Quality Score
Excellent
Base (15) + components above = 91
About
Mauna Loa Helicopters is an FAA Part 141 accredited helicopter flight school based in Hawaii, with locations on Oahu (Honolulu) and the Big Island (Kona). Founded in 1992, the school offers helicopter and fixed-wing flight training including Private, Commercial, Instrument, CFI/CFII, ATP, Turbine Transition, External Load, and High Density Altitude courses. The fleet includes Robinson R22, R44, R66 helicopters, Cessna 172, Piper Arrow, and Piper Seneca aircraft.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson R22 Beta II (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $200 – $790/hr | $13,900 – $55,400 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $40 – $160/hr | $1,675 – $6,725 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $30 – $120/hr | $600 – $2,350 |
| Estimated Total Range | $16,100 – $64,500 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Mauna Loa Helicopters is estimated to cost $16,100 – $64,500. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
Yes, Mauna Loa Helicopters 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, Mauna Loa Helicopters 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.
Mauna Loa Helicopters's training fleet includes the Robinson R22 Beta II, Robinson R44 Raven II, Robinson R66, Cessna 172N (Skyhawk), Piper PA-28-200 (Arrow), and Piper PA-34-200T (Seneca). 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, Mauna Loa Helicopters has the following flight training device: Unknown Simulator. Ask the school which ratings the device count toward and how many hours you can log.
No, Mauna Loa Helicopters does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.