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What is the minimum age to be eligible for a private pilot certificate in an airplane?
Choices
15 years old
You may begin training earlier, but 15 is not the eligibility age for the certificate.
16 years old
16 is the minimum age to solo an airplane, not to hold the private certificate.
✓ 17 years oldcorrect
The private pilot certificate in an airplane requires a minimum age of 17.
18 years old
18 is the minimum for a commercial certificate, not private.
Why
A private pilot applicant in an airplane must be at least 17 years old, though solo flight as a student is allowed at 16.
FAA source: 14 CFR 61.103browse the reference library →
This is taught in Getting Started: Eligibility, Pilot Types and the Path — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.