If you’re searching for the best pilot training Minnesota has to offer, there’s no shortage of flight schools throughout the state. When researching your options, there are likely several pieces of criteria you hope a potential flight training partner will meet. There are affordability, curriculum, certification capabilities, and of course, the length it takes to officially achieve a license so you can finally fly at your leisure. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at how long it should take to obtain each of the three most popular pilot licenses – here we go!
How Long Does It Take To Get A Private Pilot License?
The most common pilot license, and the one that most students start with, is the private pilot certificate. The FAA requires student pilots to fly a minimum of 40 hours (although the majority of students go well over this threshold, with a national average of approximately 65 hours). The private pilot certificate requires fewer hours to achieve and is usually completed in as little as a couple of weeks up to several months. Your timeline may extend beyond that, which is completely normal. It really depends on how often you’re available to train, and whether or not you can pass additional requirements like the Private Pilot-Airline (PAR) exam and checkride on your first try. If timing is a concern for you, consider working with a flight school that can personalize your learning schedule as it fits around your personal life and job.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Commercial Pilot License?
In order to charge a fee for your flying services, you’ll need to keep training past the private pilot stage. When you’re starting from scratch, a commercial pilot license takes 250 hours of flight time. This will be split up into certain training requirements, such as 50 hours of a cross-country flight, 10 hours of instrument training, and five hours of night VFR flying, for example. To achieve commercial certification, you can expect the process to take anywhere from six months to a year. If you’ve already achieved additional certification, like a private pilot license or instrument rating, it can dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to achieve a commercial license.
How Long Does It Take To Get An Airline Transport License?
One of the licenses that aspiring pilots pursue for years is the coveted airline transport pilot (ATP) license, which allows you to apply for jobs with any airline in the United States. It’s easily one of the most difficult certifications to obtain, but provides graduates with high-paying, rewarding career paths in the aviation industry. Before you can even apply for this license, you must have accumulated 1,500 flying hours, including 500 hours of a cross-country flight, 100 hours of night flight, 250 hours of time as the pilot in command, and other time requirements. It takes an average of one to two years under a traditional ATP training program to become qualified for first officer jobs under an airline. To become a captain, a crowning achievement for any aspiring pilot can take a decade or longer, so the earlier you start training the better.
How Fast Can You Get A Pilot License?
In order to get your pilot license as fast as possible, you should consider signing up for an accelerated training program. Some flight schools in Minnesota specialize in these fast-paced programs that allow you to become certified in as little as two weeks. Of course, you’ll be spending the vast majority of your time training nine hours a day, seven days a week. But, in the end, you’ll have your license in a comparatively small amount of time. Plus, almost every certification and rating have an accelerated option, depending on the school, so you can complete a simple private pilot program or complex ATP program with maximum efficiency.
Ready to get started with your pilot training in Minnesota?
There’s no better time to start flight training in Minnesota than now. And, there’s no better team of CFIs in the state than Inflight Pilot Training. We’ll help you reach your goal of becoming a certified pilot, whether you’re pursuing a license for a hobby or career. We’ve helped countless people take control of the yoke and lift-off toward the sky, through accelerated pilot programs, private pilot licenses, commercial certifications, instrument ratings, and more. And, with one of the highest graduation rates of flight schools in Minnesota, you know that you’ll be set up for success.
Let our talented team of CFIs elevate your learning experience as you learn this exciting new skill. If you’re interested in learning more about Inflight programs, contact us today or call (952) 698-3000.
