Hourly Rates
Our Rates at a Glance
All aircraft rentals are wet — fuel is always included in the listed rate.
Aircraft Rental
$175/hr
Wet — fuel included
Block Rental (10 hrs)
$165/hr
Wet — fuel included
Instructor Dual
From $40/hr
+$20/hr to the flight school
Combined Dual Rate
~$205–$215/hr
Aircraft + instructor total
All Programs
Total Cost Estimates — Us vs. SoCal Average
Includes all flight hours, aircraft rental, and instructor time. DPE checkride fees ($700–$1,200 per test) are paid directly to the examiner and not included.
| Program | Our Estimate | SoCal Average |
|---|---|---|
Discovery Flight 1.5 hours total — preflight, full flight, debrief. You fly the aircraft. | $230 flat | $50 – $350+ |
Private Pilot Certificate FAA min 40 hrs. Typical 55–65 hrs with unstructured training at other schools. | ~$9,900 – $14,500 | $15,000 – $25,000+ |
Instrument Rating FAA min 50 hrs cross-country PIC. ACS-based IFR training reduces total hours needed. | ~$8,500 – $15,000 | $16,000 – $23,000 |
Commercial Pilot (from Private) Requires 250 total hours. Safety pilot strategy maximizes solo PIC hours affordably. | ~$18,000 – $28,000 | $30,000 – $50,000 |
CFI / CFII Become a flight instructor. Adds instrument instructor privileges with CFII add-on. | ~$3,000 – $6,000 | $5,000 – $11,000 |
Zero to Commercial + CFI Full career pathway: PPL → IR → CPL → CFI. No financing needed. Pay as you fly. | ~$40,000 – $55,000 | $70,000 – $110,000+ |
Individual results vary based on proficiency, weather, and scheduling frequency.
Low Cost, High Quality
How We Keep Costs Low Without Lowering Standards
At most schools, the price is high because overhead is high — not because instruction is better. We operate lean, charge fairly, and invest our effort in your training outcome, not marketing. Here's exactly how that benefits you.
ACS-based from day one
Every maneuver is taught in the context of the FAA Airman Certification Standards. Students always know what they're training for, how they'll be tested, and what passing looks like.
Instructors who have been flying since the early 2000s
More than two decades of flight experience across diverse aircraft, airspace, and conditions. You're not being trained by someone building hours to leave for the airlines — you're being trained by someone who chose instructing as a profession.
Checkride scheduled early
We book your DPE while you're still training so you test within 1–3 weeks of finishing — not months later. Waiting for a DPE opening means flying proficiency hours for no reason. That's money straight out of your pocket.
Scenario-based training builds real confidence
You'll practice diversions to unfamiliar airports, Class B airspace navigation, instrument approaches at new fields, and real-world ATC communication — not just a scripted pattern at one home airport.
We take responsibility for your progress
If you're struggling, we diagnose the problem and fix it — not blame you and keep charging. Your checkride pass is our responsibility, not yours alone.
No upfront payment, no financing
Pay per flight only. No large deposits, no training package bundles, no pilot loan partnerships. You control your pace and your spending. Total cost reflects real hours — not inflated bundles.
The Most Expensive Training Is Training That Drags On
If you fly 80 hours instead of 55 for your Private Pilot because lessons were disorganized, or you waited 4 months for a checkride slot and had to fly 15 proficiency hours to stay sharp — that is not cheap training. That is expensive training with a low hourly sticker price.
Low-cost flight training means finishing with fewer total hours spent, fewer dollars wasted, and a checkride you walk into prepared and confident. That is what we deliver.
Pay as you fly. No deposits. No loans. No wasted hours.
Payment Methods
We accept Cash, Zelle, Apple Pay, CashApp, and PayPal. Payment is per flight — no large sums required upfront.