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Pricing

What flight training costs

Flight training at Core Aviator Training is pay-as-you-go — no big upfront packages. The Cherokee 140 is $170 per hour wet (fuel and maintenance included) and instruction is $55 per hour, whether in the air or on the ground. A Discovery Flight is $175. Total cost to a Private Pilot License depends mostly on how often you fly and how well you study: the FAA minimum is 40 hours, and consistent, well-prepared students finish closest to it.

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Cherokee 140 · wet rate

$170 per hour — fuel & maintenance included

One immaculate airplane, one hourly rate. No fuel surcharges, no surprises.

Start with a Discovery Flight

Discovery Flight

$175 no-commitment intro

A real first lesson with logbook credit — briefing, coastal flying, debrief.

Book a Discovery Flight

Instruction

$55 per hour — flight or ground

One-on-one CFI time, in the cockpit or across the briefing table.

Talk to the instructor

Estimates are current as of publication and vary by student — confirm your plan when you contact us.

Cost factors

What actually
determines
your total

Nobody can promise you an exact number up front — anyone who does is guessing. These four things decide it.

  1. 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. 2

    Preparation

    Showing up ready — ground study done, procedures chair-flown — makes every paid hour count.

  3. 3

    Aptitude & goals

    Every student learns at their own pace, and your destination (a certificate, a rating, a career) shapes the plan.

  4. 4

    Medical & materials

    Plan for a medical certificate to begin, plus books, a headset, and FAA exam fees.

Flight training is self-paced and performance-based, so totals vary with study habits, lesson frequency, weather, and aptitude. We quote honestly and you pay per session — contact us for current availability.

Pricing questions, answered

How much does it cost to earn a Private Pilot License?
You pay per session: the Cherokee 140 is $170/hr wet and instruction is $55/hr, with no big upfront packages. The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours; most students reach proficiency around 65, so frequency and ground study are the biggest levers on your total.
How long does it take to get my license?
Most consistent students are checkride-ready in roughly 2–4 months. Accelerated schedules are possible with 3+ flights per week — and with 300+ flyable days a year in Southwest Florida, weather rarely slows you down.
Do I have to pay upfront?
No. CORE is pay-per-session — you pay as your training progresses, with minimal startup costs and no lump-sum packages. We don’t offer or push financing; your budget stays in your control.
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask for at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. No-shows (excluding genuine emergencies) carry a fee of two hours at the standard instructor rate; weather cancellations are always understood and never charged.

Start with the Discovery Flight

It's the lowest-risk way to find out if flying is for you.

Serving Fort Myers · Cape Coral · Naples · Estero · Bonita Springs · Fort Myers Beach · Lehigh Acres · Punta Gorda

Book a Discovery Flight — $175