Your Private Pilot License, start to certificate.
The foundation of all flying — fly yourself, your family, and your friends across Florida and beyond. Here's exactly what it takes, what's included, and what it costs at KTMB.
What it takes to get started
Fewer requirements than most people expect — and none of them involve experience.
Three milestones to your certificate
Your first solo
The moment your instructor steps out and you take the airplane around the pattern alone. Nothing else feels like it.
Cross-country
Plan and fly to airports across South Florida — navigation, radio work, and real decision-making, on your own.
The checkride
Demonstrate your skills to an FAA examiner and walk away a certificated Private Pilot. You're cleared.
Everything you need, nothing you don't
Your training is one continuous program — not a pile of add-ons. Here's what's in it.
- 1:1 instruction with a certified flight instructor
- A clear Part 61 syllabus paced to your schedule
- Ground school, oral prep, and written-exam guidance
- Pre- and post-flight briefings on every lesson
- IFR-equipped, maintained training aircraft
- A transparent, line-item cost breakdown up front
Estimate your PPL cost
Drag the sliders to match how you'll train. Real numbers — no surprises. (PLACEHOLDER rates — confirm before launch.)
- Aircraft rental (55 hrs wet)$9,075
- Flight instruction (40 hrs)$2,600
- Ground & briefings (25 hrs)$1,625
- Checkride & supplies$1,200
Estimate only — flight training is self-paced and performance-based.
Get your exact breakdown →Pay per lesson as you fly — no giant up-front block.
Pre-buy hours in blocks for a lower per-hour rate.
Spread tuition into monthly payments via aviation lenders.
Private Pilot questions
How long does the Private Pilot certificate take?
Most students finish in about 6–12 months. Flying twice a week is faster; once a week fits around work and family. Consistency is the single biggest factor.
How much does it really cost?
About $15,000–$18,000 depending on how often you fly and how quickly you progress. Use the calculator above for an estimate, and we hand you a full line-item breakdown at your discovery flight. (PLACEHOLDER — confirm real rates.)
Why do students need more than 40 hours?
The FAA sets 40 hours as the minimum, but most people need a little more to be truly checkride-ready. Flying consistently keeps that number — and your total cost — down.
Do I need a medical before I start?
You can take a discovery flight and start training before your medical, but you will need a 3rd-Class FAA medical certificate before you solo. We can point you to a local AME.
Can I train part-time around a job?
Absolutely — most of our students do. We schedule around full-time work with morning, evening, and weekend slots.
Ready to take the controls?
Book your discovery flight at Kendall-Tamiami (KTMB) from $149. No experience needed — just you, a certified instructor, and a real airplane over Miami.