60 Hour Course for Private Pilot

Who can take the course?

To qualify for this course, you must be 17 years old on the day of the flight test.  You must be reasonably healthy and have enough endurance to fly daily for 21 days.  You must read, speak, and write English,  You must be a US Citizen, or obtain clearance from the Transportation Security Administration.  A US Passport or Birth Certificate, and Government Photo ID is required.  You must obtain an FAA Third Class Medical prior to arriving for the course.  You must apply for and receive an FAA Student Pilot Certificate prior to beginning training.  The application process for a student pilot certificate should begin a minimum of 2 weeks before starting the course.  Failure to obtain an FAA Medical and/or Student Pilot Certificate, or completing the written test prior to arrival, will make it impossible to complete the training in the time alloted, and will result in loss of any tuition paid and the $1800 deposit.

This course is for the student that would like more time to become proficient and comfortable with flying while with an instructor, and in most cases, is more realistic for the average student pilot.  All flight requirements and training for the 43 hour course are included, with an additional 17 hours to practice and prepare for the checkride.  Additional time can be spent doing solo flight or instruction, including more advanced cross country and controlled field training.  Additional practical training is recommended for the new pilot that intends to start flying cross country with friends or family right away. 

The course includes use of the aircraft for 60 hours, and up to 46 hours of instruction, 10 hours of solo, and 4 hours to complete the FAA Checkride.  All fuel, oil, headsets, charts, etc.  are included, there are no hidden surcharges.

  The examiner's flight test fee is an additional $850, which is paid directly to the examiner in cash at the end of the training.

  Exclusive use of the airport cottage is included for up to 21 nights.

It is possible to finish this course in less than 21 days, if weather, and student ability allows.  It is expected that we will fly a minimum of 4 hours per day on every day that weather allows us to do so safely.  If weather delays cause us to get behind, we can fly up to 8 hours per day at the students descretion.   It is also expected that there will be days that we can not fly due to maintenance or weather.  Non flying time will be spent studying, and doing ground training.  The student is expected to be available all day, everyday, regardless of weather.  There is a lot of material to cover, and proper preparation on the student's part is imperative for success in this program.  There is not enough time to do all of the required flying, and cover all the required knowledge, it simply isn't possible in such a short course.  So....

It is required that the student will have studied ground material, including the FAA Handbook Of Aeronautical Knowledge, The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook, The Cessna C172M POH, the applicable portions of the FAR/AIM, and the ASA Private Pilot Oral Guide, and to complete the required FAA Knowledge Test prior to arriving for the course.

There is an extensive list of required ground school resources located here.    

Course Payment Breakdown

$15,675

An initial deposit of $1800, plus an examiner booking fee of $150, is required to reserve course dates.  Depsosits are not refundable as significant time is locked out on the aircraft and instructor's schedule, the cottage, and the examiner.  The student agrees that payment of the depsoit constitutes agreement with the terms set forth for the courses provided by Blue Ridge Sport Flight as herein published.  If sufficient notice is given, it may be possible, at the sole discretion of Blue Ridge Sport Flight LLC to shift dates to accomodate unforseen delays.  If for any reason the course cannot be provided due to the fault of Blue Ridge Sport Flight, the deposit will be fully refunded.

Payment of deposit constitutes agreement with the terms set forth on this page as of 01/01/2023. 

5 business days prior to arrival - 1/2 of the remaining balance, and the full lodging cost, is earned, due, and payable to Blue Ridge Sport Flight LLC - $7705.  Payment can be made by check, and mailed to:  Blue Ridge Sport Flight LLC, 1194 Eastbrook Dr, Hendersonville NC 28792 in time to arrive 5 business days prior to training start.  Failure to pay initial tuition by 5 business prior to training will result in cancellation of the training event and forfeiture of any deposit made. 

At the completion of 26 hours, the remaining balance of $6170- is due.

If the student decides to end training at or before the completion of 26 hours for any reason, the training session will be reduced to one and a half weeks - 11 nights, and the last payment will not be due.  No portion of the course deposit and tuition paid will be refunded

The $1800 deposit is used to cover the last 8 hours of training, at the completion of the full 60 course.  If the student elects to discontinue training at any time, and for any reason, any tuition paid is forfeited.  Blue Ridge Sport Flight guarantees to provide an instructor and aircraft.  If for any reason, the aircraft or instructor becomes unavailable for an extended period of time at the fault of Blue Ridge Sport Flight LLC, any unused tuition will be refunded.  It is expected and agreed that there will be a day of two of maintenance required during the 21 days that may interfere with training.  Blue Ridge Sport Flight will make every effort to complete unscheduled maintenance as quickly as possible.  Weather delays are not uncommon, and are very much a part of general aviation flight.  In the event that a prolonged period of weather causes delays, the student may reschedule any remaining training during the next available schedule opening.   Blue Ridge Sport Flight will make every reasonable effort to ensure the student gets done.

Students are expected to fly a minimum of 4 hours per day when weather, aircraft, and instructor are available.  On most days, the flying window is from sun up to sun down, at any time the conditions allow.  If for any reason the student elects to fly less than 4 hours on any safely flyable training day, the student will be billed for the full 4 hours.  All flight instruction is conducted under the supervision of an FAA Certificated Flight Instructor.  All students must comply with all FAA regulations, and with the lawful instructions given by their instructor.  Any student found to be operating the aircraft in a careless and reckless manner, in violation of FAA regultions, or not in compliance with their instructor's directions, shall have their instruction immediately terminated, any and all tuition payments will be forfeited, and the student's actions may be reported to FAA.  Blue Ridge Sport Flight LLC reserves the right to stop a student training session at the end of the first half of training for any reason. 

The course is NOT guaranteed, and is not suited to all students, if the student needs more time, Blue Ridge Sport Flight LLC can provide additional required hours or days at the published hourly rate of $235, depending on instructor and aircraft schedule availability.   Due to advance scheduling of students and examiners,  it is usually necessary to schedule additional training at a later date.  It is possible to finish in 60 hours, however, FAA statistics show that the average student needs 75 hours to be proficient to pass the required checkride. 

The examiner is not an employee of Blue Ridge Sport Flight, and not under our control.  The flight test requires good weather and is subject to the examiner's schedule if the test must be rescheduled due to weather or unsatisfactory performance.  If the flight test is not completed due to weather or unsatisfactory performance, the course will be considered completed, and any additional time required to complete the course will be at the published rates. 

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