do).

There are the most restrictions placed on a Student Pilot Certificate of all the certificates. These include:

• • No carrying a passengers.

  • No carrying property for compensation or hire.

  • No operating for compensation or hire

  • No operating in furtherance of a business.

  • No operating an international flight, except that a student pilot may make solo training flights from Haines, Gustavus, or Juneau, Alaska, to White Horse, Yukon, Canada, and return over the province of British Columbia.

  • No operating with a flight or surface visibility of less than 3 statute miles during daylight hours or 5 statute miles at night

  • No operations when the flight cannot be made with visual reference to the surface; or in a manner contrary to any limitations placed in the pilot's logbook by an authorized instructor.

• A student pilot may not act as a required pilot flight crewmember on any aircraft for which more than one pilot is required by the type certificate of the aircraft or regulations under which the flight is conducted, except when receiving flight training from an authorized instructor on board an airship, and no person other than a required flight crewmember is carried on the aircraft.

• A student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate must comply with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of §61.89 and may not act as pilot in command—

  • Of an aircraft other than a light-sport aircraft;

  • At night.

  • At an altitude of more than 10,000 feet MSL or 2000 feet AGL, whichever is higher.

  • In Class B, C, and D airspace, at an airport located in Class B, C, or D airspace, and to, from, through, or on an airport having an operational control tower without having received the ground and flight training specified in §61.94 and an endorsement from an authorized instructor.

  • Of a light-sport aircraft without having received the applicable ground training, flight training, and instructor endorsements specified in Sec. 61.327 (a) and (b). 

  • Student Pilot - Seeking a sport pilot certificate: Operations at airports within, and in airspace located within, Class B, C, and D airspace, or at airports with an operational control tower in other airspace. 

Average Cost - $8,000 - 12,000

The Private Pilot Certificate is the most common "license" the Federal Aviation Administration offers. Its eligibility requirements are:

• You must be of at least 17 years of age.

• Read, speak, write and understand the English language.

• Hold a U.S. student pilot certificate (See above), sport pilot certificate, or recreational pilot certificate (See below).

• Receive flight training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor.

• Meet the aeronautical experience requirements for the aircraft rating sought.

• Pass a knowledge test at a FAA-designated computer testing center.

• Pass an oral exam and practical test for the aircraft rating sought.

The Private Pilot certificate has the least amount of restrictions when compared to the Recreational and Sport Pilot certificates.

• A Private Pilot Certificate does not allow a private pilot to act as Pilot in Command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for hire, nor may the person act as Pilot in Command for compensation or hire (14 CFR § 61.113).

The Aeronautical Experience required for a Private Pilot Certificate (with a single engine rating) is described in 14 CFR § 61.109(a).

• At least 40 hours of flight time, of which at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor, and 10 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in 14 CFR § 61.107(b)(1).

• 3 hours of cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane.

• 3 hours of night flight training in a single engine airplane, including a flight over 100 nautical miles total distance, and 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop (in the traffic pattern) at an airport.

• 3 hours of instrument flight training in a single-engine airplane, including: straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications, and the use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate to instrument flight.

• 3 hours of flight training with an authorized instructor in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test, which must have been performed within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test; and

• 10 hours of solo flight time in a single-engine airplane, consisting of at least—

• 5 hours of solo cross-country time;

• One solo cross country flight of 150 nautical miles total distance, with full-stop landings at three points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations; and

• Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

Average Cost - $4,000 - $8,000

Recreational Pilot Certificates are a great step towards obtaining a Private Pilot Certificate if you plan on only flying in the local area for a while. The Recreational Pilot Certificate offers reduced training requirements, but comes with limitations that correlate to the lack of training. This may be compensated through the use of endorsements via a flight instructor.

Average Cost - $4,000 - $8,000

Sport Pilot Certificates are unique in... many, many ways. For one, operators are not required to have a medical certificate, for flying Light Sport Category aircraft. This is quite advantageous for people that may be disqualified otherwise. If you have a U.S. Driver's License, you may operate a Light Sport Aircraft, or an aircraft that has been approved as a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).

A holder of a Sport Pilot Certificate is not limited to only flying Light Sport Aircraft: see a list of approved Certificated aircraft here. To contrast, a list of manufactured Light Sport aircraft can be found here.

To be eligible to receive a Sport Pilot Certificate one must be:

• 17 years old (or 16 for a glider or balloon).

• Be able to read, write, and understand English.

• Hold at least a Third Class Medical Certificate, or a U.S. Driver's License

The training required includes:

• A minimum of 20 hours of flight time total, including 15 hours of flight training and 5 hours of solo flight.

• 2 hours of cross-country flight training.

• 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop.

• One solo cross-country of at least 75 miles total distance with a full-stop landing at a minimum of two points and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 25 nautical miles between takeoff and landing locations.

• 2 hours flight training in preparation for the practical test.

• Ground training from an instructor or home-study course.

• FAA Knowledge test on applicable aeronautical knowledge areas.

• FAA Practical Test for the applicable Light Sport Aircraft.

Average Cost - $4,000 + "Aeronautical Experience" required

The largest barrier to entry for a Commercial Pilot Certificate is the 250 hours of flight time with certain experience stipulations the FAA calls "Aeronautical Experience". The experience required also changes for what category/class of aircraft you wish to hold the certificate in. For example, the cross-country requirements are different for helicopters and airplanes.

A commercial pilot certificate offers lots of opportunity to the certificate holder, and is the gateway to the aviation economy.

Generally speaking, Commercial Pilot certificates allow the pilot to receive compensation or operate for hire. This does not mean that they can fly anything and everything however. Some examples of flying that one is capable of would be: flight instruction, corporate pilot, agricultural pilot, banner towing, pipeline patrol, traffic reporting, and some other operations.

This does not mean that one may purchase an aircraft and begin offering services. If someone else is supplying the aircraft, one may use their commercial pilot privileges and charge for services. 14 CFR 119 offers examples of operations where a pilot does not require a Part 121 or Part 135 certificate.

There are additional restrictions on the Commercial Pilot certificate, requiring an Instrument Rating, 2nd Class Medical, and Aeronautical Experience for certain types of operations. Finding positions outside of flight instruction are generally very difficult, or have experience requirements far above the 250 hours required to receive a commercial pilot certificate.

Average Cost - $4,000 - 8,000

Average Cost - Paid for by most employers after reaching minimum flight hour requirements.

Average Cost - $100

Third-Class Medical Certificates are used commonly for student, private, recreational, sport and Flight Instructor certificates. This medical may be substituted for a valid driver's license in the case of the Sport Pilot Certificate.

Holders of this certificate are not permitted to conduct flights for hire outside of flight instruction.

For certificate holders under the age of 40, the privileges of the third-class medical expire after 60 months. for holders 40 and over, the privileges expire after 24 calendar months.

Something important to note, is that the expiration date is the last day of the month of expiration. For example, a certificate issued to a 41 year old on April 5th, 2020 would expire April 30th, 2022.

See the chart below for more details.

Average Cost - $100

Second-Class Medical Certificates are commonly used for Commercial Pilot Certificate holders, Part 91 Operators, Part 135 Operators, and most Flight Instructors.

The Second-Class medical offers Second-in-Command privileges for some operations requiring an ATP Certificate. The Second-Class medical primarily exists to provide medical privileges to operations requiring a Commercial Pilot Certificate.

The Second-Class medical also holds Third-Class privileges for 60 months if the holder is below 40, and for 24 months if the holder is 40 or older.

See the chart below for more details.

Average Cost - $100 - 300

A First-Class Medical Certificate is required for pilot-in-command privileges requiring an ATP Certificate. It is also required in certain Part 121 operations. These privileges expire after 12 months if the holder is below 40, and after 6 months if the holder is 40 or older.

For any age, the First-Class medical holds Second-Class privileges as well for the first 12 months after the examination.

The First-Class medical also holds Third-Class privileges for 60 months if the holder is below 40, and for 24 months if the holder is 40 or older.

See the chart below for more details.

Average Cost - $3,000 - 6,000

Instrument Ratings are commonly known as what allows pilots fly through the clouds or make approaches to airports that are not able to be seen visually. Training for this rating may only be conducted by a Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument (CFI-I, usually called a "CF-double-i"). This is a separate test from the initial CFI rating. 

Training for this rating includes extensive flight using view-limiting devices, and preparation for a knowledge test and checkride. There is not a minimum number of flight hours required to receive the rating; however, students may expect anywhere from 30-40 hours of training in the Part 61 environment. 

Average Cost - $5,000 - 10,000

Flying any aircraft with more than one engine will require a multi-engine rating. The cost of this is usually relatively more expensive per flight hour due to the increased fuel burn and maintenance required on multi-engine aircraft. Similar to an instrument rating, there is not a minimum number of flight training hours required; however, a Part 61 student can expect between 15-25 hours of flight training required.

Average Cost - $1,500 - 5,000

Jack Brown's Seaplane Base is a popular destination to receive training for a seaplane rating.

Their site says the training can be completed in as little as two days over a weekend.

Average Cost - $10,000 - 60,000

Type Ratings are some of the most costly, if not the most costly, part of aviation flight training.

Muller's List of Type Ratings

Fortunately, the majority of aircraft available for flight training do not require a type rating to fly.

Average Cost - $10,000 - 15,000