Ready to begin your aviation journey? The first rung on the ladder is a Private Pilot License (PPL), and meeting the requirements will bring opportunities to enjoy the cockpit and explore further flight opportunities. Paragon Flight offers an incredible training program that will help you reach your goals through an FAA-approved course of instruction.

Paragon Flight’s PPL Program

The route most commonly taken by Paragon Flight student pilots is broken down into stages, each culminating with an evaluation to ensure mastery of that section’s benchmarks before progressing to more difficult skills outlined in the next stage.

Starting Point: The PPL program begins with a Discovery Flight and an On-Boarding meeting. The Discovery Flight is, as it sounds, an opportunity to discover more about your interest in flight and our flight school, staff, equipment, and programs. You’ll enjoy a short lesson followed by a tour and a flight with an FAA-authorized Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), during which you’ll have the opportunity to take control of the aircraft for a short time.

The onboarding meeting after the Discovery Flight will allow you to discuss any concerns you may have, including your goals, schedule, and current skill levels. You’ll receive a thorough written cost estimate and an assigned dedicated flight instructor during this meeting.

Stage 1: Flight Training Fundamentals (20-30 flight hours)

The first training module requires about 20-30 flight hours for completion. You can expect to be introduced to aircraft terminology, flight principles, airport operations, airspace, radio and communications, weather, FAA regulations and rules, checklist use, and flight maneuvers, including takeoff and landing.

This stage will end with a “stage check,” similar to a mid-term, where you will make sure that you’re progressing at a correct pace and appropriate quality. These stage checks at the end of each stage allow students to gain confidence in their skills and exposure to testing. This evaluation ensures you’re ready for your first solo flight during Stage 2.

Stage 2: Advanced/Solo Flight Training (10-15 flight hours)

The continuation of flight training will focus on improving skills, including landings and cross-country navigation, in preparation for the subsequent two cross-country flights you’ll take alone and your supervised nighttime cross-country flight.

The second phase will culminate with another stage check that we’ll use to verify that you’re ready to complete your independent cross-country flights.

Stage 3: Examination and Testing (10-15 flight hours)

The last phase includes the last independent flights and tying up any loose ends. The focus of this phase is preparation for the FAA checkride, during which you’ll demonstrate your skills verbally and practically.

Before you take your FAA exams, we’ll give you a final exam, called the EOC, or End of Course, flight. This experience is meant to be hard; it should be similar to what you’ll experience during your checkride.

After this point, you’ll be ready to sit for your FAA evaluations, pass, and become a licensed private pilot!

Get Started Today!

Click here to book a program with Paragon Flight and meet the requirements needed to earn a Private Pilot License (PPL). We also offer various other aviation programs to meet the needs of any pilot’s flight dreams.