Quality Score
Fair
Base (15) + components above = 64
About
Blade & Wing Aviation is a helicopter and airplane flight training school based at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California. They offer helicopter and airplane training from Private Pilot through Commercial, Instrument Rating, CFI, and CFII. As a small, owner-operated company, they provide personalized, tailored training schedules and also offer aviation services including contract pilots, aerial services, safety pilots, and ferry flights.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 172 (Skyhawk) (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $75 – $300/hr | $5,300 – $21,000 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $40 – $160/hr | $1,675 – $6,725 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $30 – $110/hr | $550 – $2,200 |
| Estimated Total Range | $7,500 – $29,900 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Blade & Wing Aviation is estimated to cost $7,500 – $29,900. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Blade & Wing Aviation operates under Part 61. Training is self-paced: you and your instructor set the curriculum rather than following a pre-approved syllabus. The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot Certificate under Part 61 is 40 flight hours, though most students need 60 to 70.
No, Blade & Wing Aviation does not have a Designated Pilot Examiner on staff. When you're ready for your checkride, you'll need to book with an independent DPE. Ask the school if they can point you to one nearby.
Blade & Wing Aviation's training fleet includes the Cessna 172 (Skyhawk), Cessna 150, Piper PA-28 (Cherokee), Piper PA-28-Arrow (Arrow), and Robinson R22. Having multiple types in the fleet keeps your training on track if one plane is down for maintenance. Ask the school about current availability and any additional charges per aircraft.
No flight simulators are listed for Blade & Wing Aviation. Some schools have basic Aviation Training Devices that may not be in our database. Ask them directly.
No, Blade & Wing Aviation does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.