Quality Score
Excellent
Base (15) + components above = 97
About
Capital City Aviation is a nonprofit flight training and aircraft rental club based at the Ohio State University Airport (KOSU) in Columbus, Ohio. As the Cirrus Training Center for Central Ohio, we offer Private Pilot Certificates, Instrument Ratings, Commercial Certificates, CFI/CFII training, and more. Our standardized fleet includes Cirrus SR20, SR22, Piper Pilot 100i, and Cessna 172N aircraft, all IFR certified with modern avionics. We also offer simulator training on a Cirrus AATD and Gleim BATD.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 172N (Skyhawk) (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $90 – $350/hr | $6,100 – $24,500 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $40 – $150/hr | $1,575 – $6,300 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $40 – $150/hr | $750 – $3,000 |
| Estimated Total Range | $8,500 – $33,800 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Capital City Aviation is estimated to cost $8,500 – $33,800. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Capital City 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.
Yes, Capital City 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.
Capital City Aviation's training fleet includes the Piper PA-28 (Pilot 100i), Cessna 172N (Skyhawk), Cirrus SR20 G7, and Cirrus SR22. 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, Capital City Aviation has the following flight training devices: Cirrus AATD and Gleim BATD. Ask the school which ratings the devices count toward and how many hours you can log.
No, Capital City Aviation does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.