The Complete Guide to Earning Your Private Pilot License in Arizona (2026)
Every step from your first lesson to the checkride, in order, from the team at Falcon Field in Mesa.
Private Pilot License Requirements
What It Takes to Earn a Private Pilot License in Arizona
The FAA calls it a private pilot certificate, and it lets you fly a small airplane with passengers anywhere in the U.S. Arizona doesn't issue its own pilot license, so the FAA rules are the same at Falcon Field as anywhere else.
You need to be 16 to solo and 17 to earn the certificate, and able to read, speak, write, and understand English. Before your first solo, you'll need a student pilot certificate and a third-class medical. Our FAA medical guide explains the exam.
The FAA requires at least 40 hours of flight time, including 20 with an instructor and 10 solo. That's a minimum, so plan on more. Our 2026 private pilot requirements checklist lists every item in order.
How to Choose Where to Train in the Phoenix Area
- A towered airport, so your solo tower landings happen at home
- Ten Cessna 172s and a Diamond DA40
- An on-field maintenance shop at Falcon Field
- Three to four flights a week
Look for a towered airport, a steady schedule, and airplanes that stay flying. The FAA requires three solo full-stop landings at a towered airport, and Falcon Field in Mesa has a tower, so those happen at home.
Falcon Field is about 15 minutes from Gilbert, 25 from Chandler, 30 from Scottsdale, and 40 from Phoenix. See how our private pilot program works.
Private Pilot License Cost in Arizona
What a Private Pilot License Costs, and How Arizona Weather Affects It
Plan on about $18,000 to $20,000. Most of that is time in the airplane, so gaps between lessons are the biggest hidden cost. That's why we ask students to fly three to four times a week, and most finish in three to six months.
Our Arizona private pilot cost breakdown covers the costs outside flight hours. We work with Stratus Financial, Flight Training Finance, and AOPA Finance; compare them on our financing page.
Arizona lets you train in every season, but hot days mean high density altitude, and monsoon storms run June 15 to September 30. Our post on how Phoenix heat shapes training explains what changes.
The Private Pilot Path
Your Private Pilot License, Step by Step
Take a discovery flight and start your paperwork
Fly a discovery flight, then book your third-class medical and start your student pilot application with your instructor.
Learn the airplane and fly your first solo
Learn maneuvers, stalls, and landings, then solo after your instructor's endorsement. See our Part 61 training stages.
Fly cross-country and at night
Fly cross-country trips with your instructor, then solo, including a 150 nautical mile trip, plus night training.
Pass the FAA knowledge test
Pass the FAA's written exam after your instructor's endorsement. Read more about the written exam.
Pass your checkride
Pass an oral exam and a flight with a designated pilot examiner (DPE). Our Arizona checkride prep guide covers the final weeks.
Private Pilot License in Arizona
Quick Answers Before You Start Training
How long does it take to get a private pilot license in Arizona?
Most of our students finish in three to six months, depending on weather, scheduling, and how often you fly.
How much does a private pilot license cost in Arizona?
Plan on about $18,000 to $20,000. See our cost breakdown and financing options.
What is Part 61 private pilot training?
Part 61 is the section of FAA rules that sets what you must learn and log, including the 40-hour minimum, while your instructor sets the order and pace.
Is the private pilot license the first step toward a flying career?
Yes. Our Zero to Hero career track continues to instrument, commercial, and CFI. Compare the two paths.
Where can I find answers to more questions?
Our private pilot license in Arizona FAQ covers the questions Phoenix-area students ask most.
If you have any additional questions please send us an email to [email protected]
Start Your Private Pilot License at Falcon Field
Spend about 60 minutes in the air with one of our instructors beside you, flying most of it yourself. Call 480-256-8355 or book your flight today.