Private Pilot Certification Information

Most UND students arrive without their PPL, and AVIT 102 will be the first flight course they will take at UND. AVIT 102: Introduction to Aviation is our private pilot certification course, which is designed as a five-credit course that will take any student, from little to no experience, to a certificated FAA Private Pilot. Our Part 141 Private Pilot curriculum consists of both a ground school portion and a flight training lab component.

The classroom portion is designed as a full semester, in-person class. You will learn the necessary knowledge needed to make appropriate and safe decisions as a private pilot to earn your PPL. The flight training lab is a 30-lesson curriculum conducted in the Piper Archer. The flight component will develop the skills necessary to safely operate an aircraft at the private pilot level and obtain an FAA PPL.

Seats in AVIT 102 are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis as determined by the submission date of the UND confirmation deposit for applicable majors.*

NOTE: In accordance with department policy, once flight training has commenced at UND, you must complete all flight training in residence at UND in Grand Forks to earn credit for each associated course. For more information see the full department policy.

* Aviation Management majors do not fly their first year; the UND confirmation deposit submission date will not determine their flight spots

Part 141 Pilot School

Both Part 141 and Part 61 pilot schools are designed to educate and develop safe pilots that can operate in the National Airspace System, but there are a few fundamental differences between the two.

Here at UND the majority of our airplane flight courses are offered as Part 141 curricula as approved by the FAA under the authority of 14 CFR Part 141. The approval process requires numerous steps, including vetting course content and routine inspection by the FAA to ensure the highest quality flight education is provided to our students. Some of the benefits of a Part 141 school include:

• Fewer flight hours required to obtain pilot certificates
• Eligible for R-ATP
• Highly-structured training environment that prepares students for the aviation industry
• In-house examiners complete End-of-Course Tests for the issuance of pilot certificates (not all Part 141 pilot schools have this privilege; UND is approved in accordance with 14 CFR Part 141)

Those that obtain their PPL before arriving at UND will not take AVIT 102 as their first flight course but instead take AVIT 220: Enhanced Basic Attitude Instrument Flying.

AVIT 220 combines aspects of both commercial certification and instrument rating training and adds an additional layer of foundational knowledge by taking some of the Private Pilot weak areas and bolstering student confidence in those subject areas. This ensures everyone who graduates with a degree from UND meets the highest standards of quality in all of the knowledge areas regardless of where a student completed their PPL.

Arriving at UND with a PPL already attained may reduce the time it takes to get through the degree program. However, this will vary based on a student's individual progression through the remaining required flight training, selected degree, and available seats for AVIT 220.

Students who have obtained their PPL before arriving at UND will be assigned a seat in AVIT 220 on a first-come, first-served basis as determined by the submission date of their FAA Private Pilot and Medical Certificates. UND confirmation deposit must also have been submitted.

NOTE: AVIT 220 is generally only offered during the fall and spring semesters.

NOTE: If you have started your PPL training but did not complete it before arriving at UND, you may be able to find local Part 61 providers to help you complete your training and receive your PPL before starting flight training at UND. Alternatively, you may elect to stop your Part 61 flight training and take AVIT 102 instead. Due to Part 141 regulations, if you elect to take AVIT 102, you will start at the beginning of PPL training as you must complete all lessons, in sequence, in accordance with our approved training curriculum. Should you find yourself in this situation, it is strongly encouraged that you discuss your situation with the AVIT 220 Course Manager. In accordance with department policy, once flight training has commenced at UND, you must complete all flight training in residence at UND in Grand Forks to earn credit for each associated course. For more information see the full department policy.

Things to Consider

When deciding to start your PPL training before arriving at UND, it is imperative that you consider the resources of your local Part 61 flight school, the cost of flight training, the availability of CFIs, and the timeline of your flight training to ensure completion of your PPL training before you start at UND.

We encourage prospective students to give themselves plenty of time to earn their PPL before coming to UND. Generally, starting your flight training at least one year prior to your first day at UND is favorable.

It is recommended that you contact your local flight training school and inquire about their availability to accept new students and ask about their completion timeline. Consistent flight training is key to progressing through any flight training curriculum smoothly. Ensure both you and your CFI have matching availability to gain proficiency and muscle memory. While flight training at UND may allow you to utilize financial aid to cover flight training costs, this may not be the case when training at your local flight school. Depending on your situation, this may be the determining factor of conducting PPL training at UND vs. Part 61 schools.