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Recreational Pilot
What is a Recreational Pilot Certificate?
If you love the idea of learning how to fly airplanes as a hobby but want to avoid the advanced training and higher cost that often comes with it, the recreational pilot’s license may be for you. This pilot license is for someone who wants to fly for fun, but does not plan on flying very far or in difficult conditions. The recreational pilot license program was started by the FAA to provide an easy way for people to fly single engine aircraft for their own enjoyment without the cost of becoming a pilot. Although this license only allows flight during the day, within 50 miles of your home airport, and has some restrictions, it can be earned with less flight time instruction than other licenses and for a lower cost.
In addition to being a great way to fly as a recreational activity, the experience you gain while earning this license can also be a great stepping stone to more advanced flight training, like a private pilot license.
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• There is no minimum age to start receiving flight instruction. The only age limitations for the recreational pilot certificate are that you be at least 17 years old.
• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
• Hold either a student or sport pilot license.
• Have an FAA-approved medical certificate
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To complete your recreational pilot license training program, you’ll have to complete the following training and exams:
• 30 hours of flight training (15 of those with an instructor).
• Learn the basics of flying (regulations, procedures, etc.) via an instructional course.
• Pass an FAA written knowledge test.
• Pass a required oral and practical flight test administered by an FAA-designated examiner.
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One of the advantages of the recreational pilot license is that you can complete the training with less training than that of earning a private pilot license and you can fly larger aircraft than if you only had a sport pilot license.
This lets you get into the air quicker and with less of a financial burden. However, you are still limited to flying during the day, near airports, and under 10,000 feet of altitude.
The limitations of a recreational pilot license are that you can’t fly at night with more than one passenger, or in many other conditions. It’s basically a license to fly for fun on bright sunny days near your home airport.
Additionally, compared to a sport pilot license, it does add 10 hours of required flight training which means additional cost.
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Easy! Simply contact us to set up a consultation to determine your goals, answer questions, and discuss the next steps – we are with you every step of the way! OR,
Schedule an “Introductory Flight." We’ll take you up in the airplane and let you do the flying to see if you enjoy it (you will) and give you an opportunity to interview us and our school.
