§ TRAINING PROGRAMS / DOC NGFA-PRG-CATALOG

Pilot
Training
Programs

Every FAA pilot certificate and rating on a single page. Prerequisites, hour requirements, what you'll learn, where it's offered, what it costs. Your roadmap from zero hours to Airline Transport Pilot.

§ 0.1 / FAA PART 61

Flexible · Self-Paced

Slightly higher hour minimums (40 hr PPL, 250 hr commercial). Your pace. Offered at both KRAL and KREI. Most students train Part 61.

§ 0.2 / FAA PART 141

Structured · Lower Minimums

FAA-approved structured syllabus with stage checks. Lower minimums (35 hr PPL, 190 hr commercial). Required for some VA benefits. KRAL only.

NextGen training fleet on the KRAL ramp — TRAINING FLEET · KRAL RAMP § 0.3 / FIG 01

01 /

Private Pilot Certificate

PPL / FAR 61 · 141

The certificate that lets you fly. Carry passengers, plan cross-country trips, fly for personal use. Foundation for every certificate after.

PREREQUISITES

· 17 years old (16 to solo)
· Read, speak, write, understand English
· FAA Third-Class Medical (or BasicMed)

HOUR REQUIREMENTS

· 40 hr total minimum
· 20 hr dual · 10 hr solo
· 3 hr XC dual · 5 hr XC solo
· 3 hr night · 3 hr instrument · 3 hr test prep

AIRCRAFT · Cessna 152 · Cessna 172 · Piper Warrior

→ PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE / FULL DETAIL

02 /

Instrument Rating

IR / POST-PPL

Fly in clouds, low visibility, IMC. Required for serious cross-country in California winter weather. Prerequisite for most commercial pilot work.

PREREQUISITES

· Private Pilot Certificate
· FAA Instrument written exam

HOUR REQUIREMENTS

· 50 hr PIC cross-country
· 40 hr actual or simulated instrument
· 15 hr instrument training w/ CFII

AIRCRAFT · Cessna 172 (steam · G1000) · Piper Warrior · Redbird sim

03 /

Commercial Pilot

CPL / FAR 61.129

The certificate that lets you get paid to fly. Tighter maneuvering tolerances, complex aircraft, advanced systems. Career step.

PREREQUISITES

· Private Pilot + Instrument
· 250 hr (61) / 190 hr (141) total

HOUR REQUIREMENTS

· 10 hr complex (PA-28R Arrow)
· 10 hr instrument · 100 hr PIC
· 50 hr XC PIC · 5 hr night XC

AIRCRAFT · Piper Cherokee Arrow (PA-28R) for complex

04 /

Multi-Engine Rating

MEL / BE-76

Add multi-engine privileges. Engine-out procedures, asymmetric thrust, single-engine performance. Career requirement for airline work.

PREREQUISITES

· Private Pilot Certificate (minimum)
· Instrument recommended

HOUR REQUIREMENTS

· No FAA hour minimum
· Typical: 10–15 hr to proficiency

AIRCRAFT · Beechcraft Duchess BE-76

05 /

CFI / CFII / MEI

FAR 61 SUBPT H

Teach others. Build hours toward 1,500. The CFI checkride is the hardest most pilots will ever take. Worth it.

PREREQUISITES

· Commercial Pilot Certificate
· Instrument Rating (for CFII)

HOUR REQUIREMENTS

· Fundamentals of Instruction
· CFI · CFII · MEI ratings available

AIRCRAFT · Full fleet · sim integration

06 /

Airline Transport Pilot

ATP / FAR 61.155

The captain's certificate. 1,500 hours (1,250 with Part 141 commercial; 1,000 with a four-year aviation degree). We provide checkride prep and the multi-engine ATP-CTP path through partners.

PREREQUISITES

· Age 23 · 1,500 hr total
· ATP-CTP completion

HOUR REQUIREMENTS

· 500 hr cross-country
· 100 hr night · 75 hr instrument
· 250 hr PIC

AIRCRAFT · Beechcraft Duchess for ME ATP

07 /

High Altitude Endorsement

FAR 61.31(g)

Mountain and density-altitude training is what separates pilots who can safely operate west of the Rockies from pilots who can't. Trained at Big Bear (KL35) and Apple Valley (KAPV).

PREREQUISITES

· Private Pilot Certificate

HOUR REQUIREMENTS

· Ground component · physiology
· Flight component · KL35 ops

AIRCRAFT · Cessna 172 · Cessna 152

08 /

Career Track (Zero to Hero)

CAREER / 0 → 1,500

PPL through CFI in a structured 12 to 24 month sequence. Includes ground school, all checkrides, multi-engine, and CFI ticket so you can start instructing and building hours toward ATP.

PREREQUISITES

· Age 17 minimum
· FAA Medical
· Financing approved

HOUR REQUIREMENTS

· Single integrated syllabus
· Stage checks by Chief CFI

AIRCRAFT · Full fleet · structured rotation

§ NEXT STEP

Decide In The Left Seat

The cheapest, fastest, most honest way to choose your program is to fly one. A discovery flight is 45 minutes with a CFI for $199.

BOOK A DISCOVERY FLIGHT → READ THE FAQ

PilotTrainingPrograms

Flexible · Self-Paced

Structured · Lower Minimums

Private Pilot Certificate

Instrument Rating

Commercial Pilot

Multi-Engine Rating

CFI / CFII / MEI

Airline Transport Pilot

High Altitude Endorsement

Career Track (Zero to Hero)

Decide In The Left Seat

Pilot
Training
Programs