The FAA defines the aeronautical experience requirements a Private Pilot applicant must meet prior to recommendation for a checkride by an authorized flight instructor.
Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations that relate to private pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations (PART 61 & 91).
Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB 830)
Use of the applicable portions of the "Aeronautical Information Manual" and FAA advisory circulars
Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage, dead reckoning, and navigation systems
Radio communication procedures
Recognition of critical weather situations from the ground and in flight, windshear avoidance, and the procurement and use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts
Safe and efficient operation of aircraft, including collision avoidance, and recognition and avoidance of wake turbulence;
Effects of density altitude on takeoff and climb performance;
Weight and balance computations
Principles of aerodynamics, powerplants, and aircraft systems;
Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery techniques
Aeronautical decision making and judgment
Preflight action that includes, how to obtain information on runway lengths at airports of intended use, data on takeoff and landing distances, weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements and how to plan for alternatives if the planned flight cannot be completed or delays are encountered.
Preflight preparation
Preflight procedures
Airport operations (towered and non-towered)
Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
Performance maneuvers (steep turns)
Ground reference maneuvers (turns around a point, s-turns, rectangular pattern)
Navigation
Slow flight (1.2 VSO) and stalls (power on and off)
Basic instrument maneuvers
Emergency operations
Night operations
Postflight procedures
40 hours total flight time
20 hours of dual training
10 hours of solo flight
3 hours of dual cross-country flight training
3 hours of dual night flight training
One night dual cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance
10 night takeoffs and 10 night landings to a full stop with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern at an airport.
3 hours of flight training on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications and the use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate to instrument flight;
3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test, which must have been performed within 60 days preceding the date of the test
At least 5 hours of solo cross-country flight
One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles total distance, with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations.
Three solo takeoffs and three landings to a full stop with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern at an airport with an operating control tower.