How do you get a private pilot license in Topeka?
Log at least 40 flight hours (20 with an instructor and 10 solo), hold an FAA medical certificate, pass the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test, and pass a checkride with an FAA examiner. Top Aviation Services trains you at towered Philip Billard Airport (KTOP). Budget roughly $10,123–$11,423 at the FAA minimum.
PRIVATE PILOT BY THE NUMBERS
WHAT THE FAA REQUIRES
Under 14 CFR 61.109, the Private Pilot Certificate for single-engine airplanes requires at least 40 hours of flight time, including:
- 20 hours of flight training with an instructor, including 3 hours of cross-country, 3 hours at night (with a 100-nautical-mile night cross-country and 10 night takeoffs and landings), 3 hours of instrument training, and 3 hours of checkride preparation within 2 calendar months of the test
- 10 hours of solo flight, including 5 hours of solo cross-country and one solo cross-country of at least 150 nautical miles with full-stop landings at three points (one leg of at least 50 nautical miles)
- 3 solo takeoffs and landings at an airport with an operating control tower
- An FAA medical certificate, a student pilot certificate, a passing knowledge test and a passing checkride
- Minimum age 17 for the certificate (16 to solo)
Philip Billard Airport is a towered airport, so the control-tower requirement is part of your everyday training rather than a special trip.
HOW YOU TRAIN WITH US
Most private pilot students train in N61684, our 1975 Cessna 172M with a Garmin GNS 430W and dual G5 instruments, at $159.95 per Hobbs hour plus tax. Training is FAA Part 61, so lessons are scheduled around your work and family; flights are available by appointment seven days a week.
Once you earn your certificate, you are eligible to rent our aircraft on your own.
WHAT IT COSTS
These estimates assume the 40-hour FAA minimum. Most students need 55–70 hours, so budget accordingly. See the full cost breakdown.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
How much does a private pilot license cost in Topeka?
At the 40-hour FAA minimum, plan on about $10,123–$11,423 at Top Aviation Services, including aircraft rental, instruction, materials, the FAA medical and the examiner’s fee. Most students need 55–70 hours, so budget above the minimum.
How long does it take to get a private pilot license?
The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours. Most of our students need 55–70 hours. How often you fly matters most: two or three lessons a week keeps skills from fading between flights.
Do I need a medical certificate for a private pilot license?
Yes. You need an FAA medical certificate (third class or higher) before you fly solo. BasicMed is not available to first-time pilots who have never held an FAA medical.
Can I try a lesson before committing?
Yes. A $159.99 Discovery Flight puts you at the controls with a certified flight instructor for 30–45 minutes, and the time counts toward your Private Pilot Certificate.
MORE TRAINING AT KTOP
NOT SURE
WHERE TO
BEGIN?
A discovery flight puts you in the cockpit with a CFI for 30–45 minutes over Topeka. No experience needed. $159.99 — counts toward your certificate.