COURSES


PILOT TRAINING OVERVIEW

8-12 Weeks
Private Pilot
Obtaining your single-engine Private Pilot Certificate, also known as the license to learn, is the first course you take if you are interested in a career in aviation. If you're just interested in a fun, new hobby then this is the ONLY course you need to take to become a licensed pilot. Although it is not "required" for hobby pilots, we will always recommend that you obtain your Instrument Rating as well.
8-12 Weeks
6-12 Weeks
Instrument Rating
Most Commercial flights conduct their flights under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), allowing them to fly in less than ideal weather conditions. If your goal is to become a career pilot, then you must have an Instrument Rating. If flying is just a hobby, obtaining your IFR makes you a safer and more knowledgable pilot. During this phase, you will conduct flights under simulated instrument conditions and learn IFR procedures such as approaches, holds, arrival and departure procedures, and how to communicate on the radios more effectively.
6-12 Weeks
6-12 Weeks
Time Building
This phase is the most fun of your career pilot training cycle. You get 110 hours to fly anywhere in the country and build your experience. Use this time to see new places, fly at night, gain experience, and prepare yourself for what it might be like to be paid to fly for a living. Note that you can cut this expense in half by joining our online community and finding other safety pilots to fly with.
6-12 Weeks
5 Weeks
Commercial Pilot
After finishing out your time building to 230 total flight hours, you will begin preparing for you single-engine Commercial Pilot Certificate, which will open the door for you to be paid to fly. As a commercial pilot, new flight maneuvers are introduced and existing ones are held to tighter tolerances. Prior to completing the commercial pilot practical test, 10 hours of Technologically Advanced Aircraft training will have have been completed in our Piper Arrow or Cirrus SR20.
5 Weeks
6-12 Weeks
Flight Instructor
The end is near for your initial training journey, most people choose to gain their hours for their career by flight instructing. As a certificated flight instructor, you can build flight hours to meet airline and corporate hiring minimums, while spreading your passion for flying. Being a certified flight instructor is a fun and rewarding job that utilizes all you have learned during your flight training.
6-12 Weeks
30-52 Weeks
COMPLETION
Congratulations you did it! You're now a Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor. You've completed your initial career training. At this point you can add on your multi engine in a quick 5 day course, and explore adding your instrument instructor rating.
30-52 Weeks

PRIVATE PILOT TRAINING IN TWIN CITIES

People always ask us about the costs associated with Private Pilot flight training in twin cities. It’s usually the biggest deterrent towards actually obtaining a pilot’s license. A private pilot license in the US ranges anywhere from $10K-$18K spread out over several months up to a year (depending on the school and the aircraft rental rates).  We always explain to potential students a simple fact: a pilot license is the same price as that boat you might want, that used car you’ve had your eye on, or the motorcycle that you are interested in buying. 

When you invest in a  pilot license you are not only investing into something that will last a lifetime (your license never expires), but it’s also a personal achievement and an investment into yourself, that many will never experience in their short time on earth. There are about 195,000 Private Pilots in the United States (there are over 6,000,000 motorcycles registered in the US alone). Anyone can go out and buy boats, cars, and motorcycles.

 How many of you can actually go out and fly an airplane at your own leisure? If you enjoy traveling, a fun hobby or a great community atmosphere then getting your pilot license is something we highly encourage you to do in your lifetime. If it’s not on your bucket list already, add getting your pilot license. Remember we are always here to make your dream a reality. We have a serious passion for general aviation, an excellent track record of producing the best and safest pilots in the country, and a commitment to keeping flying fun and affordable for all with our exclusive private pilot training programs in twin cities. 

Private Pilot
Prerequisites :

Private Pilot
Steps :

Private Pilot
Privileges :

FAA MINIMUM 40 HOURS

Instructor

30 hrs – $100/hr – $3,000

Airplane (Cessna 152)
30 hrs –$110/hr – $3,300

Airplane Solo
17.5 hrs –$110/hr – $1,925

Ground Instruction
25 hrs –$90/hr – $2,250

NATIONAL AVERAGE 55
HOURS - CESSNA 152

Instructor

37.5 hrs – $100/hr – $3,750

Airplane (Cessna 152)
37.5 hrs – $110/hr – $4,125

Airplane Solo
17.5 hrs – $110/hr – $1,925

Ground Instruction
25 hrs – $90/hr – $2,250

NATIONAL AVERAGE 55
HOURS - CESSNA 172

Instructor

37.5 hrs – $100/hr – $3,750

Airplane (Cessna 172)
37.5 hrs – $140/hr – $5,250

Airplane Solo
17.5 hrs – $140/hr – $2,450

Ground Instruction 
30 hrs –$90/hr – $2,700

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS OF PRIVATE PILOT TRAINING IN TWIN CITIES

There is no minimum age to begin flight training for your private pilot license! Some of our students are even twelve years old. As our younger students prepare to solo, there are only two requirements. They must be 16 years old to solo and they need to have a medical certificate. All student pilots, no matter their age, must have a medical physical exam by an FAA certified doctor. Once they pass their medical, they are given a medical certificate. The medical certificate is needed before the first solo. Student pilots must also be able to speak, read, write and understand English.

The length of time it takes to earn your license depends upon how often you fly. Most students fly on average 2-3 times per week. At this pace you can receive your license in as little as 3 months. We give you the tools to succeed and you make it happen by attending your lessons and progressing! The times below are the FAA minimum requirements.

  • 40 flight hours total
  • 20 dual hours
  • 3 hours cross country
  • 3 night hours
  • 10 solo hours
  • 5 hours solo cross country

With the exception of a few 2-3 hour cross-country flights, your flight lessons are 1-2 hours in length. At your request we can make them longer or shorter, but this seems to be a good time frame. When you arrive you will spend 5-10 minutes doing a preflight inspection of the airplane, then join your flight instructor for a 10-15 minute pre-flight briefing that will address review items from last time and a thorough discussion of how to accomplish this flight’s goals. The flight itself will usually last between 1 hour 10 minutes, and 1 hour 40 minutes. The flight will be followed by a post-flight briefing of today’s flight and what you can look forward to for next time.

  • Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that relate to private pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations
  • Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage, dead reckoning, and navigation systems
  • Safe and efficient operation of aircraft, including collision avoidance, and recognition and avoidance of wake turbulence
  • Principles of aerodynamics, powerplants, and aircraft systems
  • How to obtain information on runway lengths at airports of intended use, data on takeoff and landing distances, weather reports and forecasts, and fuel requirements
  • Preflight procedures
  • Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board
  • Radio communication procedures
  • Effects of density altitude on takeoff and climb performance
  • Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery techniques for the airplane and glider category ratings
  • How to plan for alternatives if the planned flight cannot be completed or delays are encountered
  • Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
  • Ground reference maneuvers
  • Basic instrument maneuvers
  • Postflight procedures
  • Slow flight and stalls
  • Use of the applicable portions of the “Aeronautical Information Manual” and FAA advisory circulars
  • Recognition of critical weather situations from the ground and in flight, winds hear avoidance, and the procurement and use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts
  • Weight and balance computations
  • Aeronautical decision making and judgment
  • Preflight preparation
  • Performance maneuvers
  • Navigation
  • Emergency operations
  • Airport operations
  • Night operations

The FAA written test can be done at anytime before or during your training. It needs to be done by the time you take your checkride. The written test is comprised of 60 questions with a passing grade of 70%. Those 60 questions are pulled from a bank of just over 800 questions, we have the test prep online available  here. Your checkride will be with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and will consist of two parts. The first half will be an oral examination, where you will answer questions about flying. The second half is the practical examination, where you will fly maneuvers in the airplane with the DPE. After you pass both parts, you will receive your Private Pilot License!

Once you receive your Private Pilot License, you can rent most any single engine airplanes including the plane you learned on! Bring your friends and family along because you will be able to carry passengers along for the ride. You’ll be able to fly both day/night and most anywhere you want, even internationally!

INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT TRAINING IN TWIN CITIES

 

Many people who complete their Private Pilot training in Twin cities continue on with us to achieve their Instrument Rating. Pilots who become Instrument Rated with the private pilot training in twin cities have more services provided to them by ATC, learn to fly in more adverse conditions and, most importantly, are far less likely to be part of incidents and accidents. Beyond the ability to fly into clouds, instrument training teaches advanced use of cockpit instruments and ATC communications to enhance situational awareness and understanding of the airplane. 

At Inflight, we believe that through diligent and intense private pilot training in twin cities anyone can achieve an instrument rating and become the safest pilot possible. Instructors work hard to push students by finding the most realistic scenarios on the ground and in the air. We love going up in the clouds, and can’t wait to take you up as well.

Instrument Rating
Prerequisites :

Instrument Rating
Steps :

Instrument Rating
Privileges :

INSTRUMENT RATING - CESSNA 172

Instructor
37 hrs – $100hr – $3,700

Airplane (Cessna 172)
27 hrs – $140/hr – $3,780

ELITE PI-135 Simulator 
10 hrs – $20/hr – $200

Ground Instruction
25 hrs – $90/hr – $2,250

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Having your Instrument Rating will make you a more proficient, competent and confident pilot. You will have greater confidence when landing at a new or unfamiliar airport. Most importantly, your Instrument rating will increase your safety. Being prepared and able to handle any change in the weather,  will make you and your passengers safer.

  • Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that apply to flight operations under IFR
  • Air traffic control system and procedures for instrument flight operations
  • Safe and efficient operation of aircraft under instrument flight rules and conditions
  • Preflight procedures
  • Air traffic control clearances and procedures
  • Instrument approach procedures
  • Appropriate information that applies to flight operations under IFR in the “Aeronautical Information Manual”
  • Use of IFR en route and instrument approach procedure charts
  • Procurement and use of aviation weather reports and forecasts and the elements of forecasting weather trends based on that information and personal observation of weather conditions
  • Flight by reference to instruments
  • Postflight procedures
  • IFR navigation and approaches by use of navigation systems
  • Recognition of critical weather situations and windshear avoidance
  • Crew resource management, including crew communication and coordination
  • Aeronautical decision making and judgment
  • Preflight preparation
  • Navigation systems
  • Emergency operations

The length of time it takes to earn your Instrument Rating depends upon how often you fly. You can receive your Instrument rating in as little as 30 days if you fly everyday. Most students fly on average 2-3 times per week. At this pace you can receive your Instrument rating in as little as 90 days.

  • 40 flight hours of actual or simulated IFR
  • 50 hours cross country PIC
  • Up to 10 hours in our FAA approved simulator

Once you receive your Instrument, you will be able to fly in weather with lower visibility. This means you can fly in known low visibility areas, like on the coast when there is a marine layer and over the mountains when it is cloudy. Additionally, flying in IFR weather with a flight plan will often give you priority to land at busy airports. When the airport knows you are arriving before you even take off, they can plan better for your arrival.

COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENSE

For those looking to make a career out of their aviation journey, a commercial license is the next big step. A commercial pilot license enables pilots to fly for hire or compensation within the bounds and regulations of the FAA.  Training for a commercial license is some of the most fun flying we do in our instruction careers. The maneuvers are designed to demonstrate total mastery of the plane and our instructors and students alike love going up and pushing the plane to the limits of its flying capacity. Students who enroll in this pilot training course in twin cities can expect to learn the regulations regarding commercial flight, the duties and expectations of a commercial pilot, and of course, how to fly the plane like an experienced professional.

Commercial Pilot License Prerequisites :

Commercial Pilot
Steps :

Commercial Pilot
License Privileges :

COMMERCIAL PILOT - C172/Arrow

Airplane (Cessna 172)
15 hrs – $140/hr – $2,100

Airplane (Piper Arrow)

10 hrs – $160/hr – $1,600

Flight Instruction
25 hrs – $100/hr – $2,500

Ground Instruction
25 hrs – $100/hr – $2,500

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS OF COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENSE

A licensed commercial pilot may act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft for compensation or hire, as well as carry persons or property for compensation or hire. 

The Commercial is usually one of the fastest training programs because it’s a comprehensive review of what you already did in your Private Pilot training, just to stricter standards with a few more maneuvers added in. Most people finish their Commercial in 6-8 weeks.

Airline pilots operate regularly scheduled passenger flights. To fly as an airline pilot, you must have an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, which is the highest pilot license the FAA issues. However, all pilots wanting to fly for a living must first start by earning their commercial pilot license, before they can attain an ATP certificate.

Commercial Pilot Flight Time Requirements
Total Flight Time250 Hours
Pilot-In-Command (PIC)100 Hours
Cross-Country PIC50 Hours
Instrument Training10 Hours
Technically Advanced Airplane (TAA)10 Hours

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

Often considered the most difficult rating to achieve, becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) is one of the most rewarding experiences for a pilot. Certified Flight Instructors are empowered by the FAA to share their love of aviation by teaching other pilots to fly. The process of becoming a flight instructor involves learning to fly the plane from the right seat, understanding the fundamentals of instruction as set out by the FAA, and creating lesson plans that you will one day use to teach students to be safe pilots. 

Along with the initial CFI rating, Inflight also offers training for your Instrument Instructor rating, which enables instructors to teach in instrument conditions. Here at Inflight, we pride ourselves on our exceptionally high initial pass rate for this difficult checkride and enjoy creating the best flight instructors in the Twin Cities.

Flight Instructor
Prerequisites :

Flight Instructor
Steps :

Flight Instructor
Privileges :

CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

15 HRS AIR (Cessna 172)
$2,100

15 HRS DUAL
$1,500

30 HRS GROUND
$3,000

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As you advance through your aviation career, you may consider earning your flight instructor certification. As a certificated flight instructor, you can build flight experience to meet airline and corporate hiring minimums. Being a certified flight instructor is a fun and rewarding career that utilizes all you have learned during your flight training.  

There is no specific time requirement to become a flight instructor, and the training is all up to you on how fast you complete it. If you are a licensed Commercial Pilot you can do your CFI training in as little as 60 days. 

After you get your CFI there is a CFII which is your instrument add on. This can be completed in about 15 hours of training and is very rewarding. You may also go on and earn your MEI which is your multi engine instructor rating. 

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? TAKE THE NEXT STEP TODAY!