Private Pilot Training in Georgia: A Practical Guide for Beginners

Earning your private pilot certificate is the first big milestone in aviation. It lets you fly yourself, friends, and family for fun or personal travel. Lowcountry Flight Company offers private pilot training at Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport (KTBR) in Statesboro, Georgia. Located just outside Savannah, we train students from across Southeast Georgia.

This guide covers what private pilot training involves, how to choose a training approach, and how to get started.

What a private pilot certificate lets you do

With a private pilot certificate, you can:

• Fly yourself and passengers in single-engine airplanes
• Travel to other airports for personal trips
• Share certain operating costs with passengers (within FAA rules)

You can't be paid to fly as a private pilot. That requires a commercial certificate.

What training involves

Private pilot training has four main parts:

1. Ground knowledge. You'll learn weather, navigation, airspace, regulations, aerodynamics, and aircraft systems.
2. Flight training. You'll learn takeoffs and landings, maneuvers, emergency procedures, solo flight, and cross-country navigation.
3. FAA knowledge test. A written test on the ground material.
4. Practical test (checkride). An oral exam and flight with an FAA examiner.

You'll also need an FAA medical certificate before you solo. It's a good idea to get it early in training.

How long does it take?

Under Part 61, the FAA requires at least 40 hours of flight time, including specific amounts of instruction and solo flight. That's a legal minimum, not an average. Most students need more.

How long it takes you depends on:

• How often you fly. Flying two or three times a week usually leads to steadier progress than flying once every couple of weeks.
• Weather. Some lessons will be cancelled.
• Preparation. Studying before each lesson makes your time in the airplane more productive.

We won't promise a finish date. We'll help you set a schedule you can stick with.

Part 61 vs. Part 141

You'll often see flight training described as Part 61 or Part 141. Both lead to the same FAA private pilot certificate.

• Part 61 training is flexible and built around your progress, within FAA requirements.
• Part 141 training follows an FAA-approved course with a set structure and stage checks. For private pilot, the minimum flight training is 35 hours.

Neither one is automatically better. A lower minimum doesn't mean you'll finish faster. What matters most is consistent training with a good instructor.

At Lowcountry Flight Company, all training is conducted under Part 61, so lessons are built around your progress and your schedule, including evenings and weekends.

How to choose where to train

Before you commit to a school, ask:

• Can I get there regularly? Consistency matters more than almost anything else.
• How are lessons scheduled? What happens when weather or maintenance cancels a flight?
• Will I have a consistent instructor?
• Is there a clear training plan? You should know what's next and how readiness is judged.
• How is cost explained? Ask for an estimate that includes aircraft, instruction, materials, and testing, and the assumptions behind it.

Getting started at Lowcountry Flight Company

Step 1: Take a discovery flight. It's a short introductory flight with an instructor, and you'll take the controls. No experience needed. Discovery Flight: $125.

Step 2: Talk through your goals. We'll explain how training works, what to expect, and help you plan a schedule.

Step 3: Start training. You'll begin lessons with your instructor, study for your knowledge test, and work toward your solo and checkride.

Already a private pilot? We also offer instrument, commercial, and tailwheel training. Our tailwheel package is $1,500 (before tax) and is flown in N787RH.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need experience to start? No. Most students start with a discovery flight.

How much does a private pilot certificate cost? Total cost depends on how many hours you need, how often you fly, and testing and material costs. Contact us and we'll walk you through the estimate. Our discovery flight is $125.

How old do I need to be? You must be at least 16 to solo and 17 to earn a private pilot certificate. We accept students 15 and up for private pilot training. Discovery flights are open to ages 8 and up, and discovery flight time is loggable toward training.

Where are you located? We're located just outside Savannah, at Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport (KTBR) in Statesboro, Georgia.

Start your training

Book a $125 Discovery Flight, or contact us with questions.