Quality Score
Very Good
Base (15) + components above = 89
About
Colgan Air Services is Western Wisconsin's Premier FBO offering flight training, ground school, line services, aircraft maintenance, and aircraft management at La Crosse Regional Airport. They provide Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial training with experienced FAA Certified Flight Instructors and two Cessna 172s available for rental and instruction.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 152 (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $60 – $240/hr | $4,200 – $16,800 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $30 – $120/hr | $1,250 – $5,050 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $30 – $120/hr | $600 – $2,400 |
| Estimated Total Range | $6,100 – $24,200 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Colgan Air Services is estimated to cost $6,100 – $24,200. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Colgan Air Services 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, Colgan Air Services 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.
Colgan Air Services's training fleet includes the Cessna 172 (Skyhawk) and Cessna 152. 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 Colgan Air Services. Some schools have basic Aviation Training Devices that may not be in our database. Ask them directly.
No, Colgan Air Services does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.