Phase 1 - Enrollment & Pre-Training Requirements
What happens:
Intro call / onboarding
Get your FAA Medical (recommended immediately)
Enroll in either Accelerated or Flexible Program
Set up your training plan and schedule
Begin ground school resources (we guide you)
Goal of this phase:
You’re fully set up, medically cleared, and ready to start structured training.
Private Pilot Course
Phase 2-3 Ground School Foundations
What you learn:
Aerodynamics
Regulations & airspace
Weather theory
Aircraft systems (Cherokee 180)
Weight & balance
Performance
Flight planning
Also required during this phase:
Prepare for the FAA Knowledge Test (Written)
You are encouraged to pass the written before solo
Goal:
Build a solid foundation and get ready for the written test.
Estimated Hours: 15-25 Hours (Self Study + CFI Ground)
Phase 2-3 Flight Training: Basic Aircraft Control
Skills trained:
Preflight inspections & checklists
Taxiing and radio basics
Normal takeoff
Straight & level, climbs, descents
Turns (medium & steep)
Slow flight
Power-on & power-off stalls
Goal:
You can safely control the aircraft in all basic maneuvers.
Estimated Hours: 5-10 Hours
Estimated Cost: $800-1600 Block Rate & $900-1800 Normal Rate
Phase 4 - Flight Training: Takeoffs & Landings
Skills trained:
Normal landing
Soft-field takeoff & landing
Short-field takeoff & landing
Go-arounds
Traffic pattern work at KFTW + nearby airports
Goal:
Consistently safe and controlled landings.
Estimated Hours: 14-25 Hours (Cumulative to Phase 2)
Estimated Cost: $2240-4000 Block Rate ($160/hr) & $2520-4500 Normal Rate ($180/hr)
Phase 5 - Pre Solo Requirements
Must be completed before solo:
FAA Medical completed
FAA Written Test completed or nearly completed (strongly encouraged before solo)
Instructor endorsement for solo
Satisfactory performance in all maneuvers and landings (FAR 61.87 (B)(C)(N))
Aircraft familiarity & checklist discipline
Pre-solo knowledge test (required by the FARs)
Goal:
Demonstrate full competency and safety for first solo.
Phase 6 - First Solo
What happens:
Instructor signs your solo endorsement
You fly the Cherokee 180 alone for the first time
The biggest milestone in private pilot training
Goal:
Successfully complete supervised solo operations.
Estimated Hours For Solo: 14-30 Hours
Estimated Cost: $2240-4000 Block Rate ($160/hr) & $2520-4500 Normal Rate ($180/hr)
Phase 7 - Solo Operations & Cross-Country Training
Skills trained:
Pilotage & dead reckoning
GPS navigation
Day cross-country
Solo cross-country
Night flying
Diversion procedures
Lost procedures
Advanced airspace operations
Goal:
You can safely navigate to new airports and fly independently.
Estimated Hours: 30-46 Hours (Cumulative through all phases)
Estimated Cost: $4800-7360 Block Rate & $5400-8280 Normal Rate
Phase 8 - Checkride Preparation
What you practice:
All required maneuvers to ACS standards
Emergency procedures
Navigation review
Airspace and regulations
Full mock oral exam
Full mock flight (mock checkride)
Goal:
Be fully prepared and confident for the examiner.
Estimated Hours: 40-60 Hours Total
Estimated Cost: $6400-9600 Block Rate & $7200-10800 Normal Rate
Phase 9 - FAA Checkride
Consists of:
Oral exam (weather, systems, performance, regulations, cross-country)
Practical flight test (maneuvers, landings, navigation, emergencies)
Goal:
Pass both sections → Become a Private Pilot.
Estimated Cost For Checkride: $800-1400 Examiners Fee
TOTAL Estimated Hours Summary (Typical Student)
Flight Time: ~40–65 hours
Ground/Study Time: ~25–40 hours
Total Training Time: ~65–105 hours (varies by student)
Ready to Start Your Private Pilot Journey?
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