Transparent Pricing, Not Just the FAA Minimum
Invest in your goals with straightforward, transparent pricing. We believe you should understand what flight training really costs.
Ask About a Training Plan
Every Certificate and Rating We Offer
Compare minimum and realistic training estimates, and plan confidently for the additional expenses that come with becoming a pilot. From your first lesson through your checkride, we'll help you build a training plan that fits your goals, schedule, and budget.
Private Pilot
Start HereThis initial certificate is where it all begins. Build the stick-and-rudder skills you need.
$11,095 · 40 hr FAA minimum · 60–70 hr averagePrivate Pilot Program
Instrument Rating
Build the skills and confidence to fly safely in the clouds and in the instrument system.
$13,745 · 40 hr FAA minimum · 45–55 hr averageInstrument Program
Commercial Pilot
Precision flying, advanced aircraft control and professional-level decision-making.
$6,545 · 250–270 total hr · time building not includedCommercial Program
Certified Flight Instructor
Learn to teach, evaluate, and mentor the next generation of pilots with demonstration-quality flying.
$7,445 · 15–25 flight hours typicalAsk About CFI
CFI Instrument (CFII)
Expand your teaching credentials to include instrument students, approaches and IFR decision-making.
$3,245 · 10–20 flight hours typicalAsk About CFII
Multi-Engine Add-On
Operate a multi-engine aircraft safely and confidently: asymmetric thrust, engine-out procedures and systems.
$6,500 · 10–15 flight hours typicalAsk About Multi-Engine
What Flight Training Really Costs
Flight training is different for every student, and we believe pricing should be presented realistically, not simply based on the lowest possible number.
For a Private Pilot Certificate, the FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, including at least 20 hours of flight training with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight. While completing the certificate at the FAA minimum is possible, many students require additional flight and ground instruction to reach the proficiency required for the practical test.
For that reason, NTX Aviation provides both an FAA-minimum estimate and a realistic planning estimate based on additional training time. Your actual cost will depend on your individual progress, training frequency, preparation between lessons, weather, aircraft availability, and the amount of flight and ground instruction needed to meet FAA standards.
What Our Training Estimate Includes
Our published estimates include the primary costs paid directly to NTX Aviation:
- Aircraft rental
- Flight instruction
- Ground instruction
- Required dual and solo flight training
- Cross-country and night training applicable to the certificate or rating
Additional Costs to Plan For
Depending on what you already own, these may include:
- FAA Medical Examination, completed with an Aviation Medical Examiner
- FAA Knowledge Test
- FAA Practical Test / DPE fee
- Renter’s / non-owned aircraft insurance
- Aviation headset
- iPad or other compatible tablet
- ForeFlight subscription
- Electronic or paper FAR/AIM
- Current charts and other training materials
- View-limiting device (“foggles”) for instrument training
- Pilot logbook, if a paper logbook is desired
- Checkride aircraft rental and instructor preparation time
- Any additional training necessary to reach practical-test standards
Some of these are one-time purchases that can be used throughout your flight training and well beyond your first certificate.
Minimum Cost vs. Realistic Cost
The FAA minimum is a regulatory minimum, not a guaranteed completion time or price.
NTX Aviation does not believe in advertising an unrealistically low price based solely on the minimum number of hours and presenting it as what every student should expect to pay. Instead, we want students to understand both ends of the equation:
- FAA Minimum Estimate: what training would cost if every requirement were completed at the minimum allowable flight time.
- Typical Planning Estimate: a more realistic budget that allows for additional flight and ground instruction before the practical test.
Our goal is not simply to help you accumulate the required hours. Our goal is to make sure that when you reach your checkride, you are prepared to meet the FAA standard and, more importantly, to operate safely and confidently as a pilot after the checkride is over.
Questions About Cost
The FAA minimum is a regulatory minimum, not a guaranteed completion time or price. We show what training would cost at the minimum allowable hours and a more realistic planning estimate that allows for additional flight and ground instruction before your practical test.
Your individual progress, how often you train, preparation between lessons, weather, aircraft availability, and the amount of flight and ground instruction needed to meet FAA standards.
Students who train frequently, arrive prepared, study between lessons, and maintain continuity generally give themselves the best opportunity to complete training efficiently.
No. FAA knowledge tests, the practical test (DPE) fee, your medical exam and personal equipment are paid separately. See the list of additional costs above.
Contact us to talk through a training plan that fits your goals, schedule and budget. We will walk you through the options before you commit to anything.
Let's Build a Training Plan That Fits Your Budget.
