Flight TRaining FAQ

Q: How much will it cost to get my private pilot’s license? 

A: Generally, from start to finish, you can expect to pay between $8,500 and $10,000 for a private pilot’s rating.  This is a realistic figure based on the national average of 65 hours of flight training to become proficient and complete your rating—not the unrealistic FAA minimum of 40 hours that NOBODY meets but flight schools love to quote.  The more you dedicate yourself to self-study and a consistent training schedule, the less will be your total cost.

Q: How long will it take to get my license? 

A: The national average is 6 months to one year.  Of course, you can complete your rating in as little as 4 weeks or take as long as you want.  The total amount of time it takes to obtain your license depends on your schedule, your learning speed, weather, aircraft and instructor schedules, and, quite often, your financial resources.

Q: Is there financing available? 

A: Yes, FlyCarolina has an operating agreement with a third-party company that will finance all or part of your training.  Our partner company provides two very important things to our students: a completion ratio nearly 80% greater than privately financed training, and consumer protection.  With other flight school and financing plans, if you pre-pay for your training and your flight school closes its doors, you may never see your money again!

Q: In what kind of aircraft will I train?

A: FlyCarolina has the widest variety of rental and training aircraft in the greater Charlotte area: choose from Cessna 152s & 172s, Symphonies and Pipers.

Q: Can I do train at any FlyCarolina’s locations, do I have to stay with one?

A: You may conduct your training at any of our locations and will likely visit all of them through the course of your training.

Q: Will I have the same instructor throughout my private pilot flight training?

A: The maturity and tenure of our flight instructors means you can start and finish your training with the same instructor, which provides a level of comfort many students enjoy. You’ve got plenty to learn, why should you have to “learn” a new instructor every few months? At the same time, we encourage our students to spend a few hours with a different instructor from time to time. Plus, your willingness to use more than one instructor gives you greater scheduling flexibility. Each instructor offers a unique perspective, and sometimes a fresh set of tips and techniques is just what you’ll need to master a particular flying task. Flying and flight instructing are as much art as science, and no two artists paint them quite the same.