There are three main types of pilot certifications for recreational flying: private pilot, sport pilot, and recreational pilot. A private pilot certification allows a pilot to fly in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) below 18,000 feet. A sport pilot certification has fewer training hours and restricts pilots to light sport aircraft during daytime VMC. A recreational pilot certification provides more flexibility in aircraft type but restricts flights to within 50 miles of the pilot's home base with no more than one passenger and a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet. All certifications require pilots to be at least 16 years old to fly solo, 17 years old to receive the certificate, speak English, and hold a medical certificate or driver's license depending

1. TYPES OF CERTIFICATIONS
PRIVATE PILOT
A private pilot certification allows you to fly practically anywhere in the
United States, as long as the weather is nice. Flying in rainy or stormy
conditions is not permitted with a private pilot certification. Additionally,
pilots with this certification must remain below 18,000 feet when they fly.
SPORT PILOT
This certification requires fewer hours of training, and pilots are restricted
to smaller one- or two-seat aircraft classified as light sport aircraft.
Pilots with this certification also must fly during the day and only under
favorable weather conditions.
RECREATIONAL PILOT
Pilots with this certification have more options regarding the types of
aircraft they can fly, but they are restricted to flying within a 50-mile
radius of their home base. These pilots also may only carry one other
passenger and can fly no higher than 10,000 feet.
TO EARN ANY OF THESE CERTIFICATIONS, YOU MUST
MEET ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
—— You must be at least 16 years old to fly solo.
—— You must be at least 17 years old to receive
your pilot certificate.
—— You must be able to speak, read and
understand English.
—— For private and recreational certificates, you
must hold at least a third-class medical certificate.
—— For sport pilot certificates, you must have at least
a current and valid United States driver’s license.
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WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?
CERTIFICATION TYPE: GOOD FOR:
AVERAGE
COST:
HOW LONG IT
WILL TAKE:
SPORT Day flights in light aircraft $3,000 3 months
PRIVATE
Flying for business or personal
travel, clear weather only
$7,000 4 months
INSTRUMENT
Flying for business or personal
travel, clear or cloudy weather
$10,000 6 months
MULTI-ENGINE Flying aircraft with two engines $10,000
3 months
after receiving your
private certification
COMMERCIAL Flying professionally $20,000 8 months
FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR Teaching others to fly $22,000 12 months
AIRLINE TRANSPORT
PILOT
Being an airline captain
Airlines may pay
for your training
6 months to 4
years, depending
on the airline
BELOW IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT CERTIFICATIONS YOU CAN
EARN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PILOT.