FRequently Asked Questions


  • 1. Obtain a medical certificate. Use the FAA Designee Locator Search to locate an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) in your area. Select "AME" under Designee Type. A Third Class medical is all that’s required for a Private Pilot Certificate, but, if you are considering aviation as a career, we recommend getting the First Class exam.

    2. Complete an online     ground school. Most of our students are using Sporty's Online Training (sportys.com).

    3. Once ground school has been completed, reach out to us if you would like 1-on-1 instruction to cover subjects many students struggle with.

    4. When you have received your Ground School Completion/Graduation Certificate, sign up to take the written exam at a PSI Testing Center. All signup information for PSI testing can be found at
    https://faa.psiexams.com/FAA/login

    5. Let us know you’re ready to start! Email contact@airplanesandattitude.com to move forward with account setup and getting onto our schedule.

  • Full price breakdowns for each rating are available on our Flight Training page.

  • The FAA requires a minimum of 40 flight hours to obtain a Private Pilot Certificate, but the current national average to meet all requirements and develop the necessary skills for the check ride is around 75 hours. Completion time depends on flight frequency—students flying 2-3 times per week typically finish in 4-6 months, while those flying 3-4 times per week often complete training in 3-4 months. However, learning rates vary, and the time spent studying and chair flying outside of lessons significantly impacts overall progress and flight hours needed.

  • Lessons are not a flat rate—the total cost will vary depending on both flight time and instruction time. The aircraft rental itself is charged per hour based on the time the engine is running, with rates ranging from $150 to $205 per hour depending on the plane (see our Fleet page). The instructor rate is $75 per hour and is charged based on the total time you spend with your instructor, including both flight and ground instruction.

    While we schedule lessons in 2.5-hour blocks, this does not mean you will be flying the entire time or necessarily spending the full time with your instructor. The first few lessons typically involve more ground instruction, including preflighting the aircraft and briefing maneuvers, with shorter actual flight time. As you progress, you’ll start preflighting independently, and flight time will gradually increase while ground instruction time decreases.

    Because of these variables, the cost of each lesson will fluctuate, but as a general estimate, you can expect lessons to range from approximately $300 to $500 per session.

  • Yes, we offer all ratings from zero through Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor under a self-paced Part 61 program. Each student progresses independently on their own timeline, requiring significantly more self-study compared to structured Part 141 programs with mandatory classroom hours. While a self-motivated student can save a considerable amount of money by choosing our program, those who thrive in a rigid structure may prefer a 141 program. Completion time depends on flight frequency—students flying 4-5 times per week can typically finish within a year.

  • We schedule lessons in 2.5-hour blocks. However, this does not mean you will be flying for the entire duration or with your instructor for the full time. This is simply the time you should plan to be at the airport on your lesson day.

  • Currently, we are not offering open pilot rentals to non-students.

    For information on aircraft rates, engine and avionics information, please check
    Our Fleet

  • Per our policies, students are required to maintain an "Aircraft Non-Owners Insurance Policy" from an independent insurance provider, with a minimum hull coverage of $50,000. This insurance is essential to protect students from costly damages that can result from even minor mistakes, including incidents that may occur while maneuvering the aircraft on the ground with a towbar. AVEMCO POLICIES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
    WE RECOMMEND Aviation-Insurance-Experts

  • We have a list of items we recommend Here

  • It depends; For Private Pilots, we would recommend practicing start, shutdown, and emergency procedures, VOR practice, along with using online platforms like VATSIM, PilotEdge to practice communications.

    For Instrument Pilots, we would recommend using simulators for Instrument Approach/Arrival/Departure procedures, along with using online platforms like VATSIM, PilotEdge to practice communications.

    Simulator wise, we highly recommend X-Plane 12 for physics accuracy/Instrument Flying, whereas Microsoft Flight Simulator may be a good aid for VFR Navigation.

  • No, we do not have a multiengine aircraft in our fleet. However, many schools specialize in multiengine training and offer it as an a-la-carte option. You can complete your professional training with us and pursue the multiengine add-on later as needed.

  • No, as a Part 61 school, we do not have an in-house DPE. However, we have strong relationships with several DPEs in the area and can typically schedule our students' check rides within 1-3 weeks of their sign-off.