The private pilot certificate (or private pilot license) has been the most commonly sought-after pilot certificate for years. Some people seek a private pilot certificate purely as a hobby or sport, while others desire the convenience of aircraft travel for vacations or to visit family members.

Some private pilots and aircraft owners use their airplane as a primary mode of transportation to business meetings or events, and for some, it's a step in the road toward becoming an airline pilot. If you've decided that the private pilot certificate is right for you, then these are the next steps.

Private pilots are trained well enough to navigate a small aircraft through the nation's airspace by themselves. While in training, a private pilot learns aircraft maneuvers, navigation techniques, emergency procedures, and cross-country flight planning. Private pilot training is more intense than training for a sports pilot certificate or a recreational pilot certificate, but not quite as extensive as for a commercial pilot certificate. Here are the steps for how to become a private pilot: