Cost & Payment
Private Pilot For $2,500 Down: How The Monthly Plan Works
Very few people start flight training with a five-figure sum sitting in a checking account, and nobody should have to. Every private pilot package at You Fly LA can be started with $2,500 down, with the rest spread over a small number of fixed monthly payments made directly to us. There is no interest, no lender and no credit application. This post sets out the numbers for each package, what the money buys, and what sits outside it.
Quick answer: Every private pilot package starts with $2,500 down. The $10,400 Standard course is then four monthly payments of $1,975, the $15,400 Comprehensive course six payments of $2,150, and the $22,000 Premium course ten payments of $1,950. The plans are interest-free and paid to us directly, so there is no credit application.
Book A Free Consultation Book A Discovery Flight · $229 Call Or Text (818) 330-1318
The Three Plans Side By Side
| Package | Price | Flight Hours | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $10,400 | 40 | $2,500 down, then 4 × $1,975 |
| Comprehensive | $15,400 | 60 | $2,500 down, then 6 × $2,150 |
| Premium | $22,000 | 80 | $2,500 down, then 10 × $1,950 |
Each plan adds up exactly to its package price: $2,500 plus four payments of $1,975 is $10,400. The full breakdown of every package is on our private pilot license cost page.
What The Money Buys
A package is not a vague bundle. Each one is a fixed number of hours of four things, at published rates, with books and training materials included:
| Item And Rate | Standard | Comprehensive | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airplane, $179 per hour | 38 hours | 55 hours | 70 hours |
| Full-motion simulator, $120 per hour | 2 hours | 5 hours | 10 hours |
| Instruction in the airplane and simulator, $110 per hour | 30 hours | 50 hours | 60 hours |
| Ground school and briefings, $110 per hour | 3 hours | 10 hours | 20 hours |
The airplane is the Cessna 162 Skycatcher or the Piper Warrior at the standard rate. If you would like a different trainer, the Diamond DA20-C1 is $50 an hour more and the Cirrus SR22 Turbo $300 an hour more.
Which Package To Choose
The FAA minimum for a private pilot certificate is 40 hours of flight time under 14 CFR 61.109(a), which is what the Standard package is built around. Forty is a legal floor, though, and most students need more, especially if they cannot fly at least twice a week. The Comprehensive package, at 60 hours, is the one most of our students choose because it matches what a typical student actually flies. The Premium package suits anyone who wants extra time for cross-countries or simply wants the margin.
Two FAA requirements belong on your calendar before the first payment. You must be at least 17 to receive a private pilot certificate under 14 CFR 61.103, and you need at least a third-class medical certificate before you fly solo under 14 CFR 61.23. Neither is paid through the plan, and neither should come as a surprise. If you are still weighing whether a fixed price suits you, fixed-price flight training explains exactly what is and is not included.
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What The Plan Does Not Cover
- The FAA knowledge test fee, paid to the testing center when you book the written test.
- The examiner's fee for the practical test, paid to the designated pilot examiner.
- Your medical exam, billed by the aviation medical examiner.
Our list of the hidden costs of flight training covers these and the smaller items people forget, such as a headset.
Longer Terms And Other Routes
The direct plans run up to twelve months. For anyone who wants a longer horizon, usually for the $84,000 Airline Pilot Career Program, we work with a specialist flight-training lender offering terms of up to 15 years after a soft credit check. Our financing FAQ compares the two routes.
If you are a veteran, one thing to know early: You Fly LA does not accept the GI Bill. The $2,500-down plan on this page works for you exactly as it does for anyone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is The Deposit For Private Pilot Training?
$2,500 on every private pilot package. The rest of the package price is split into fixed monthly payments.
What Are The Monthly Payments?
Four payments of $1,975 on the $10,400 Standard package, six payments of $2,150 on the $15,400 Comprehensive package, and ten payments of $1,950 on the $22,000 Premium package.
Is There Interest Or A Credit Check?
No. The direct plans are interest-free and you pay us directly, so there is no lender and no credit application.
Does My Discovery Flight Count Toward The Package?
Yes. If you enroll within 24 hours of your discovery flight, the full $229 is credited toward your training, and the hour is already in your logbook.
Does The Plan Cover The Checkride?
The training for it, yes. The examiner's fee, the knowledge test fee and the medical exam are paid to other people, so budget for them separately.
Book A Free Consultation Book A Discovery Flight · $229
For the whole picture of training at Van Nuys, start with our private pilot license in Los Angeles guide.
Sources: 14 CFR 61.109, Aeronautical experience; 14 CFR 61.103, Eligibility requirements (private pilot); 14 CFR 61.23, Medical certificates.
Fly It Yourself
Lesson One Is A Discovery Flight
Sixty minutes from the left seat over Los Angeles with an FAA-certificated instructor beside you, logged as dual instruction toward a license. The quickest way to see what any of this means is to fly an hour of it.
Talk to an instructor or the owner — 9 AM–9 PM, 7 days
