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PPL training is the first stage of Rookie — Level I, the level for students with no prior license. Alpha does not sell the PPL as a separate program; Level I is $92,901 standard.
The PPL in numbers
Private Pilot License (PPL) in Miami
The Private Pilot License is the first FAA pilot certificate. You need at least 40 flight hours (14 CFR 61.109), to be 17 years old and a third-class medical. At The Alpha Aviation Group, PPL training is the first stage of Rookie — Level I, under Part 61 at Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE).
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40 h minimum FAA minimum flight time (14 CFR 61.109) — a floor, not a forecast. -
Age 17 Minimum age for the certificate (61.103); 16 to fly solo as a student. -
Part of Level I Included in Rookie — Level I, $92,901 standard.
PPL requirements
The FAA sets the eligibility rules in 14 CFR 61.103:
- Age: 17 for the private certificate; 16 for the student pilot certificate that lets you fly solo (61.83).
- English: read, speak, write and understand English. Alpha offers an aviation English course.
- Medical: a third-class medical certificate (or higher) from an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner before your first solo (61.23).
- Tests: a knowledge test (written exam) and a practical test (checkride) with an FAA examiner.
- International students: TSA Flight Training Security Program approval before training (49 CFR Part 1552). For M-1 students, the Form I-20 is issued by a SEVP-certified partner flight school, and Alpha guides you through the process.
FAA minimum flight time for the PPL (airplane, single-engine)
14 CFR 61.109(a) requires at least 40 hours, including:
| Requirement | FAA minimum |
|---|---|
| Flight training with an authorized instructor | 20 h |
| Cross-country training | 3 h |
| Night training | 3 h, with one cross-country over 100 nm and 10 full-stop takeoffs and landings |
| Flight by reference to instruments | 3 h |
| Checkride preparation | 3 h within the 2 calendar months before the test |
| Solo flight | 10 h, including 5 h solo cross-country |
| Long solo cross-country | 150 nm total, landings at 3 points, one leg over 50 nm |
| Towered-airport solo | 3 full-stop takeoffs and landings |
These are minimums. Your total depends on your progress, weather and scheduling.
How the PPL fits the Airline Career Pathway
The PPL lets you fly as pilot in command, but not for compensation or hire (14 CFR 61.113). It is the base for the next steps.
What comes next
- Instrument Rating: flying in clouds under IFR
- Commercial Pilot License: flying for pay
- Multi-engine and flight instructor ratings
Already have a license?
If you already hold a pilot license, your entry level depends on what you hold. Admissions reviews your license and logbook and explains which level and price apply — see the cost guide.
Private Pilot License: frequently asked questions
Is 40 hours enough to get a PPL?
Forty hours is the FAA minimum in 14 CFR 61.109, not a prediction. Your total depends on how fast you meet the practical test standards, the weather and scheduling. The checkride is what matters: you pass when you fly to the FAA standard, not when you reach an hour count.
How old do I have to be?
At least 16 to get a student pilot certificate and fly solo (14 CFR 61.83), and at least 17 to receive the Private Pilot certificate (61.103). There is no FAA maximum age.
Do I need a medical certificate?
Yes. You need at least a third-class medical certificate from an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner before your first solo flight (14 CFR 61.23). Alpha’s published list of additional fees estimates it at about $130 per year.
Can I fly for pay with a PPL?
No. A private pilot cannot act as pilot in command for compensation or hire, with narrow exceptions (14 CFR 61.113). To be paid to fly you need the Commercial Pilot License, which requires at least 250 hours.
Can I take only the PPL with Alpha?
No. Alpha offers the Airline Career Pathway by entry level. The PPL is the first stage of Rookie — Level I ($92,901 standard), which continues to the instrument, commercial, multi-engine and flight instructor ratings. Written exam ($175) and examiner ($800–$1,200) fees are paid per license.
Do I need to speak English?
Yes. The FAA requires you to read, speak, write and understand English (14 CFR 61.103). Admissions works in Spanish and English, and Alpha offers an aviation English course when it fits your plan.
Other programs in the Airline Career Pathway
- Rookie — Level I: FAA training from zero — the full Level I path, from no license to CFII
- Instrument Rating (IR) — flying in clouds under IFR
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL) — 250-hour FAA minimum, flying for pay
- Multi-Engine Rating (MEL) — the class rating airlines fly
- Flight Instructor (CFI and CFII) — teaching to build flight time
Related guides
- All programs and how the pathway works
- FAA pilot training cost in Miami by level
- FAA Part 61 training in Miami for Latin American students
- Aviation English course
Questions about your case? Contact admissions in English or Spanish.