For a Private Pilot's License you need 40 hours of flight time.
This time includes:
20 hours of flight time with a CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) in an airplane on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
10 hours of flight time in which YOU the student pilot is solo meaning
that you are the soul occupant of the airplane
After paying for the hours of plane rental, the CFI's time, any study materials, the FAA Written Exam, the flight physical and the checkride; the average cost to get a "Private Pilot's License" is between $6000-$7000. Luckily there are some scholarships and loans out there to help the average person come up with this amount of money. (SEE OUR RESOURCE PAGE)
However, this cost is dramatically reduced by the cost of the Cessna 150 rental at only $140/hr for the airplane.
Unfortunately, flying can become unnecessarily costly when a student pilot isn't able to dedicate at least a few hours a week towards getting their license. When flight lessons are spread out with long periods of no flying the student pilot can easily begin to forget what they learned during their previous lessons. Basically, we would recommend if you are really serious about getting your pilot's license that you try to fly regularly. However, this isn't to discourage those who just want to fly every once in a while. It really doesn't matter how you build up the 40 hours towards the license, the hours DON'T EXPIRE. And with the help of a good flight instructor you will be able to meet the requirements to get a private pilot's license.
FAA Flight physical for student pilot medical: ~$115
Books and study materials such as online courses: between $105 to $350
FAA Written Knowledge Exam: $160
Practical Test (the Check-ride): $500
The "written test" is a test taken at a computer testing facility. The closest one to the Outer Banks of NC is up in Chesapeake, VA. It takes about 2 hours and you answer 60 multiple choice questions out of a bank of over 900 questions. This might sound like a lot but the help of a dedicated CFI you should have no problem passing the written exam. My recommendation is to visit King Schools online. You can select the "Private Pilot Knowledge test" course there. They are pretty corny but very knowledgeable and you will pass your knowledge test for sure if you go through their program.
To obtain your private pilot's license you have to take what is called a "check-ride" which is usually taken with an "Designated Pilot Examiner." This person has been appointed by the FAA to perform the "practical test" for pilot ratings. The check-ride consists of an "oral" test where you and the DPE discuss important subject matter pertaining to the license sought. After the DPE is satisfied with your knowledge during the oral portion you and the Designated Pilot Examiner will continue the check-ride in the airplane where you will fly to the standards set forth by the Practical Test Standards. All of the work you have done up until that point will prepare you for the flight. When you're done with the check-ride you should be a LICENSED PILOT.