Estimated pricing

Private Pilot

This initial rating is where it all begins. Build the stick-and-rudder skills that you need. The minimum hours requirement is 40 hours. Average is usually between 60-70 hours.

STARTING PRICE: $11,095

National Average: $16,095

See BELOW for more information

Understanding the Cost of Flight Training

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 training estimates include the primary costs paid directly to NTX Aviation, such as:

• 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

There are also expenses associated with becoming a pilot that are not included in NTX Aviation's aircraft and instructional rates. 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.

Students who train frequently, arrive prepared, study between lessons, and maintain continuity generally give themselves the best opportunity to complete training efficiently.

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.