What a private pilot training progress tracker should measure
To be eligible for the private pilot practical test in an airplane under Part 61, you need to meet the aeronautical experience requirements of 14 CFR 61.109. Most students fall short in one specific category, not in total hours, which is why tracking each category matters.
| Requirement (airplane, Part 61) | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Total flight time | 40 hours |
| Flight training with an instructor (dual) | 20 hours |
| Solo flight time | 10 hours |
| Dual cross-country | 3 hours |
| Dual night training | 3 hours, including one cross-country of more than 100 NM total distance and 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop |
| Dual instrument training | 3 hours |
| Solo cross-country | 5 hours |
| Long solo cross-country | One flight of at least 150 NM total distance, with full-stop landings at three points and one segment of at least 50 NM |
| Solo at a towered airport | 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower |
| Checkride preparation | 3 hours of dual in the 2 calendar months before the practical test |
Track your flight training by stage
- Pre-solo: basic maneuvers, takeoffs and landings, and the pre-solo knowledge test
- Solo: supervised local flights followed by endorsed solo practice
- Cross-country: dual flights, then solo cross-country, including the long 150 NM flight
- Night: dual night training with the required takeoffs, landings and cross-country
- Instrument: three hours of dual instrument training by reference to instruments
- Checkride prep: the aeronautical knowledge test, mock oral and practical test preparation
Why tracking progress changes how you train
Meeting the minimums does not mean you are ready. Most students need more than 40 hours to reach the proficiency the Airman Certification Standards require, and your instructor decides when you are ready for the practical test.
- You can spot a lagging category, like night or solo cross-country, early
- You can plan lessons around what is still missing instead of repeating what is done
- You know when you are close to eligible for the practical test
- Your instructor and you share the same numbers, so there are no surprises