Quality Score
Good
Base (15) + components above = 65
About
Proteus Air Services is a flight school based at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (KSMO) offering training for Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot License, CFI, and CFII certificates. The school operates a fleet of Piper Cherokees and offers flexible scheduling for both aspiring professional and recreational pilots.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-28-181 (Archer II) (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $95 – $380/hr | $6,600 – $26,500 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $40 – $160/hr | $1,675 – $6,725 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $30 – $110/hr | $550 – $2,200 |
| Estimated Total Range | $8,800 – $35,400 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Proteus is estimated to cost $8,800 – $35,400. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Proteus 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.
No, Proteus 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.
Proteus's training fleet includes the Piper PA-28R-200 (Arrow), Piper PA-28-181 (Archer III), Piper PA-28-180 (Archer), Piper PA-28-181 (Archer II), Piper PA-28-151 (Warrior), and Piper PA-28-181 (Warrior). 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, Proteus has the following flight training device: Redbird TD2. Ask the school which ratings the device count toward and how many hours you can log.
No, Proteus does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.