Stratus Financial, with 12 months’ deferment.
Need help investing in your future? You’ve got options! Finance your training through Stratus Financial — full financing for your entire flight training and more — or Flight Training Finance LLC, or AOPA’s Flight Training Credit program for members. …Or you can just pay as you go, and fly and PAY at your pace.
N6245D Pay as you go, or finance the whole plan.
Already have too many loans to pay off? Well, that’s okay! Just pay as you go! Since you don’t have to adhere to a specific schedule, you can fly and PAY at your pace.
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
- Discounts for military and first responders, and sunrise and twilight flight rates for all students
- Tip: many students use 0% APR credit cards that last 15-21 months to cover their initial payments
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 and more
- Deferment for 12 months while you complete your training AND find a job
- Pay your loan off any time you want with no consequences or penalties whatsoever
- Counseling, resume reviewing, editing and building, and AMA calls with 121 and 135 pilots
Flight Training Finance LLC
An independent loan company that focuses on providing the funds needed to jump-start your future, for one or all of your training stages. The better your credit score, the lower your interest rates will be.
- Financing for one or all of your training stages
- Finish early and make your initial payments on time: a cash refund up to 25% on your overall loan
AOPA Flight Training Finance and Scholarships
AOPA members have access to aviation scholarships that can put free money toward becoming a pilot.
- AOPA members: a $20,000 Flight Training Credit loan with a good credit score — funds in as little as 3 days
- Scholarships for AOPA members
- Membership for as little as $7.41/month
If you have limited credit or low income you may need a Co-Borrower. …Or you can just pay as you go!
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 certificate
Obtain a medical certificate from an authorized medical examiner (before solo flight).
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