Private Pilot Flight Training in Alaska

Ready to get started now? Enroll in our online Private Pilot Ground School!
Or, read on to learn more about the Private Pilot License and the training process.

When you hear someone talk about having a "pilot's license," they are usually referring to a Private Pilot's License - which is technically a "certificate." After completing Private Pilot flight training in Alaska, the Private Pilots License allows the pilot to fly airplanes within the entire United States' National Airspace System. Private Pilots most frequently fly small propeller-driven airplanes that can carry 2-8 people, though if one has the resources, they are able to acquire training and certification to fly larger airplanes like turboprops and jets for their own purposes. 

Sometimes the term "private pilot" is confused with someone whose job it is to fly someone's private plane or a private jet around, but legally speaking, this is inaccurate. A Commercial Pilot's License is required anytime a pilot is to be paid or compensated to fly. For example, an air taxi pilot, a private jet pilot, a skydiver pilot - these pilots must all hold Commercial Pilot certificates, even if they are someone's "private pilot." Someone who holds only a Private Pilot's License cannot charge passengers or other parties money in exchange for transportation or airplane rides, unless the pilots themselves are paying at least an equal share of the expense.

Once someone has completed private pilot flight training in Alaska, their Private Pilot's License never expires, but all Private Pilots in Alaska, as well as the lower-48, must have completed a Flight Review within the last 24 months in order to keep their license "current" so that they may fly an airplane. This Flight Review training consists of ground and flight training with a flight instructor.

​​Private Pilots cannot fly in clouds or in low visibility conditions unless they have received additional training and certification called an Instrument Rating - which is HIGHLY recommended for all pilots, even if they don't plan to fly in inclement weather. It is recommended that upon completion of Private Pilot flight training in Alaska, all pilots obtain their instrument rating, as the weather in Alaska can be brutal.

Private Pilots are not limited to how far they may fly an airplane from their point of origin. They may carry passengers, though they cannot carry them for hire or compensation. Private Pilots are allowed to fly during all hours of the day and night, over water such as lakes and oceans, and into and out of large airports (though many large airports such as O'Hare, JFK, etc. will deny the request if the private pilot's airplane is too slow during busy hours). Private pilot flight training in Alaska is available at virtually all medium and large airports throughout the state.

A Private Pilot must also pass a flight physical every so often and they must hold any class of current FAA Medical certificate or meet what are known as BasicMed requirements.

All the training requirements for a Private Pilot's License are contained in a detail list at the bottom of this page. Here is a quick view summary of the requirements that must be met in order to acquire a Private Pilot's License:

---

• Be at least 17 years old (however, one may start training at any age) and be able to speak and understand English
• Acquire a Medical Certificate or pass a Flight Physical exam, certifying that the applicant is physically healthy enough to fly.
  • Learn more about Medical Certification here
  • Find an Airman Medical Examiner in Alaska
• Pass a 60-question aviation knowledge test, administered on a computer at a certified testing facility (we recommend our online ground school course,  which will teach you everything you need to pass this test, as well as provide you with the FAA-required sign-off to take this test)
• Log at least 40 hours in an airplane before taking the checkride (though averages are closer to 60 hours).
  • This 40 hours will consist of training with a Certificated Flight Instructor (aka "CFI") on takeoffs, landings, flight maneuvers, emergency procedures, and flight planning, as well as at least 10 hours of solo flight, during which the applicant will fly in the airplane by themselves (don't worry - you will only be allowed to do this once your instructor knows you can handle it, which is often after 15-20 hours of training with the instructor).
• Pass a "checkride" which consists of an oral test and a practical flying test during which the applicant proves to the examiner that they are knowledgeable enough about aviation, exercise sound and safe judgement, and are skilled enough to operate and fly an airplane through a set of maneuvers.

So how much does it cost to become a Private Pilot? The cost of Private Pilot flight training in Alaska varies greatly depending on the following factors:​

• Type of airplane one uses for training
• The location of the training and weather at that location
• The size of the airport used for training
  
• How prepared the student is at each training session
• How quickly they can become proficient flying the airplane
• Natural talent...though this can also lead to an ego - which may end up slowing a student's progress down!

Budget anywhere from $7,000 to $12,000 from start to finish, including the purchase of headset, the examiner fee, and even aircraft rental insurance. It may be even more expensive if you choose to go through a University program. Large flight schools and aircraft rental in large cities tend to be much more expensive as well. Some ways to keep this cost minimized include studying up on each maneuver to be performed during the next flight, renting an older airplane with minimal "glass" instrumentation (refer to the photo to the right: the flight deck on the left consists of "glass," while the cockpit on the right uses standard analog gages), renting small, old, and fuel-efficient aircraft such as a Cessna 152, and enrolling in a "mom and pop" flight school in a rural area. Fortunately, most flight schools that offer private pilot flight training in Alaska are actually fairly reasonable with their aircraft rental rates.

​The use of FAA-approved flight simulators may also help reduce Private Pilot flight training costs. The FAA allows a certain amount of time logged in some certified flight simulators to be used towards flight training experience requirements. These flight simulators can be cheaper than actual airplanes. ​

---

Want to become a professional or airline pilot? Typical progression might look like this: ​

1. First you must complete private pilot flight training in Alaska to obtain your Private Pilot license, typically in single-engine airplane. This commonly takes a minimum of a few months to complete.
2. ​Next, you will obtain your instrument rating so that you can fly in clouds and inclement weather. 
3. ​After that, you will need to obtain a Commercial Pilots license. With this license, you will be able to be paid or compensated to fly. Common low-time commercial pilot jobs include aerial tours, skydiver dropping, pipeline patrol, aerial survey, and banner towing. There are even some small "airline" copilot jobs through the US, Alaska, and Hawaii that may hire a low time Commercial pilot. However, these jobs can still be hard to come by due to limited openings, and some may require 500+ hours of flight experience. 
4. ​Continuing on towards a career in aviation, you will need a Multi-Engine rating, which will allow you to fly an airplane with more than one engine. Some professional pilots will begin their career as a copilot of a small "private" or "corporate" jet or turboprop, and once you have a Commercial Pilots license with a multi-engine rating and an instrument rating, you will be eligible to be hired for such a job. However, many positions like this require at least 500-1000+ hours of flying experience. To bridge this gap, many pilots will obtain their Flight Instructor Certificate (CFI), which allows them to log all flight time that is accumulated while providing flight instruction to students.​

All things considered, It is possible to complete all the aforementioned training in about 9 months if things go smoothly, but expect it to take longer in most cases. 
​
There are many professional pilots who have gone on to have full, successful careers with only a Commercial Pilot certificate, flying all kinds of private and corporate jets all over the world. However, in order to fly for an airline or to be a captain for a charter company in the United States, an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate is required. This is the highest level of airmen certification in the United States. Depending on the type of flight training you receive, this certificate can be obtained with 750 hours (through the military), 1,000 hours (through a 4-year collegiate aviation program), 1,250 hours (through a 2-year aviation program), or 1,500 hours (all other situations) of flight experience logged. 

If one were to commit to becoming a professional pilot, full-time, it could be done from zero time to 1500 hours in 2-3 years of things wen't according to plan. 

In summary the path to becoming an airline pilot is: Private Pilot License (min 40 hours*) > Instrument Rating > Commercial Pilot License (min 250 hours*) > Multi Engine Rating > Flight Instructor > Airline Transport Pilot (min 1,500 hours*).     
*hours required may be reduced depending on the type of training one receives

So how does one get started? If you are ready to begin your journey to become a pilot - as a hobby or as a career - here is the good news: you can get started right now and knock out a significant portion of the requirements before ever stepping foot inside an airplane. As previously mentioned, you will need to pass a 60-question written test. One of the most recommended and widely used paths towards certification is to study for and take this test BEFORE you begin the flying portion of your training. To sum it up, learning the material before flying will familiarize your brain with concepts and topics so that when you get into the airplane, your brain will make stronger connections much faster and you will learn more efficiently. This can save you a TON of money and frustration, and can significantly reduce the amount of time required before you take your test.

Our suggestion? Enroll in our online ground school which will prepare you for AND provide the required endorsement to take the written test. This ground school Is particularly valuable because you have lifetime access to the program, which will receive lifetime updates as well. You will be able to use the program to review and study for your flight reviews every 24 months. 

Below is a more detailed list of everything that is required in order to complete Private Pilot flight training in Alaska. This is taken from the FAA "rulebook" called the Federal Aviation Regulations Chapter 61, which discusses pilot certification and training:

• Be at least 17 years of age (other than Glider or Balloon - 16 years old for these)
• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English (unless the FAA places operating limits on certificate as necessary)
• Hold a Student, Sport, or Recreational certificate
• Receive logbook Aeronautical Knowledge Test (Written Test) Endorsement from an instructor who
  • Conducted training or reviewed the person’s home study course on the Aeronautical Knowledge areas in 61.105(b):
    • FARs applicable to PPL limitations, privileges, and flight ops
    • Accident reporting requirements and the NTSB
    • Use of AIM and FAA Advisory Circulars
    • Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage, dead reckoning, and navigation systems
    • Radio communication procedures
    • Recognition of critical weather situations from the ground and in flight, windshear avoidance, and the procurement and use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts
    • Safe and efficient operation of aircraft, including collision avoidance and recognition and avoidance of wake turbulence
    • Effects of density altitude on T/o and climb performance
    • W&B computations
    • Principles of aerodynamics, powerplants, and aircraft systems
    • Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery techniques
    • ADM and judgement
    • Preflight action that includes how to obtain information on runway lengths at airports of intended use, data on takeoff and landing distances, weather reports and forecasts, and fuel requirements, as well as how to plan for alternatives if flight cannot be completed as planned or it is delayed.  
  • Certified that the person is prepared for the knowledge test
• Pass Aeronautical Knowledge Test (written) on 61.105(b)
• Receive Flight Training and a Logbook Endorsement from an authorized instructor WHO CONDUCTED THE TRAINING in the following areas 61.107(b) (Single Engine) AND who certifies that the student is prepared for the practical test:
  • Preflight preparation
  • Preflight procedures
  • Airport base operations
  • Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
  • Performance maneuvers
  • Ground reference maneuvers
  • Navigation
  • Slow flight and stalls
  • Basic instrument maneuvers
  • Emergency operations
  • Night operations
  • Postflight procedures
• Student meets the following Aeronautical Experience Requirements:
  • At least 40 hours of flight time
    • At least 20 of which must be with an authorized instructor
    • At least 10 of which must be solo, consisting of:
      • 5 hours of solo cross-country ("cross country" meaning flight between takeoff and landing that is greater than 50 nautical miles)
      • One solo cross country flight of 150 nm total distance, with full-stop landings at 3 points, and one segment consisting of a straight-line distance of more than 50 nm between takeoff and landing locations
      • 3 takeoffs and 3 landings to a FULL STOP, with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern, at an airport with an operating control tower
  • 3 hours of cross country flight training
  • 3 hours of night flight training (between civil twilight & morning civil twilight) that includes:
    • One cross-country flight over 100 nm total distance (ie 100 nm there and back, or 50 each way)
    • 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a FULL STOP, with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern
  • 3 hours of flight training with reference to instruments, including
    • Straight & Level flight
    • Constant airspeed climbs and descents
    • Turns to a heading
    • Recovery from Unusual Attitudes
    • Radio communications
    • Use of navigation systems and radar services appropriate to instrument flight
  • 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the Practical Test, which must have been performed within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test
• Passes Practical Test/Oral

The Private Pilots License is what you will want if you have aspirations for a career in aviation, or if you want fairly unrestricted flight privileges. However, the Sport Pilots License, which carries additional restrictions and limitations but requires less training, may be a good option if your long-term aviation goals are nothing more than to "fly an airplane" and wish to minimize training costs. Certain medical conditions may also make the Sport Pilot License a better option. If medical conditions are not an issue, our personal recommendation is that every aspiring pilot complete private pilot flight training in Alaska to acquire their Private Pilots License no matter their goals in aviation because the additional training will make a safer pilot and will allow easier access to additional growth opportunities as an aviator. The limitations imposed on Sport Pilots make it such that, in most cases, newer and often more expensive aircraft - which are also more difficult to find - are the pilots only option. This negates the idea that Sport Pilot training and certification is any less expensive than Private Pilot certification. 

Are you serious about learning to fly? You can get a head-start now, before meeting with an instructor or setting foot inside an airplane. Check out our ground school course below!

Rod Machado's Private Pilot Ground School eLearning Course