Quality Score
Good
Base (15) + components above = 68
About
Pacific States Aviation (PSA) is an FAA Part 141 and Part 61 approved flight academy located at Buchanan Field Airport (KCCR) in Concord, California. PSA offers training from Private Pilot through ATP, including Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Multi-Engine, CFI, CFII, and MEI programs. The school operates a fleet of Cessna 172s, a Piper Seminole, a Cessna 150, and two Redbird AATD simulators. PSA is also an FAA Part 145 Approved Aircraft Repair Station and has an on-site FAA Pilot Examiner and FAA knowledge test center.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 150 (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $75 – $290/hr | $5,100 – $20,300 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $40 – $160/hr | $1,675 – $6,725 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $30 – $110/hr | $550 – $2,200 |
| Estimated Total Range | $7,300 – $29,200 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Pacific States Aviation is estimated to cost $7,300 – $29,200. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
Yes, Pacific States 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.
No, Pacific States 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.
Pacific States Aviation's training fleet includes the Cessna 172R (Skyhawk), Cessna 172S (Skyhawk), Piper PA-44-180 (Seminole), Cessna 150, and Tecnam P2006T. 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, Pacific States Aviation has the following flight training devices: Redbird MX2 and Redbird MCX. Ask the school which ratings the devices count toward and how many hours you can log.
No, Pacific States Aviation does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.