These are the FAA minimum requirements. Most pilots complete their training with more hours than the minimums.
There are no minimum flight hours required to obtain a Student Pilot Certificate.
To fly solo, your instructor must determine you can safely operate the aircraft and provide the required endorsements.
16 years old to solo an airplane
17 years old to obtain a Private Pilot Certificate
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40 Hours Total
Dual Instruction (with Instructor)
20 hours minimum
Must include:
3 hours cross-country training
3 hours night training
One night cross-country flight over 100 nautical miles total distance
10 night takeoffs and landings
3 hours instrument training
3 hours preparation for the checkride within the preceding 2 calendar months
Solo Flight
10 hours minimum
Must include:
5 hours solo cross-country
One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles total distance
Three full-stop landings at three different airports
One segment of at least 50 nautical miles between airports
50–70 hours
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Pilot-in-Command Cross Country Time
50 hours cross-country PIC time
Instrument Training
40 hours actual or simulated instrument time
Must include:
15 hours instrument instruction from a CFII
One IFR cross-country flight:
At least 250 nautical miles
Instrument approaches at three different airports
Three different types of instrument approaches
50–80 additional hours beyond Private Pilot
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250 Hours Total
Must include:
Pilot in Command (PIC)
100 hours PIC time
Cross Country
50 hours cross-country PIC
Training with Instructor
20 hours training
Must include:
10 hours instrument training
One day VFR cross-country:
At least 300 nautical miles total distance
Landings at three airports
One leg at least 250 nautical miles
One night VFR cross-country:
At least 100 nautical miles total distance
Landings at three airports
3 hours preparation for checkride within preceding 2 calendar months
Solo or Performing Duties of PIC
10 hours
Must include:
One cross-country flight:
At least 300 nautical miles total distance
Landings at three airports
One leg at least 250 nautical miles
5 hours night VFR with:
10 takeoffs
10 landings at an airport with an operating control tower
250–300 hours