Private Pilot Certificate

Learn to Fly Process
    1. Use the Cessna Pilot Center flight training system hand-in-hand with your flights to gain knowledge about aircraft systems, airspace, weather, human factors, weight and balance, learning how to calculate flight time, speed, fuel requirements and much more.
    2. Get your aviation medical certificate (we can help you find a FAA medical examiner, or you can find one online at www.faa.gov).
    3. Follow the Cessna syllabus for your flights to learn the basics of flight and work your way up to your first solo flight.
    4. Fine-tune your skills, take cross country flights and night flights, and take a written ‘knowledge’ exam. Typically you will fly between 40 – 70 hours, about half of which is solo.
    5. When you’re ready and you have completed (with complete understanding and approval by your instructor) the syllabus requirements, you will take an oral and practical exam with a FAA Designated Examiner. This is called your ‘checkride’.
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    EFA’s 4-seat Cessna 172 Skyhawks are a state of the art flight training platform.

You can earn your Private Pilot License and see the world from a new perspective. Rent EFA aircraft, take friends for pleasure flights, day or night. Enjoy weekend getaways to the Cape or islands without traffic. Unwind after a tough day at the office with a relaxing flight at the controls of EFA’s exceptional airplanes.

A safe and competent pilot is a result of careful instruction, a solid knowledge base and sound decision making skills. Your best alternative is to train with full time, professional flight instructors who are committed to success. Our flight instructors are educators who are rigorously trained by EFA to deliver the knowledge gained by our four decades of flight training experience and produce the very best pilots in the nation.

We have trained thousands of pilots who say earning their Private Pilot Certificate is one of their greatest accomplishments. You will become a licensed aviator and enjoy the personal freedom of flight.

GetStartedTodayBUTTONClick here for information about the Private Pilot Kit.

Click here for special rules regarding non US-Citizens flight training students.

Find and Aviation Medical Examiner

Information about financial aid




Private Pilot Training Costs Cessna 172 Cessna 172 Cessna 172SP Cessna 172SP
  per hour sub total per hour sub total
35 Hours Dual Flight $180 $8,100 $200 $9,000
15 Hours Solo Flight $125 $1,875 $145 $2,175
12 Hours Ground Instruction $55 $660 $55 $660
1 Private Flight Kit   $399   $399
Sub Total   $9,234   $10,234
Prepayment Savings 11/$1000 ($550) 12/$1000 ($600)
TOTAL COST   $10,484   $11,634