FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I take a ride-along to see if flying is something I want to pursue?

Yes! We can schedule a discovery flight for as little as $300 and have you flying typically within a few days. You can also make your first flight the beginning of your professional pilot career and schedule a 2 hour block. Either way, your time can be logged as part of your 40 hour minimum requirement for the Private Pilot License.

What are the requirements for a Private Pilot License?

Your Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) will have a lot of information for you once you are enrolled in the program. To wrap it all up very simply, a Private license will require a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, including at least 20 hours of flight training with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight time. A written exam and a practical exam with a designated examiner will be required and you must be at least 17 years of age to take the practical exam.

How much does a Private Pilot License cost?

Cost will vary greatly from one student to another, but it's a good idea to plan for about $10,000. It can be less if you are self-motivated and able to study at home. It will be more costly if you would like to have a CFI provide additional ground school tutoring. To keep costs low we suggest flying three or more times per week to retain the skills you develop during your training flights.

Are there any discounts?

Yes! We offer a 10% discount for every $1,000 pre-payment made to your account. This applies to aircraft rental rates and instruction rates.

Are there options for financing?

As a private flight school, we are unable to offer financing. However, there are many private scholarships available to new student pilots. Your best resources would be through aopa.org, or faa.gov/education/grants_scholarships/, the EAA, or even through the Aviation section on Scholarships.com.

Are your aircraft available for rent?

Absolutely! Any appropriately rated pilot who meets the requirements outlined in our rental agreement can take a check-out flight with one of our instructors. Upon successful completion of the check-out, the instructor will endorse you in our system to rent the aircraft. Plan for a one and a half hour flight and an hour of ground training for your review.

Can I use my personal aircraft for my flight training?

Yes, however we reserve the right to have our qualified mechanics inspect the aircraft before our CFIs begin flight training. Each situation is unique, so feel free to come in and chat with us about it.

How soon can I start training?

Call us to check availability. Depending on our current student enrollment and the number of available CFIs, we may be able to get started right away. If our CFIs’ schedules are full, we implement a waitlist to ensure that students currently enrolled in the program get the attention they need to finish training.

When would I start making money as a pilot?

You can legally start making money once you earn your commercial license. Typically this requires a minimum of 250 hours of flight time, preceded by earning a private license and instrument rating. As a brand new commercial pilot with 250 hours it will be difficult to find a job right away, so many pilots choose to continue training to earn their flight instructor certificate. As a CFI, you can start making money, continue to build flight time, and help students achieve their goals.

What equipment or materials will I need for my training?

First and foremost you will want to purchase a logbook. This will be key to keeping track of your flight hours in order to obtain your Private Pilot Licence (PPL). If you are on a budget and want to do most of your ground training on your own time, we have a PPL Test Prep Kit from the ASA available to purchase on site. There are also online Ground School options available such as Gold Seal, Sporty’s, and Cessna. Our instructors highly recommend Gold Seal because they can track your progress. We have a few sets of David Clark headsets available for rent at the office, so if you are on a budget, purchasing a pair of your own is optional. However, our CFIs do recommend buying a nicer headset such as a Bose or Lightspeed if you are planning to become a professional pilot. It is something you will use every day and it will really help you get the most out of each flight.

Can your simulator be used to log time?

Yes! Our simulator is AATD approved, meaning it has been approved by the FAA for logged time. Depending on your endorsement you're working towards, there are limitations on how much simulator time can go towards completion. See the following regulations for more information:
- 61.65(i): Instrument rating; up to 20hrs
- 61.109(k)(l): PPL; 2.5hrs
- 61.129(i)(l)(i): Comercial; 50hrs
- 61.159(a)(4)(i): Airline Transport; 25hrs

Can your simulator be used to do Instrument Proficiency Checks?FAQ

Yes! Our simulator is AATD approved, meaning it has been approved by the FAA for IPCs. See regulation 61.57(d)(l) for more information

EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST

Come fly with us and experience the joys of aviation! At Bend Aircraft we believe that safety comes first, which is why we pride ourselves on providing well maintained aircraft to our students and instructors.

CONTACT US
(541) 241-7371
info@bendaircraft.com

63330 Powell Butte Hwy
Bend, OR 97701

8am to 5pm
Monday thru Friday