Become a Pilot!
Whether you wish to fly for fun or start a career, earning a private pilot certificate is your first step into the world of aviation. Regal Air can help you get started on earning your Private Pilot Certificate with an Airplane Single-Engine Land rating.
- Online scheduling
- Part 61 and Part 141 programs available
- In-person ground school available
- Non-U.S. Citizens welcome!
- Our maintenance team will keep you flying
- Fuel and line service included
Privileges and Limitations
Your Private Pilot Certificate will allow you to:
- Fly by yourself or with passengers
- Day or night
- Anywhere in the country
- Fly U.S. registered aircraft into many other countries
- Your Certificate never expires,
though you’ll have to meet certain currency requirements to keep flying
There are a few things you cannot do as a Private Pilot:
- May only fly in visual weather conditions, until you earn an Instrument Rating
- Cannot get paid to act as pilot in command(with some exceptions)
- May only fly aircraft for which you are rated
(Single-Engine Land Airplanes in this case)
Pre-Requisites
Before starting your training at Regal Air you must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 16 years-old to begin training*
- Be a U.S. Citizen or pass a TSA-Required Background Check
- Legal residents of the U.S. without citizenship, go to our TSA Requirements page for more info
- Students requiring student visas, see our International Students page for more info
- Read, Speak, and Understand the English Language
- 3rd Class Medical Certificate or higher
- Student Pilot Certificate
Course Content
Ground Training
“Ground Training” is any training that is not performed in an aircraft, simulator, or training device. The purpose of ground training is to gain an understanding of the aeronautical knowledge areas required by the FAA and to prepare you for the FAA’s Private Pilot – Airplane Aeronautical Knowledge Test (AKT). This includes topics such as:
- Aircraft Systems
- Human Factors
- Meteorology
- Aeronautical Decision Making
- Airspace
- Federal Aviation Regulations
- Navigation and Flight Planning
We understand that everyone has a different schedule and different needs. We offer several options to complete ground training based on your situation:
- Attend an in-person ground school in our classroom at Regal Air
- Take our ground school via Zoom
- Complete guided self-study with one of our instructors
- Complete a ground school provided by a reputable 3rd party (Part 61 students only)
Flight Training
“Flight Training” includes training in an aircraft, simulator, or training device, provided by a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI). The purpose of this flight training is to teach you the skills, knowledge, and judgment required to safely act as Pilot in Command and to prepare you for the FAA’s Private Pilot – Airplane Single-Engine Land Practical Test provided by a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE).
Course Stages
Our Flight Training Course is organized into three stages. Each stage concludes with a Stage Check provided by one of our highly experienced Check Instructors:
Stage 1 - First Solo
The goal of the first stage is to acquire enough skill and knowledge to perform your first solo flight around the airport. During this stage you will learn skills such as:
- Normal Procedures
- Emergency Procedures
- Basic flight maneuvers
- Flight in a towered airport environment
- Flight in non-towered airport environment
- Many other safety of flight items
Stage 2 - Cross-Country Flight
During the second stage, you will learn to plan flights to other airports, how to fly safely at night, and a few new flying skills. In this stage you will learn:
- Cross country flight planning and navigation procedures
- Night operations
- Short- and Soft-Field operations
- More emergency procedures and flight maneuvers
- Using Air Traffic Control (ATC) services
Stage 3 - Test Prep
In this final stage you will polish all of your aeronautical knowledge and skills and take an End of Course Check provided by one of our Check Instructors to best prepare for your FAA Practical Test conducted by a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE)
Flight Instructors
At Regal Air we understand that one of the most important factors affecting the success of students during flight training is the relationship with their instructor. Although all of our Certificated Flight Instructors (CFI) are fully qualified and capable of teaching you to fly, everyone has different scheduling and personality needs. We have a diverse team of instructors with varying levels of experience and backgrounds available to help you reach your goal of becoming a pilot.
Airplanes
The airplane you choose will have an impact on your flight training. We recommend choosing an airplane that is relatively simple as this will allow you to focus on the fundamentals and earn your certificate in a shorter amount of time.
At Regal Air you can train in one of the following airplanes:
- Cessna 152
Simple, inexpensive, easy to fly, and equipped with simple avionics, this airplane is an excellent platform in which to learn the fundamentals. Its low useful load and small size may make it uncomfortable for many students. It is easy to step up to a larger airplane (such as the C172) once you earn your certificate. - Cessna 172 Skyhawk
Handles very similarly to the C152, but flies about 5 knots faster. Slightly more expensive than the C152, but includes modern GPS Navigation systems and has a higher useful load and more space. Many students say the higher price is worth the added capacity and the training received in GPS navigation. - Piper PA-28 Warrior
Similar performance characteristics to the C172, but in a low-wing design. - Your own airplane
Regal Air can provide you with training in your own airplane! contact us about insurance requirements and if your airplane is a feasible option for Private Pilot training.
Maintenance and Line Support
One of our biggest advantages at Regal Air is the availability of line and maintenance support. Our large team of professional Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMT) ensures that our airplanes are in top shape and available for use when you need them. Our line crew “tops off” the airplane’s fuel tanks between flights so you don’t have to.
Course Requirements (Part 61)
Training may be completed under two sets of FAA regulations, Part 61 and Part 141. To complete the course under Part 61 you are required to:
- Be at least 17 years-old
- 40 hours of total flight time, at least 20 hours of which are instruction including:
- 3 hours of cross country flight training
- 3 hours of night training
- 3 hours of instrument training
- At least 10 hours of solo flight, including:
- At least 5 hours of solo cross-country flight
- Pass the FAA’s Private Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge Test
- Pass the FAA’s Private Pilot ASEL Practical Test
Course Requirements (Part 141)
Training may be completed under two sets of FAA regulations, Part 61 and Part 141. To complete the course under Part 141 you are required to:
- Be at least 17 years-old
- 35 hours of ground training in our program
- 35 hours of flight in our program, 20 hours of which are instruction
- 3 hours of cross country flight training
- 3 hours of night training
- 3 hours of instrument training
- At least 5 hours of solo flight time
- Pass all of the course’s Stage Checks and Exams
- Pass the course’s End of Course Check and Exam
- Pass the FAA’s Private Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge Test
- Pass the FAA’s Private Pilot ASEL Practical Test
Part 61 or Part 141?
Which program is best for you depends on your situation. If you wish to use the private pilot training towards a college degree, your school may require the training to be done under Part 141. Additionally, some organizations that provide financial aid, such as AOPA and the ROTC may require the training to be performed under Part 141. The Part 141 also has slightly lower minimum fight time requirements, but most pilots need more time to complete their training so there are no cost savings based on the program.
Part 61
- You do not need the training for college credit
- You are not receiving any form of financial aid
Part 141
- You are using financial aid
- You are a foreign student on a student visa
- You need it for college credit
At the end of the day, the pilot certificate you will get is the same regardless of which course you pursue. The training you receive will also be of the same quality as we use the same instructors, airplanes, and curriculum regardless of the part you train under.
Course Costs
$18,000-$25,000
Regal Air works on a pay as you go system. There are no up-front costs to start flight training and you can simply pay for each lesson as you take it. We have a Premier Plan which can save you money as well as additional discounts if you make a deposit into an account at Regal Air. Please contact us about these options
Course costs vary greatly depending on the type of airplane flown and how many hours it takes for you to become proficient. Most people need 50-70 hours of flight training to become proficient enough to pass their FAA Practical Test, regardless of training under Part 61 or Part 141. A few steps you can take to keep costs down include:
- Prepare for your flights and know what will be performed ahead of time
- Practice procedures in a flight simulator or in an airplane while it is not being used
- Team up with another student to ride along and learn from each other (only doable in a C172 or PA28)
- Use a personal computer-based simulator to practice skills taught by your instructor
- Fly at least 2-3 times a week to ensure constant progress
- Fly in the C152, our most affordable option
- Start training in Spring-Summer when the weather is most consistently flyable
- Complete your ground training during fall-winter when the weather in the Puget Sound is worse