Quality Score
Excellent
Base (15) + components above = 99
About
Blue River Aviation focuses on professional aviation training, preparing students for everything from airline careers to off-airport operations in Alaska’s backcountry. We provide aircraft for a wide variety of training: everything from C150’s and C172’s, Technologically Advanced Aircraft (TAA), Complex, Floats, Skis, Tailwheel, Multi-Engine, and a Redbird FMX full motion simulator.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 150J (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $75 – $300/hr | $5,300 – $21,000 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $40 – $150/hr | $1,575 – $6,300 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $40 – $150/hr | $750 – $3,000 |
| Estimated Total Range | $7,600 – $30,300 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Blue River Aviation is estimated to cost $7,600 – $30,300. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
Yes, Blue River Aviation is approved for both Part 61 and Part 141 training. Part 141 uses a structured, FAA-approved curriculum with stage checks and lowers the minimum hours for a Private Pilot Certificate from 40 to 35. Part 61 is self-paced with no required syllabus. Ask the school which path fits your schedule.
Yes, Blue River Aviation has a Designated Pilot Examiner on staff. You can schedule your checkride directly through the school instead of finding an independent examiner on your own. In many areas DPE wait times have stretched to weeks or months, so this is worth factoring in when choosing a school.
Blue River Aviation's training fleet includes the Cessna 150J, Cessna 172N (Skyhawk), Cessna 172M (Skyhawk), Cessna 172P (Skyhawk), Cessna 206 (Stationair), Piper PA-18 (Super Cub), Cessna 185 (Skywagon), and Piper PA-30. 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.
Yes, Blue River Aviation has the following flight training device: Redbird FMX. Ask the school which ratings the device count toward and how many hours you can log.
No, Blue River Aviation does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.