Stratus Financial, with 12 months’ deferment.
Most students at Pacific Air Flight School either pay as they go — flying and paying at their own pace — or finance their training through Stratus Financial, a lender that offers full financing for flight training. AOPA members can also apply for AOPA scholarships toward their aviation education.
N6245D Pay as you go, or finance the whole plan.
Most students pay for each session as they fly it. If you would rather cover your training up front, a flight-training lender can finance it, and a lender sets the terms of any loan, not us.
Pay as you go
No loan, no schedule to keep — fly and pay at your own pace, one lesson at a time.
- Prepay 10 hours (cash or check) for the block rate
- Military and first-responder discounts, plus sunrise and twilight rates
Stratus Financial
A flight-training lender founded by FAA certificated flight and ground instructors, which looks beyond the typical FICO score.
- Full financing for your entire flight training
- Deferment for 12 months while you complete your training and find a job
Scholarships & grants
AOPA members have access to aviation scholarships that can put free money toward becoming a pilot.
- AOPA scholarships for members
- Membership is inexpensive and opens up AOPA’s training resources
Loan approval, rates and terms are set by the lender, not by Pacific Air Flight School. Students with limited credit or low income may need a co-borrower.
Pay as you fly, lesson by lesson.
A long trip is flown in legs, with a stop at the end of each one. Paying for a rating works the same way.
Fly often, spend less.
However you pay, these four levers are the ones that actually move the total.
- 1
Frequency
How often you fly is the #1 cost driver. Consistent lessons shorten the path — long gaps mean re-learning and more hours.
- 2
Preparation
Showing up ready — ground study done, procedures chair-flown — makes every paid hour count.
- 3
Aptitude & goals
Every student learns at their own pace, and your destination (a certificate, a rating, a career) shapes the plan.
- 4
Medical & materials
Plan for a medical certificate to begin, plus books, a headset, and FAA exam fees.
Paying, answered
Something else about paying? Call 866-600-9595.
How much does it cost to earn a Private Pilot License?
Our school average is $23,550–$26,550 from zero time, paid lesson by lesson as you fly — not up front. Aircraft rates are wet and final ($199/hour in a 172P or 172N, $239/hour in a G1000 172) with no fuel surcharge, club fees or tax. How often you fly is the biggest factor in your total.
Can I finance my flight training?
Yes. Stratus Financial offers full financing for flight training, and AOPA members can apply for AOPA scholarships. Many students simply pay as they go instead, flying and paying at their own pace.
What does financing actually cover?
Stratus Financial offers full financing for your entire flight training. Exactly what a loan covers, and its rates and terms, are set by the lender when you apply — we’re happy to talk it through first.
Do I need to finance the whole program up front?
No. You can pay as you go, lesson by lesson, at your own pace. If you’d like a lower rate, prepay 10 hours (cash or check) for our block rate.
Cessna 172 on the runway Map your budget with us at KLGB.
Call 866-600-9595 — we'll talk goals, timeline, and what a month of flying actually costs you.
Serving Lakewood · Signal Hill · Torrance · Huntington Beach