If you want the reassurance of experience, Aurora Flight Training has to be worth a look. With half-a-dozen locations and access to more than 100 Bellanca, Cessna, Cirrus, and Piper aircraft, it’s a big operation offering expert tuition, tailored programs, and very high standards.
The list of courses available at Aurora Flight Training is long and distinguished. Programs include ground school and private pilot license tuition, plus multi-engine, commercial, and instrument rating training. You can also become a certified instructor or undertake a mountain flying course, an accelerated program, or Cirrus transitional training.
There are several discovery flight options open to anyone, so you can try before signing up. These include the one-hour Oregon Experience, the Premium option in a Garmin G1000 equipped Cessna, or the 90 minute Coastal Cruise. Prices for these are between $199 and $399.
For help with funding, Aurora Flight Training has a dedicated page outlining all your options. This includes organizations offering scholarships, as well as third party finance via Meritize for the Professional Pilot Program. Aurora estimates that getting your private pilot certificate can cost between around $7,500 and $18,000 and gives guidance on how to keep the cost down.