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What is a Private Pilot Certificate?
For starters it is a certification from the FAA that allows you to be able to do something that fewer than 0.21% of the people in the US can do. You will be able to fly yourself, your family, and friends to any destination on your schedule, not the airlines'. If you are looking to become a professional pilot the Private Pilot certificate is your first step.
What else can I do?
You can fly!
You can command any aircraft (subject to being rated in the type of aircraft) for any non-commercial purpose
You can carry passengers in the furtherance of a business, but you cannot be compensated for your expenses or time
You can fly to any destination at any time as long as the weather is good
Your passengers may pay a pro-rata share of the direct expenses of the flight
You can operate charity flights under certain circumstances
You may fly Angel Flights
You can learn to fly acrobatics
You can just go up and enjoy the view
How long is a Private Pilot Certificate good for?
Once earned, your "ticket" is good for life. In order to fly you must meet a few requirements:
You must have a current medical certificate
You must have at least three takeoffs and landings in the previous three months before carrying passengers.
You must either earn a new rating or conduct a review of your skills once every two years.
You must not do something that angers the FAA, this may result in your certificate being suspended or revoked.
What are the requirements?
The requirements to obtain a private pilot certificate for "airplane, single-engine, land", or ASEL, (which is the most common certificate) are:
Be at least 17 years old
Be able to read, speak, and write the English language
Obtain a third class medical certificate from an Aviator Medical Examiner
Pass a computerized aeronautical knowledge test
Accumulate and log a specified amount of training and experience, including at least 40 hours of piloting time including 20 hours of flight with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight, and other requirements including "cross-country", i.e. more than 50 nautical miles from the departure airport, and three hours of night flight, including 10 takeoffs and landings
Pass an oral test and flight test administered by an FAA inspector or FAA-designated examiner
