Read our “Guide To Becoming A Pilot” brochure which will answer most of your questions about the process of becoming a pilot.

To obtain a Private Pilot license, a student must:

• Be at least 17 years old (there is no minimum age to start training)

• Obtain a medical certificate

• Pass the FAA written exam

• Train with an instructor in the air and on the ground (average 65–75 hours)

• Fly solo in the air (minimum 10 hours)

• Pass an FAA oral and practical exam

We highly recommend scheduling a complimentary meeting with our chief pilot. This meeting is a great opportunity to ask questions and plan your training. It’s also very helpful to review this information beforehand so you can make the most of your meeting.

First, we encourage everyone to explore our website and read through the information provided, especially the FAQs, which answer most common questions new students have. We’ve also written a “Guide To Becoming a Pilot” document that you can view HERE.

Once you’ve reviewed the website, the next step is to schedule an informal meeting with our chief flight instructor. Just give us a call at (509) 458-2359, and our front desk staff will set it up. During the meeting, you can ask any remaining questions, see our facility, simulators, and aircraft, and get a feel for what life is like at Northwest Flight Service.

Many students start by enrolling in ground school. However, since you’re not required to complete ground school before starting to fly, many students choose to start flight training and take ground school simultaneously. There are many advantages to taking ground school and beginning flight training around the same time. You can discuss the best approach during your meeting.

Enrolling in ground school is quick and easy. You can sign up by giving us a call or stopping by our office during business hours.

We will ask you to complete a simple information sheet, provide copies of your photo ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate, and sign an acknowledgment confirming that you have read our Standard Operating Procedures. Once your tuition is paid, you are officially enrolled and ready to begin.

Training costs can vary for a number of reasons. When it comes to flight training, you truly get what you pay for. We strongly encourage students to avoid choosing the cheapest option, as quality matters more than cost. Your safety and your future as a pilot depend on the quality of training you receive.

We recommend scheduling a meeting with us to discuss what you can expect to pay based on your individual situation and goals.

You can view our hourly rates HERE.

When you begin flight training, we will match you with a primary instructor who will oversee your progress and fly with you most often. If your primary instructor is unavailable, we have several other instructors available to ensure your training continues without delay.

The FAA sets minimum requirements for flight instruction prior to your checkride. During this time, you’ll gain practical knowledge about safely operating an aircraft in the national airspace system. While the FAA minimum is 40 hours, the national average for a student pilot is 65–80 hours. Your instructor will review these requirements in detail and guide you through the process.

The number of flight hours you need depends on several factors, including your availability, motivation, prior experience, aircraft complexity, weather, and simulator use. Estimated training costs on our website are based on an average of 65 hours.

As a Platinum Cirrus Authorized Training Center, Cirrus training is our specialty. The Cirrus has been the best-selling single-engine aircraft in the world for the last 20+ years. It is a safe and modern airplane that is perfect for brand new and seasoned pilots. More information about the Cirrus is available on our fleet page, as well as www.cirrusaircraft.com.

Each lesson includes a pre-flight briefing, a preflight inspection of the airplane, a 1–2 hour flight, and a post-flight debrief. Expect each lesson to take approximately 3–4 hours from start to finish.

Completion of ground school is not required to begin flight training, though it is a common starting point for many new students. For those unable to attend our in-person ground school, we can recommend several online options.

Ground school provides the knowledge and skills needed to pass the FAA written exam. We offer Private Pilot Ground School throughout the year in an interactive classroom setting, with each course lasting approximately three months.

More information, including class dates and times, is available here.

The short answer is no. A medical certificate is only required before you can fly solo. However, we encourage students to obtain a medical certificate early in their training to ensure there are no issues that could disqualify them.

A medical certificate can only be issued by an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). You can find a list of local AMEs on our website, or by visiting the FAA’s database of AMEs.

There are three classes of FAA medical certificates: first, second, and third class. If you plan to fly for pleasure or personal business, a third-class medical is sufficient. Airlines require a first-class medical, and some corporate aviation jobs may require a first- or second-class medical. If your goal is a career in aviation, we recommend obtaining a first-class medical at the outset to ensure you meet the requirements.

With the exception of ground school and introductory flights, all flight training is pay-as-you-go. You are never required to pay the full cost of training upfront. We accept all major Debit and Credit Cards as well as cash and check payments.

We do not offer in-house financing, but there are many excellent scholarship opportunities available. In addition, AOPA provides flight training financing for qualified individuals. Click HERE for more information.

The FAA checkride is the final step in earning your pilot certificate. It consists of two main parts: an oral exam and a flight test.

During the oral exam, the designated pilot examiner (DPE) will ask questions to assess your knowledge of aviation regulations, aircraft systems, flight planning, weather, navigation, and other essential topics. This is also an opportunity to discuss decision-making and scenarios you may encounter in the air.

The flight portion tests your ability to safely operate an aircraft and demonstrate the maneuvers required for your certificate. You will perform pre-flight procedures, takeoff and landing maneuvers, emergency procedures, navigation, and other tasks according to FAA standards.

Your instructor will prepare you thoroughly for both portions of the checkride, reviewing areas where you may need additional practice and ensuring you feel confident and ready. The goal is to demonstrate your ability to operate safely and competently as a pilot.

There’s no substitute for high-quality, structured flight training led by experienced professionals. While flight training is an investment, quality and value matter far more than cost, especially when your safety and skills are at stake. Cheaper programs often mean less experienced instructors or poorly maintained aircraft, which can lead to costly gaps in your knowledge later on.

At Northwest Flight Service, experience is our foundation. We’ve been training pilots in the Spokane area longer than any other flight school in the region. Our instructors bring diverse aviation backgrounds and a proven record of helping students achieve their goals.

Our facility sets us apart with private briefing rooms, a modern conference room, and a spacious classroom designed for distraction-free learning. We also offer two state-of-the-art flight simulators, powerful training tools that save money while allowing us to simulate a variety of real-world conditions.

Our aircraft are modern, well maintained, and readily available, and our instructors work around your schedule to help you progress efficiently. We can tailor our training syllabus to your individual goals and learning pace.

Safety and quality are our top priorities. Our instructors complete frequent proficiency training, and our aircraft are maintained to the highest standards by our in-house team of FAA-certified, factory-trained mechanics.

We’re proud of the recognition we’ve earned over the years:

• 2025 – AOPA Distinguished Flight School Award

• 2022 – Platinum Cirrus Training Center

• 2022 – Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot of the Year (Chief Pilot)

• 2018 & 2019 – Cirrus Approach Safety Awards

• 2017 – Cirrus Training Center of the Year (North America)

Above all, exceptional customer service is at the heart of what we do. We want every student to feel like part of something special—because you are.

Our office is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and training happens 24/7/365. We look forward to meeting you and showing you firsthand why Northwest Flight Service is the best choice for your aviation journey.

Yes. While our training fleet consists of Cirrus aircraft, our instructors have experience in a wide variety of other aircraft types. We regularly provide instruction in many common general aviation airplanes, including Cessnas, Pipers, Beechcraft models, and other similar aircraft.

Many aircraft owners choose to train in their own airplane for ratings, flight reviews, instrument proficiency, insurance requirements, or transition training. Our instructors are happy to work with you in your aircraft to help you build proficiency and confidence in the airplane you fly.

If you are interested in training in your own aircraft, please contact us to discuss your airplane, your training goals, and how we can best support your training.

Many flight schools primarily train in older aircraft designs, such as those by Cessna, Piper, or Beechcraft. While these airplanes have trained generations of pilots, modern aircraft like the Cirrus provide a significantly more advanced and safety focused training platform.

Safety is one of the primary reasons we train in Cirrus aircraft. Every Cirrus airplane is equipped with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), a whole aircraft parachute designed to safely lower the entire airplane to the ground in the event of an emergency. This unique safety feature has saved hundreds of lives and is not available in traditional training aircraft. Combined with advanced avionics, modern automation, and enhanced situational awareness tools, the Cirrus platform provides one of the safest training environments available in general aviation today.

Training in a technologically advanced aircraft also prepares students for the modern cockpit environments they are likely to encounter throughout their flying careers. The systems management and automation skills developed in a Cirrus translate directly to the types of glass cockpit aircraft used in corporate and airline aviation. Many of our graduates who have gone on to professional flying careers have found that their Cirrus training helped them feel more comfortable transitioning into advanced aircraft and airline training environments.

Students also benefit from a highly structured training ecosystem. Our program integrates Cirrus Approach Online Training, which provides interactive courses and scenario-based learning that reinforce what students practice in the aircraft.

In addition, our Cirrus AATD Simulator allows students to practice procedures, instrument flying, and challenging scenarios in a safe and controlled environment. This helps students build proficiency faster while also reducing overall training costs.

Learning in a Cirrus means training in one of the safest and most advanced aircraft available while using a structured training system designed to help pilots become safe, proficient and confident aviators. For more information about the Cirrus, visit ww.cirrusaircraft.com.