Our most asked flight training questions:

  • What are the minimum requirements to become a pilot?
    • Student pilots can start training at any age, but must be 16 to solo (fly a plane alone) and 17 to become fully rated Private Pilots. A student must have 40 hours of logged flying time, including 10 hours solo and 5 at night, before they can take the final practical exam. Students must also pass an FAA medical exam and written knowledge exam. Your instructor will ensure you meet all requirements before the final test.
  • How much does flight training cost?
    • A: Lessons are pay-as-you-go. A discovery flight costs $180, and an average lesson is about $290. Total training cost is $16,000 – $20,000, depending on numerous factors including weather, student and instructor availability, and student aptitude.
  • How do I become a pilot?
    • Your first step is to schedule a Discovery Flight. You’ll meet with a Flight Instructor who will explain the course and required materials. After that, you will get to “fly” our Redbird MCX Full motion flight simulator for a sneak peek of what comes next, The Flight in our Cessna 172! You’ll Take the controls with our flight instructor, on a 30-minute intro to flight training. You’ll be demonstrated a few maneuvers done in training and finish off with a debrief.
  • How long does training take?
    • A typical student will spend 6-9 months learning from discovery flight to certificated Private Pilot. Exceptionally skilled and motivated students who can sustain a full-time schedule may complete the course sooner.
  • What does a typical lesson look like?
    • You’ll start each lesson by meeting your flight instructor and discussing your lesson for the day. Then you’ll inspect and fly the airplane for about 90 minutes, before finishing with a debrief back on the ground. Total time is about 2 hours.
  • What does the course cover? What is the course outline?
    • You’ll start by learning aerodynamics and how to fly basic maneuvers in the air, then study aviation regulations and practice takeoffs and landings. After about 10 hours, you’ll be ready for your first Solo flight. After completing this milestone, you’ll study navigation and cross-country flying. After mastering flight planning , you’ll take your Written Exam. Finally, you’ll study for the FAA practical test, your final exam before becoming a pilot.
    • New students will start with 10 hours in the simulator, This will help reduce training cost and increase safety and maximize training efficiency.