How Many Hours is Average to Earn a Pilot Certificate?

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I went back through a bunch of practical tests I had given and came up with some averages of how many hours people had when they completed practical tests. The goal was to answer the question, how many hours does a pilot typically have when they complete a private or commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating? So, I compiled hours for each event from each practical test I have given through the end of 2023 and this is what I found.

Most frequently missed instrument test questions—November 2024

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These commonly missed questions often relate to IFR regulations, ATC clearances, meteorology, and complex instrument procedures. Understanding why these questions are frequently misunderstood can help test-takers better prepare and avoid making costly mistakes. Here are the five most often missed questions from November 2024.

Video tip: how do VORs work?

In the age of GPS and iPad it can be tempting to look past the traditional forms of ground-based radio navigation like VOR in favor of direct-to navigation and moving map displays. It's important you still take the time to understand how to use these systems since VORs serve an important role in the national airspace system and can provide a reliable source of backup navigation.

Quiz: BasicMed

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BasicMed underwent a significant expansion in November 2024, increasing the number of allowable passengers in a covered aircraft to six (up from five); increasing the allowable number of seats to seven (up from six); and increasing the maxium certificated takeoff weight to 12,500 pounds (up from 6,000 pounds). Test your knowledge of BasicMed in this quiz.

New options available to reinstate flight instructor privileges

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The FAA introduced major changes for certified flight instructors on December 1, 2024. CFIs will no longer have an expiration date associated with their certificate under the new rules; however, CFIs are required to maintain recent flight instruction activity or participate in a flight instructor refresher course (FIRC) at least every 24 months. Failure to document and apply for recency via IACRA have the same effect as a CFI expiring—meaning a reinstatement is required.

Top 10 student pilot gifts

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The best value in aviation today is Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course. It will give you all the knowledge you need to become a proficient aviator and help you ace your FAA tests. Home study is an essential part of your training and Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course will save you time and money. It works on all your devices and it never expires, so you can buy it once and use it for the rest of your flying career.

Sporty’s 2025 Course Update Includes Aviation Intelligence

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Sporty's recently released a major 2025 update to its online courses which blends cutting-edge Aviation Intelligence℠ (AI) tools, immersive video lessons, and integrated real-world flight simulation—all designed to make your learning experience faster, easier, and more engaging.

Video tip: Flying internationally (FARs, flight planning, eAPIS and US Customs)

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One of the most rewarding trips you can take after earning your pilot certificate is leaving the U.S. and heading to new destinations in Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. This week's video tip takes a look at what it takes to fly internationally, including flight planning, extra equipment requirements and how to file the required paperwork with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

November 2024 test question update from Sporty’s

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Sporty's recently released its November written test question update in its 2025 Learn to Fly Course test preparation module. While the FAA does not publish actual test questions, representative test questions are available, and new questions released by Sporty's represent emphasis areas which you will likely enounter on the test.

Oxygen basics for pilots

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8 Comments
Medical and aviator oxygen is 99.5% pure, and industrial, or welders oxygen, is 99.2% pure. The biggest difference between medical and aviator oxygen is the moisture content. Medical oxygen can contain 67 ppm of moisture. Industrial oxygen can contain 50 ppm of moisture. Aviation oxygen can contain 7 ppm of moisture.