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Frequently Asked Questions.
I’m interested in flying, where do I start?
If you are new to aviation, we recommend starting with a Discovery Flight where you can go up with an FAA-certified flight instructor and experience flight, and experience what it’s like to take the controls! If this excites you, you’re ready to move to the next step!
I’ve scheduled a Discovery Flight, now what?
Flight training begins with a meeting to discuss your goals and form a training plan to help you be successful. After that, you will work with one of our instructors to schedule your first flight lesson. Contact us today to get started!
How long does it take to become a private pilot?
Flight training is highly personalized and the overall will depend primarily on how often you fly. The FAA requires 40 hours of flight training to get your Private Pilot License and most people are able to do it between 40 and 60 hours. We are committed to help you work efficiently through our curriculum at your pace.
What if I can’t get an FAA medical certificate?
Anyone who can get a driver’s license can get a Sport Pilot license. We offer personalized training so the overall timeframe will depend on how often you fly; but the FAA requires 20 hours of flight training to get your Sport Pilot Certificate.
What are the costs to become a Private Pilot?
Flight training is highly personalized and the overall costs will depend primarily on how often you fly. We would be happy to work with you to estimate the overall cost of flight training based on your schedule and goals; and you should expect to spend about $10,000 to become a Private Pilot, and about half of that to become a Sport Pilot.
How old do you have to be to start flight lessons?
We offer flight instruction to ages 15 and up!
Do you offer scholarships?
Pilot Training Northwest is proud to support the high school students of the Sandpoint community and we offer significant discounts for high school students. We can also tell you more about scholarship opportunities!
I’m a private pilot, but have not flown for a long time, can you help me get back into it?
Absolutely. We can provide recurrent training needed and complete your flight review. We also have an FAA Certified simulator that can be used for logging flight time and maintaining instrument currency.
I’m looking for a plane to rent, can you provide this?
Yes, we offer our training aircraft for advancing your pilot training so if you’re looking for a flight review or a way to build hours we can help!