What is a private pilot certificate?
A private pilot certificate (often called a PPL) is the FAA certificate that lets you fly an airplane as pilot in command and carry passengers, as long as you’re not being paid to fly.
It’s the foundation every other pilot certificate builds on.
The private pilot certificate is the first major certificate most pilots earn.
It allows you to fly for personal travel, recreation, and business as long as you aren’t compensated for your piloting. Nearly every professional pilot, including airline captains, started with this same certificate.
Related Questions
Thinking About Flying as a Career?
The private pilot certificate is the first step toward the flight deck. But if you’re thinking about a career as a pilot you’ll need more then that. Zero Time to Airline is a structured program that takes you from no experience all the way to airline-qualified, with every certificate and rating along the way.