Both tracks start here
Private Pilot training near Portland
At Fly North, a private pilot certificate typically takes about 70 flight hours and costs $13,000–$18,000 total, finishing in 4–6 months when you fly 2–3 times a week.
Requirements
| Minimum age | 16 to solo, 17 for the certificate |
| Medical | FAA 3rd class before solo · on-site AME every Thursday |
| Tests | Pre-solo written, FAA written, checkride |
| Training | Part 141 or Part 61, same structured syllabus |
What it lets you do
- Fly day or night and carry passengers to almost any public airport in the U.S.
- Share flight costs with passengers, as long as you pay at least your equal share.
- Fly yourself to business meetings. Getting paid to fly takes a Commercial certificate.
Two instructors who know your training, so lessons don't disappear.
Your path
From first flight to checkride
- FREE Pilot Roadmap Session or a $299 Discovery Flight
- Enroll: paperwork, TSA citizenship check, FAA medical
- Ground school starts (87 Challenge)
- FAA written exam
- Pre-Solo stage check, then your first solo
- Cross-Country stage check, then your solo cross-country
- Final stage check
- Checkride with an FAA examiner
Pace & timeline
How often you fly changes your total hours
| Pace | Lessons / week | To Private | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career-Bound | 4–5 | 3–5 months | ~55+ |
| Full-Time · sweet spot | 2–3 | 4–6 months | ~70 |
| Part-Time | 1 or less | 9–15 months | ~100 |
Skills built through repetition stick; skills built once a week fade between lessons.
Example cost
C172 + instructor = $283/hr Standard or $257/hr with Fly North Pro.
About 70 hrs × $280 ≈ $18K at the upper end, plus the FAA examiner's checkride fee.
Questions
Do I need my own plane?
No. You train in our wide fleet of over 15 airplanes with our instructors.
Can I wear glasses?
Yes. Vision correctable to 20/40 in each eye is fine for a 3rd class medical.
Part 61 or Part 141?
Both run the same structured program. Part 141 follows an FAA-approved syllabus with stage checks.
What comes after Private?
Fly for fun, or add an Instrument rating and keep climbing the Professional track.
Hours and costs are typical planning ranges, not quotes. Last updated October 2026.
Ready to see your plan?
Your FREE Pilot Roadmap Session maps your cost, timeline and schedule, and puts you in the simulator.