For the best in flight training, you’ve come to the right place.
We share your passion for flight. Aptis Aviation’s commitment to quality instruction has created a legacy of outstanding students, and there’s no better way to find out why than to take one of our Introductory Flights. You’ll quickly become a knowledgeable, competent pilot with Aptis’s structured interactive instructional program. Our program offers the flexibility to meet your learning style. Stop by and talk to one of our outstanding instructors and begin your journey of becoming a pilot.
Getting Started
Take an Intro Flight
Enroll in the Private Pilot Course
Take your FAA Checkride
Choose an Introductory Flight package
Scout Package
$80 45 Minute Flight, 15 Minute Ground
Explorer Package
$172, 1.5 Hour Flight, 30 Min Ground
Adventurer Package
$350, 2 Hours Flight, 1 Hour Ground
Private Pilot License
Obtaining your Private Pilots License is your first step joining the ranks of the pilot community. The Aptis Private Pilot Training Program provides all of the knowledge and skill you will need to become a safe and competent pilot. The program includes all the ground and flight instruction you’ll need to pass the FAA exams.
If you have never flown in a single engine GA (general aviation) airplane before we highly recommend you try one of our Introductory Flights before committing to your training program. Your Introductory Flight will include ground instruction from one of our Certified Flight Instructors (CFI) and an actual flight where the instructor will let you fly the airplane! We’re confident this experience will get you hooked on becoming a pilot.
Once you’ve made the decision to start your training you will be matched with a CFI that best suits your learning needs. We encourage our students to talk with their instructor and discuss learning styles and expectations. Having a comfortable, open relationship with your instructor is key to a successful training program.
A few basic questions most students ask are “What’s required to get your pilots license?”, “How much does it cost?”, and “How long will it take?”. We try to address those question below and give you some tips on how to increase your chances of a successful training program.
- at least 20 hours of dual instruction, including
- 3 hours of day cross-country instruction,
- 3 hours of instrument instruction,
- 3 hours of local and cross-country night instruction, and
- 3 hours of instruction in preparation for the FAA practical test.
- at least 10 hours of solo flight, including 5 hours of cross-country flight (two flights).
- Be 17 years old (you need to be at least 16 years old to fly solo)
- Be able to read, write, and understand the English language
- Hold at least a 3rd Class medical certificate
- Pass the FAA Written Knowledge Test (70% or better, multiple choice)
Training to become a private pilot doesn’t actually take a lot of time or money. Aptis students earn their wings on average within 50 hours of training and a total cost under $12,000. Training at Aptis has shown less training hours because of the rapid departure as compared to other high traffic airports. Please ask us about our Training Financing.
Requirement | Aircraft Rental | Instructor | Totals |
---|---|---|---|
35 hrs Dual Instruction | $150/hr | $62/hr | $7,420 |
15 hrs Solo Flight | $150/hr | — | $2,250 |
6 hrs Ground Instruction | — | $62/hr | $372 |
FAA Written Exam | — | — | $150 |
FAA Practical Exam | $150/hr | — | $350 + 2 hr Rental ($650) |
1 Private Pilot Kit | — | — | $250 |
1 Aviation Headset | — | — | $299 |
Approximate Total | — | — | $11,391 |
- Gain the required knowledge to pass the FAA private pilot written test with minimum score of 70 percent.
- Expose prospective and active students to the world of general aviation.
- To expose students to the opportunities within aviation, including pleasure flying, business flying and aviation careers.
- To educate students on how to prepare for flight in the Visual Flight Environment.
- To prepare the students to pass the Practical Test Oral Exam.
- Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical knowledge
- Pilots Operating Handbook/POH (C150/C172)
- Jeppesen Private Pilot Manual
- Plotter
- Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide
- FAA Practical Test Standards
- FAR/AIM
- E6B
- VFR Sectional Charts (New York)
- AF/D
Lesson/Instructor | Subject | Time Allotted | Study Material |
---|---|---|---|
Ground Lesson 1/DW and DC | Orientation | 1.5hrs | None |
Ground Lesson 2/DW | Basic Systems | 2.0hrs | ASA Ch. 2&3Jepp Ch. 2 |
Ground Lesson 3/DC | Basic Aerodynamics | 2.0hrs | ASA Ch. 1Jepp Ch. 3 |
Ground Lesson 4/DW | Airport Markings, Signs, and Lighting, Radio/ATC Services, Flight Service Stations | 3.0hrs | ASA Ch. 5&11Jepp Ch. 4&5 |
Ground Lesson 5/DW | Aeronautical Charts and Airspace | 2.5hrs | ASA Ch. 9Jepp Ch. 4&5 |
Ground Lesson 6/DC | Basic Weather Theory/Hazardous Weather/Aeronautical Decision Making Process | 3.0hrs | ASA Ch. 6Jepp Ch. 6 |
Ground Lesson 7/DC | Weather Services | 2.0 hrs | ASA Ch. 7Jepp Ch. 7 |
Ground Lesson 8/DW | Federal Aviation Regulations | 2.5hrs | ASA Ch. 4FARs part 43, 61, 91 |
Ground Lesson 9/DC | Performance Charts, Weight and Balance | 2.5hrs | ASA Ch. 8Jepp Ch. 8 |
Ground Lesson 10/DW and DC | Cross-Country Planning Part 1 | 3.0hrs | ASA Ch. 9Jepp Ch. 9 |
Ground Lesson 11/DW and DC | Cross-Country Planning Part 2 | 3.0hrs | |
Ground Lesson 12/DW and DC | Review | 2.5hrs | Dauntless FAA Knowledge Test Prep Software |
Ground School
They will cover the following aviation topics:
- Aircraft Systems, Aerodynamics
- Airport and Flight Environments
- Airspace and Charts
- Weather and Weather Services
- Regulations
- Aviation Physiology
- Performance Charts
- Cross Country Flight Planning
Advanced Training
With the skills you’ll develop in instrument training, you’ll be able to control your airplane and navigate all the way to your destination without outside visual references, solely by reference to the flight instruments. The Instrument rating will open up many more opportunities for you to fly without being grounded by weather. And in the process, you’ll become a more accurate and more proficient–and thus safer–pilot, even when the weather is VFR.
Prerequisites
To take the FAA Instrument Airplane rating (Part 61) practical test, you must:
- Be able to read, write and speak the English language.
- Complete the Computer-Based Instruction course.
- Pass the FAA knowledge test before taking the practical test.
- Hold at least a Private Pilot certificate with Airplane rating.
- Have at least 50 hours of pilot in command cross-country flight time.
Training Time Required
To add the Instrument Airplane rating to your pilot certificate, the FAA requires:
- At least 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument flight time, and
- At least 15 hours of dual instrument flight instruction (although 30-40 hours are typically needed for safety and competency), including: one dual IFR cross-country of at least 250 nm with different instrument approaches at each of three airports, and
- 3 hours of instrument flight in preparation for the FAA practical test.
- Note that any actual or simulated instrument flight time that you have logged before beginning your Instrument rating training (such as the three hours of instrument flight time required for the Private Pilot certificate) will count toward these requirements.
Prerequisites
To take the FAA Commercial Pilot ASEL practical test, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be able to read, write and speak the English language
- Receive ground school in the knowledge areas listed in FAR 61.125
- Pass the FAA knowledge test before taking the practical test.
- Hold at least a Private Pilot certificate.
- Hold an appropriate medical certificate (at least Class III to take the test, but at least Class II to exercise Commercial Pilot privileges)
- You must have at least 250 hours total flight time, including at least:
- 100 hours in powered aircraft, at least 50 of which is in airplanes
- 100 hours as pilot in command (at least 50 of which is in airplanes)
- 50 hours of PIC cross-country flight (at least 10 of which is in airplanes)
Training Time Required
To receive the Commercial Pilot certificate with an Airplane Single-Engine Land rating, the FAA requires:
- At least 20 hours of flight training that includes:
- 10 hours of instrument training (at least 5 of which must be in a single-engine airplane).
- 10 hours of training in a complex airplane (that is, with a constant speed propeller, flaps and retractable landing gear).
- 3 hours of dual instruction in preparation for the practical test.
- One dual day VFR cross-country flight of at least 2 hours with a straight line distance of more than 100 nm from the departure point.
- One dual night VFR cross-country flight of at least 2 hours with a straight line distance of more than 100 nm from the departure point.
- At least 10 hours of solo flight that includes:
- One cross-country of at least 300 nm total distance with landings at least at three points, one of which is at least 250 nm straight line distance from the departure point.
- 5 hours in night VFR conditions with at least 10 take-offs and landings at an airport with an operating control tower.
- Note that flying experience you have before beginning the Commercial Pilot course may count toward the required flight times. For example, if you hold an Instrument Airplane rating, you will already have met the Commercial Pilot requirement for instrument training.
Our Team
