The FAA allows students to earn sport and recreational pilot's licenses. The requirements are not as stringent as those for private pilot and commercial licenses. A sport pilot must complete a minimum of 40 hours of flight training -- the same as a private pilot -- but is limited to the distance and region to fly in after training. In addition, sport pilots may not fly with more than one passenger. Recreational pilot licenses are offered to those who do not pass the medical exam required for private and commercial licenses. Recreational pilots are allowed to fly LSA --Light Sport Aircraft.
The FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours training for private pilot licenses. In addition, the student must pass the FAA medical exam and have checkups every three years if under the age of 45 and every two years thereafter. The 40 hours are broken down to 20 hours of instruction with the CFI in the aircraft, 10 solo hours, including cross-country solos of three legs that are a minimum of 50 nautical miles each, four instrument flight hours, and four night flying hours. An additional two hours of PIC (Pilot In Command ) training time are required. Most students take between 50 and 60 hours of training before being allowed to test for the license.
In order to fly commercially -- with or without passengers -- the FAA requires students to complete an average of 120 hours of flight time, ground school, pilotage and navigation courses, and engineering classes with the flight controls. Commercial training is rigorous and expensive. Many students opt to pass entrance exams for he airlines, where the company puts them through flight academies in exchange for work after completion of the course.
Earning a helicopter license -- also referred to as a rotor rating -- is also governed by the FAA. For a private license, students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of flight time -- 20 with the CFI, 15 solo, and five hours going over emergency procedures. Many students need between 60 and 75 hours to complete the training. Helicopter training is very expensive, with the hourly average for helicopter time around $200 to $300 versus $100 to $120 for fixed-wing aircraft.