Flight Training FAQ
Honest answers to the questions we get most often. If you don’t see yours here, reach out and we’ll add it.
Costs and Financing
How much does it cost to become a pilot?
For a Private Pilot Certificate, expect $12,000 to $18,000 at our school. The variance comes from how many flight hours you actually need (the FAA minimum is 40; the national average is closer to 60 to 70) and how quickly you progress.
For the full career-track path from zero to Commercial Pilot with Multi-Engine and CFI, expect $80,000 to $110,000 total. This includes Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, CFI, CFII, and MEI plus the hour-building between commercial and the airlines.
A discovery flight starts at $199.
Why does pilot training cost so much?
The two main cost drivers are aircraft rental (typically $150 to $230 per hour wet, meaning fuel included, depending on the airplane) and instructor time ($75 to $95 per hour at most schools, ours included). Multiply by the FAA minimum hours and you get the floor. The reality is most students fly more than the minimum.
There is no shortcut. The hours are the training.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. We work with Stratus Financial, Flight Training Finance, and Surv Credit for student pilot loans. Most students finance some or all of their training. Contact us for current rates and qualification requirements.
Are there scholarships?
Yes, though not from us directly. Organizations including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the Ninety-Nines, and the Civil Air Patrol offer flight training scholarships annually. Some run into five figures. We can point you at active opportunities and help with applications.
Can I use VA benefits or the GI Bill?
GI Bill benefits can apply to Part 141 training programs that are VA-approved. Our Riverside (KRAL) campus runs Part 141 training. Specific program approval status changes; contact us to confirm current VA eligibility before enrolling on benefits.
Timelines
How long does it take to get a pilot’s license?
For a Private Pilot Certificate trained consistently, plan on 3 to 6 months at our school. Accelerated full-time programs can finish in 6 to 8 weeks. Part-time evening-and-weekend students typically take 6 to 12 months.
The largest variable is flight frequency. Two to three lessons per week is the minimum for steady progress. One lesson per week or less, and you lose more time to review than you gain in advancement.
How long does it take to become an airline pilot?
For a student starting at zero hours and aiming at the airlines, plan on 18 to 30 months to reach the certificates required (Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, plus typically CFI/CFII/MEI), followed by 6 to 18 months of hour-building to reach the 1,500-hour ATP minimum (1,250 with a Part 141 commercial, 1,000 with a four-year aviation degree from an FAA-approved school).
Total from zero to airline first officer: typically 2.5 to 4 years at full-time pace.
What’s the fastest realistic timeline?
Six weeks for a Private Pilot Certificate at full-time accelerated pace. That requires flying daily, weather permitting, with dedicated ground study in between. Most students can’t sustain that pace alongside work or school, which is why our typical PPL timeline is 3 to 6 months.
Requirements
How old do I need to be?
- No minimum age for a discovery flight
- 14 years old to solo a glider
- 16 years old to solo a powered airplane
- 17 years old to earn a Private Pilot Certificate
- 18 years old to earn a Commercial Pilot Certificate
- 23 years old to earn an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate
Is there a maximum age?
No. You can earn a pilot certificate at any age provided you can pass the medical exam. We have students in their 60s and 70s working on private certificates.
Do I need a medical certificate?
Yes. To fly solo, you need either:
- FAA Third-Class Medical Certificate (Private Pilot)
- FAA Second-Class Medical Certificate (Commercial Pilot)
- FAA First-Class Medical Certificate (Airline Transport Pilot)
- BasicMed (alternative for Private Pilot operations, with restrictions)
Most students obtain their Third-Class Medical through an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) during their first few weeks of training. We can recommend AMEs in the Riverside / Redlands area.
Do I need to speak English?
Yes. FAA regulation requires pilots be able to read, speak, write, and understand English. This is the language of aviation worldwide.
Do I need a college degree?
No. A college degree is not required for any FAA pilot certificate. Most major U.S. airlines do prefer a four-year degree for hire, but it’s a hiring preference, not an FAA requirement. Some regional airlines hire pilots without degrees.
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen?
You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to train as a pilot in the United States. Non-U.S. citizens must complete TSA Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) vetting before beginning each phase of training (Private, Instrument, Commercial separately). We handle the paperwork on our end.
The Training Itself
What is a discovery flight, and what should I expect?
A discovery flight is an introductory flight lesson. You sit in the left seat (pilot’s seat). A CFI sits next to you with full controls. They handle takeoff and landing on your first flight. You handle the airplane in cruise. The flight lasts 45 to 60 minutes plus 30 minutes of briefing time on the ground. It counts as your first logged hour of flight training if you decide to continue.
Read the full Discovery Flight guide →
What’s the difference between Private Pilot and Commercial Pilot?
A Private Pilot Certificate (PPL) lets you fly an airplane and carry passengers, but you cannot be compensated for it. You can share expenses with passengers (pro-rata fuel and tie-down costs), but you cannot fly for hire.
A Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPL) lets you be paid to fly. This opens the door to flight instruction, banner towing, aerial photography, pipeline patrol, cargo, and eventually airline work.
Most career-track pilots earn PPL, then Instrument Rating, then Commercial Pilot Certificate in that order.
What’s the difference between Part 61 and Part 141?
These refer to two sections of Federal Aviation Regulations that govern flight training.
- Part 61 is the flexible path. Self-paced. You can train across multiple schools or instructors. FAA hour minimums are slightly higher (40 hours PPL, 250 hours commercial).
- Part 141 is the structured path. FAA-approved syllabus. Stage checks. Lower hour minimums (35 hours PPL, 190 hours commercial). Required for some VA benefits and preferred by career-track students.
We run Part 61 at both locations and Part 141 at our Riverside (KRAL) campus.
How many flight hours do I really need?
The FAA minimums are floors, not averages. National actuals:
- Private Pilot: FAA minimum 40 hours, national average ~70 hours
- Instrument Rating: FAA minimum 40 hours instrument time, average ~55 hours
- Commercial Pilot (Part 61): 250 hours total, most students reach this through time-building
- Commercial Pilot (Part 141): 190 hours total
- ATP: 1,500 hours (1,250 Part 141, 1,000 with 4-year aviation degree)
What aircraft will I train in?
Our training fleet includes Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Piper Warrior, Piper Cherokee Arrow (PA-28R) for complex training, and Beechcraft Duchess (BE-76) for multi-engine. We also use a Redbird simulator for instrument procedures and emergency profile training. Specific aircraft availability rotates with maintenance and demand.
What if I’m nervous about flying?
Almost everyone is nervous on their first flight. It’s normal. By minute 10 of your discovery flight, most of that nervousness is gone. By the end, most students are asking when they can come back. If you have a serious fear of flying, that’s a different conversation, and a discovery flight is still the best way to find out where you actually stand.
Our School
Where are you located?
Two airports:
- Riverside Municipal Airport (KRAL): 6951 Flight Road, Suite 106, Riverside, CA 92504 | 951-590-3572
- Redlands Municipal Airport (KREI): 1745 Sessums Drive, Unit 160, Redlands, CA 92374 | 951-468-9700
Riverside details | Redlands details
What’s the difference between your two campuses?
Riverside (KRAL) is our primary location: towered Class D airport, full Part 141 syllabus, complete fleet including multi-engine, larger student population.
Redlands (KREI) is our specialty location: non-towered field, Part 61 only, gateway to high-altitude and mountain flying training. Different airport experience and specialty.
Compare locations on the home page →
Do you offer high-altitude endorsement training?
Yes, and it’s one of the things we’re known for. We’re geographically positioned for it: Big Bear City Airport (KL35) at 6,752 feet MSL is 25 minutes by air from our Redlands campus. We train density altitude operations, mountain weather, canyon and ridge crossing, and high-elevation airport operations.
High Altitude Endorsement program details →
Can I train at both locations?
Yes. Students sometimes start at one location and complete specific phases at the other (multi-engine and Part 141 happen at Riverside, the high-altitude endorsement happens at Redlands).
What sort of weather conditions can I train in?
Southern California’s Inland Empire averages 280 to 320 VFR days per year. Most training cancellations come from low ceilings (morning marine layer at coastal fields), high winds, or summer monsoon thunderstorms. We do not train in icing conditions.
How do I get started?
Three options:
- Book a discovery flight
- Call us: Riverside 951-590-3572, Redlands 951-468-9700
- Visit the airport: we welcome walk-ins during business hours
Career and Job Outlook
Is there really a pilot shortage?
Yes, with caveats. Major U.S. airlines have hired aggressively since 2022, regional airlines are paying first-year first officers $90,000 to $110,000 (a number unimaginable a decade ago), and Boeing’s 2024 Pilot and Technician Outlook projects North America will need approximately 130,000 new commercial pilots through 2043.
The caveat: hiring tightens and loosens with economic cycles. Anyone training now should plan for the long arc of a career, not the headlines of any given quarter.
What do pilots actually earn?
Real numbers for U.S. pilots in 2026, roughly:
- Flight instructor (CFI): $40,000 to $75,000, dependent on hours flown and location
- Regional airline first officer: $90,000 to $120,000 in the first year
- Regional captain: $180,000 to $240,000
- Major airline first officer: $120,000 to $250,000 depending on aircraft
- Major airline captain: $300,000 to $600,000+, with widebody captains at the top
- Corporate / charter pilot: highly variable, $80,000 to $300,000+
- Cargo pilot (FedEx, UPS, Atlas): competitive with major airline pay
How long until I can quit my day job and fly full time?
Most career-track students keep their day job through PPL, Instrument, and Commercial training (12 to 24 months). Once they earn their CFI certificate and start instructing, that becomes the day job. From CFI to first regional airline class is typically another 12 to 24 months of hour-building. Total: 3 to 4 years from zero to a full-time aviation paycheck for most students who don’t have prior aviation experience.
What if I just want to fly for fun?
That’s the majority of pilots in the U.S. Most pilot certificates issued each year are private certificates held by people who never intend to fly professionally. Many of our students stop at the private certificate and never look back. That’s a complete and legitimate end goal.
Practical Questions
What should I wear and bring to a lesson?
Closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops, no heels). Layers. Sunglasses. A water bottle. Your logbook if you have one, and any medical paperwork your CFI asked for. Avoid loose scarves or anything that could foul controls.
Can I record my flight lessons?
Yes. GoPros on the panel or yoke are common. Cockpit voice recording is fine for personal use. We ask that you not post lessons publicly without your instructor’s permission.
What happens if I fail a checkride?
It happens. The FAA gives you a “Notice of Disapproval” listing the tasks you missed. You re-train those tasks with your instructor, get an endorsement to retest, and schedule the retake. Most pilots who fail a checkride pass the retake. It’s a setback, not a disqualifier.
Can I bring my own headset and equipment?
Yes. Most serious students invest in their own headset within the first 10 hours of training. Common options: David Clark H10-13.4 (budget standard), Bose A20 or A30 (premium, noise-canceling), Lightspeed Zulu (premium alternative). Your CFI can advise.
Do you offer ground school separately?
Yes. We run rolling ground school sessions for written-exam preparation. You can take ground school alongside flight training, or stand-alone if you’re working through self-study and want a structured push toward the written.