Flight training is a big investment, and for most people, writing one big check isn't realistic. The good news is you have options. Here's a look at the main ways students pay for training, and how to get started with financing through us. Option 1: Pay as you go Pay for each lesson as you fly it. No debt, and you can start right away. The catch is that money gaps often lead to gaps in training, and gaps mean re-learning skills you already paid for. If you go this route, try to save up enough to fly at least 2–3 times a week without breaks. Option 2: Scholarships There's real money out there. Groups like AOPA, EAA, Women in Aviation International, and many local flying clubs and chapters give out scholarships every year. It takes some effort to apply, but every dollar you win is a dollar you don't borrow. Option 3: Military benefits If you're a veteran, you may be able to use GI Bill benefits for some types of flight training. The rules depend on your benefits and the program, so check with the VA before you count on it. Option 4: Personal loans or savings Some students use a personal loan, a home equity line, or family help. These can work, but payments usually start right away at a fixed amount, which can be tough while you're still training. Option 5: Flight training loans (our recommendation for career-track students) If you're training to fly professionally, a loan built for flight training is often the best fit. That's why we partner with Edly. How Edly works Edly offers income-based repayment loans made for aspiring pilots. Instead of a fixed monthly payment, your payments are tied to what you actually earn. That matters because pilot pay follows a pattern: it's low during training and your first jobs like flight instructing, then rises a lot as you build hours and move up. With Edly: - Payments adjust with your income, so they're designed to be lower early in your career when you're earning less. - Funds go straight to the school as you progress through training. - Options are available with or without a cosigner, depending on your situation.

Picking a flight school is one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your training. The right school can save you time, money and frustration. The wrong one can leave you stuck waiting on planes or instructors. Here are the questions every prospective student should ask, including when you're talking to us. About the aircraft - How many planes do you have, and how many students share them? A big fleet doesn't help if it's spread thin. - How are the planes maintained? Ask who does the maintenance and how often planes are down. - How far out are you booking? If you can only get one lesson every two weeks, your training will drag. - Do the planes have modern avionics, or traditional gauges? Either can work, but know what you'll be learning on. About the instructors - How many instructors do you have? Compare that to the number of students. - Will I have one main instructor? Consistency matters, especially early on. - What's your instructor turnover like? Many CFIs leave for the airlines, which is normal, but ask how the school handles hand-offs. - Can I meet my instructor before I commit? You'll spend a lot of time together. Make sure it's a good fit. About scheduling - How do I book lessons? Online scheduling makes life a lot easier. - How often can I realistically fly? 2–3 times a week is ideal for steady progress. - What's the cancellation policy? Know what happens if weather, maintenance, or your own schedule gets in the way. About cost - What does the full program realistically cost? Ask for a real-world estimate, not just the FAA minimum hours. Most students need more than the minimum. - What's included and what's extra? Think ground school, books, headset, written test, checkride fees and the examiner. - Do you require prepaying a block of hours? If so, ask what happens to that money if you stop training. - What financing options do you offer? About the program - Is training Part 61 or Part 141? Both lead to the same certificate. Part 141 is more structured and can matter for some financing or VA benefits. Part 61 is more flexible. - How do you track my progress? You should always know where you stand and what's next. - What's your checkride pass rate? And how long does it take to get a checkride scheduled? - How long does it typically take students to finish?

You've probably heard it: "80% of student pilots never finish." It's one of the most repeated stats in aviation. So is it true? Mostly, yes, but the full story is more useful than the scary number. Where the number comes from The 80% figure traces back to research AOPA did around 2011 on the flight training experience. They estimated that somewhere between 70% and 80% of people who start flight training never earn their private pilot certificate. It's an estimate, not an exact count. Nobody tracks every person who takes a lesson or two, and plenty of people who "quit" were only ever trying it out. But even if the real number is lower, a lot of students don't finish. That's worth taking seriously. Why students actually quit Here's the surprising part: AOPA found that cost alone wasn't the main reason. The bigger reasons were things like: - Losing motivation: Training gets hard, progress stalls, and the excitement fades. - A poor training experience: Bad instructor fit, disorganized lessons, or feeling like just a number. - Instructor turnover: Getting passed between instructors and feeling like you're starting over. - No clear plan: Not knowing where you stand or what comes next. - Life getting in the way: Work, family, and long gaps between lessons. - Money running out mid-training: Usually because the real cost wasn't planned for at the start. Most students don't quit at a checkride. They quietly fade out somewhere in the middle, often before their first solo or during the long stretch before the checkride. How to be in the group that finishes - Know your "why": Write down why you want to fly. Come back to it when training gets tough. - Fly consistently: 2–3 times a week keeps skills fresh. Long gaps kill progress and motivation. - Budget for reality: Plan for 60–75 hours, not the 40-hour minimum, and set up your funding before you start. - Get your medical early: Don't invest months of training only to hit a medical surprise. - Find the right instructor: If it's not a fit, speak up. A good school will help you switch. - Follow a structured plan: Know what each lesson covers and how close you are to the next milestone. - Expect plateaus: Everyone hits them, especially with landings. It's normal, and it passes. - Get involved: Hang around the airport, join communities like this one, and talk to other students.

A lot of students treat the FAA written exam as something to "get to eventually." They study a little here and there, put it off, and suddenly it's dragging on for months. Here's why we recommend the opposite: commit, focus, and knock it out in 30 days or less. First, what is it? It's a multiple-choice test that covers what you need to know on the ground: regulations, weather, airspace, navigation, aerodynamics, performance and more. For private pilots, it's 60 questions, and you need a 70% to pass. You'll need an instructor endorsement (or a completed ground school course) before you can take it, and you'll test at an approved testing center. Why 30 days works 1. Momentum beats motivation Studying a little bit for months is how people stall out. A short, focused sprint keeps the material fresh and keeps you moving. Remember, losing motivation is one of the top reasons students quit training. A clear deadline fights that. 2. Your flying gets better (and cheaper) The knowledge on the written is the same knowledge you use in the airplane. When you understand airspace, weather and aircraft performance, your instructor spends less time explaining things in the cockpit at airplane rental rates. Ground knowledge learned at home is free. Ground knowledge learned in the air is expensive. 3. It removes a roadblock before your checkride You must pass the written before you can take your checkride. Plenty of students are ready to fly the checkride but get stuck waiting because the written isn't done. Get it out of the way early and it'll never hold you up. 4. It makes your checkride oral easier Your examiner will see which subject areas you missed on the written and will quiz you on them. A strong score now means fewer weak spots to explain later, and the knowledge carries straight into the oral exam. 5. It builds confidence Passing the written is a real milestone. It proves you can learn this material, and that confidence shows up in your flying. But don't wait too long, either.