Pilot-in-command
Single-engine aircraft, carry passengers, day or night across the national airspace system.
Program Path
Prerequisites and training format
- At least 17 years old to receive your certificate (training may begin at 16)
- Read, speak, write, and understand English
- FAA Third-Class Medical Certificate or BasicMed. Admissions can explain the process.
01
Discovery flight & enrollment
Meet instructors, confirm eligibility, and start ground school.
02
Solo and cross-country progression
Build maneuvers, navigation, and decision-making for checkride readiness.
03
Private pilot checkride
Complete your certificate and plan the next rating.
Most students complete training between 55 and 75 hours. FAA minimums are 40 hours in published Part 61 packages and 35 in an FAA-approved curriculum. We train until you are ready, not just legally eligible.
Training Format
Published package and approved curriculum
Part 61: Most students train this path — more scheduling flexibility, with structured lesson tracking and stage evaluations. The default, including career students.
FAA-approved curriculum: Available for VA and international students who need that format.
Training is in our Cessna fleet. Published package totals on Fleet & Rates are Part 61.
Training Paths
Part 61 vs FAA-approved curriculum at a glance
Both paths are FAA-regulated and lead to the same pilot certificates. The difference is structure, flexibility, and minimum hour requirements.
Commercial minimum
250 / 190 hrs
Private minimum
40 / 35 hrs
Certificate
Same FAA certs
| Feature | Part 61 | FAA-approved curriculum |
|---|---|---|
| Training format | Flexible, instructor-led training pace | FAA-approved syllabus with structured lesson sequence |
| FAA oversight | Standard FAA oversight | Higher oversight with regular audits |
| Commercial minimums | 250 hours | 190 hours |
| Private minimums | 40 hours | 35 hours |
| Typical fit | Most students, including career paths | VA and international students who need an FAA-approved curriculum |
Choose Part 61 if
- You need schedule flexibility
- You want to progress at an individual pace
- You are balancing training with other commitments
Choose FAA-approved curriculum if
- You are a VA or international student who needs an FAA-approved curriculum
- You are planning to use GI Bill flight benefits that generally require approved FAA curriculum enrollment
Is one certificate better to employers?
No. A Commercial Pilot Certificate is the same certificate regardless of whether training is through a Part 61 package or an FAA-approved curriculum.
Is ULA an FAA-approved pilot school?
Yes. ULA is an FAA-approved pilot school, and the FAA reviews student records, pass rates, and aircraft maintenance. Published package pricing is Part 61.
Can VA benefits be used for all flight training?
Not necessarily. VA funding depends on eligibility, training type, and current VA rules. See VA benefits on financing for details.
Can students finish in FAA minimum hours?
No guarantee. Many students need more than minimum hours, and consistent training frequency affects progress.
Certificate & Skills
What the private pilot certificate authorizes
Preflight and decisions
Weather analysis, go/no-go decision making, and cross-country navigation.
Aircraft and airspace
Systems, traffic pattern operations, and communications in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
Emergencies and night
Emergency procedures, night flying, and aeronautical knowledge beyond checkride minimums.
Ground School
Jeppesen online plus instructor coaching
Ground knowledge matched to your certificate or rating: Jeppesen online coursework with one-on-one instructor support.
- Aerodynamics and principles of flight
- Aircraft systems and performance
- Weather theory, reports, and forecasting
- Airspace and FAA regulations
- Airport operations and radio communications
- Navigation and flight planning
- Weight and balance
- Risk management and ADM
- Human factors and aviation safety
- FAA Knowledge Test preparation
- Practical test and oral exam preparation
Before and After Flight
Pre-flight briefings and post-flight debriefs
- Before each lesson: objectives, procedures, safety considerations, and what the flight will accomplish.
- After each flight: strengths, areas for improvement, lessons learned, and goals for the next lesson.
Students access an online scheduling and training management system for syllabus progress, completed lessons, upcoming objectives, and course milestones. Records carry across instructors.
Saturday Study Group
Free · 9:00 a.m. every Saturday
Open to ULA students, students at other schools, prospective pilots, and aviation enthusiasts. No ULA enrollment required.
Topics include written and oral exam prep, weather, navigation, airspace, aircraft systems, cross-country planning, and career pathways.
Next Steps
After your certificate
After the checkride, most students continue to instrument or commercial training. Previous training experience is welcome; we build from where you are.
Discovery flight
Take the controls before you enroll.
Schedule a Discovery FlightCommercial pilot
Instrument and commercial certificates for professional flying.
View Commercial PilotTraining aircraft
Cessna 172 instruction and rental rates at U42.
View Fleet & RatesApplication
Tell us where you are starting
Admissions follows up about medical eligibility, financing, and start date.