Transparent Investment:

Comprehensive Flight Training & Transparent Pricing

At Coeur d’Alene Aviation, we believe flight training
should be Clear, Honest, and Predictable

Aircraft & Instruction Rates

  1. Tecnam P2008 / Vans RV-12: $180/hr (wet)

  2. Cessna 172K: $200/hr (wet)

  3. Flight / Ground Instructor: $70/hr.

  4. Redbird AATD Simulator: $85/hr.

Additional Training Costs

  1. Online Ground School: $300

  2. FAA Written Test: $175

  3. FAA Medical Exam: $200 (varies)

  4. FAA Checkride Fee: $1,000 (varies)

Consistency = Lower Total Cost

Estimated Training Costs

    • Typical Training Time: 40 hours required to meet PPL standard. National average is 65 hours to obtain PPL.

    • Tecnam P2008 / RV-12: ‍ based on FAA 40-hour requirement* $7,200 (Aircraft) + $2,100 (Dual Instruction) + $2,275 (Fees) = $11,575 Total.

      • based on 65-hour national average = $17,387 Total.

    • Cessna 172K: based on FAA 40-hour requirement* $8,000 (Aircraft) + $2,100 (Dual Instruction) + $2,275 (Fees) = $12,375 Total.

      • based on 65-hour national average = $18,687 Total.

    * Fee’s are calculated based on the average checkride, medical, written, and insurance costs.

    • Average Training Time: 40–50 hours (mix of aircraft & SIM).

    • Mix of All Aircraft and Simulator Estimated Costs: $7,400 (Aircraft & Sim) + $3,500 (Dual Instruction) + $1,175 (Fees) = $12,075 Total.

    * Fee’s are calculated based on the checkride and written exam costs.

    • Typical Training Time:‍ ‍250 total flight hours required to meet FAA minimum. This typically consists of your initial 90 hours (40 PPL + 50 IFR) followed by 160 hours of commercial-specific training and hours building.

    • Estimated Training Costs: $24,050 (Aircraft + Sim) + $350 (Dual Instruction) + $1,000 (Checkride Fee) = $25,400 Total.

    • Estimate Breakdown: 105 Hours of Flight Time, 50 Hours of SIM time, 5 Hours of Dual Checkride Prep.

    • Typical Training Time: 10–15 flight hours, 20–25 ground hours.

    • Estimated Training Costs: $2,160 (Aircraft) + $1,750 (Dual Instruction) + $1,350 (Fees) = $5,260 Total.

    • Estimate Breakdown: 12 hours of flight time, 25 hours of dual instruction (flight + ground), two knowledge tests (FIA/FOI), and checkride fees.

    • Typical Training Time: 10–15 hours flight, 10–15 hours SIM.

    • Estimated Training Costs: $1,800 (Aircraft) + $850 (Simulator) + $1,400 (Dual Instruction) + $1,175 (Fees) = $5,225 Total.

    • Estimate Breakdown: 10 hours of flight time, 10 hours of RedBird AATD simulator training, 20 hours of dual instruction (flight + ground), knowledge test, and checkride fees.

Why Training Costs Vary

While our estimates are based on national averages, your final investment is largely driven by personal progress and consistency. Total costs may fluctuate based on:

  • Lesson Frequency: Students who fly 3–4 times per week progress significantly faster and lower their overall cost.

  • Study Habits: Diligent preparation at home reduces the amount of paid ground instruction required.

  • Environmental Factors: Regional weather patterns and seasonal scheduling can impact the duration of training.

  • Skill Mastery: Individual comfort levels with specific flight maneuvers vary from student to student.

  • Resource Selection: Your choice of aircraft and the strategic use of our RedBird simulator to reduce flight hours.

Financing Your Flight Training

Investing in your aviation education is a significant commitment. To help make your goals attainable, we’ve partnered with industry-leading financial institution, Stratus Financial, and encourage the use of aviation scholarships.

Stratus Financial

We work directly with Stratus Financial to offer specialized third-party financing for flight training. Designed specifically for student pilots, they provide lending options to cover the cost of ratings from Private Pilot through Commercial, allowing you to focus on your training rather than upfront costs.

Aviation Scholarships

There are numerous scholarship opportunities available through organizations like Women in Aviation International (WAI), AOPA, and various regional aviation groups. We strongly encourage students to research and apply for these grants to help offset training expenses. Your instructor can recommend options as well.

Learn More About Stratus Financial >