How much does a Private Pilot License cost in Long Beach?

At Pacific Air Flight School, earning a Private Pilot certificate averages $23,550–$26,550 from zero flight time. That is a school average, not a quote, and it is never paid up front: you pay lesson by lesson as you fly.

What the hourly rates are

Every aircraft on our line at Long Beach Airport (KLGB) is a Cessna 172, and every rate is wet: fuel is included, with no club fees, fuel surcharge or tax added on top.

• Cessna 172P and 172N: $199/hour, or $194/hour with the 10-hour block rate or the military discount
• Cessna 172 G1000 (glass cockpit): $239/hour, or $234/hour with the block rate or the military discount

Instruction is billed on top of aircraft time. Call us for current instructor rates.

What moves your total

• How often you fly. This is the biggest factor. Flying consistently keeps skills fresh; long gaps between lessons mean re-learning, and more hours.
• How prepared you arrive. Ground study done before a lesson makes every paid hour in the airplane count.
• Your own pace and goals. Everyone learns differently, and a student aiming for an airline career plans differently from one flying for fun.
• Everything outside the airplane. Budget for a medical certificate, books, a headset and FAA exam fees.

Ways to pay

Most students pay as they go. Prepaying 10 hours (cash or check) earns the block rate. For students who want to finance their training, Stratus Financial offers full financing for flight training, and AOPA members can apply for AOPA scholarships. See financing for the details.

The first step

The best way to find out whether flying is for you is a Discovery Flight: a $269 first lesson in a Cessna 172 out of Long Beach Airport, with you on the controls and a Certified Flight Instructor beside you. Or call 866-600-9595 and we will talk through your goals and a realistic budget.