Quality Score
Excellent
Base (15) + components above = 92
About
Skyward Air Pilot Academy is a boutique flight school based at Santa Monica Airport (KSMO), offering flight training from introductory adventures to Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and CFI certificates under FAA Part 61. With over a decade of experience and a fleet of well-equipped single-engine aircraft, Skyward Air prides itself on personalized instruction, a 100% first-time pass rate, and training some of the best aviators in the industry.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-28-161 (Warrior II) (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $80 – $320/hr | $5,600 – $22,300 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $50 – $190/hr | $2,000 – $7,975 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $50 – $190/hr | $950 – $3,800 |
| Estimated Total Range | $8,500 – $34,000 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Skyward Air is estimated to cost $8,500 – $34,000. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Skyward Air 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, Skyward Air 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.
Skyward Air's training fleet includes the Piper PA-38-112 (Tomahawk), Piper PA-38 (Tomahawk), Cirrus SR22, Piper PA-28-161 (Warrior II), Piper PA-28-181 (Archer II), Beechcraft 19, and Piper PA-28-235 (Dakota). 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 Skyward Air. Some schools have basic Aviation Training Devices that may not be in our database. Ask them directly.
No, Skyward Air does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.