First, we ask everyone to look through our website and read all of the information provided (especially the FAQs) as it will answer most of the questions that new students have. After you’ve read through our website, the next step is to set up a tour and an informal meeting with our chief pilot. Simply give us a call at (509) 458-2359 and our front desk staff will get you set up. During this meeting you can ask unanswered questions, see our facility, simulators, and airplanes, and get a feel for what life is like at NWFS.

In addition to meeting with our chief pilot, if you have never been in a small airplane before, an introductory flight would be a great first step.

When you’re ready to start training, many students start with ground school - although completing ground school is not required before you can begin flight training. Many students start flight training and take ground school at the same time. You can discuss this in greater detail during your meeting.

To obtain a Private Pilot license, a student must:

• Be at least 17 yrs old (however there is no minimum age to start)

• Obtain a Medical Certificate

• Pass the FAA Written Exam

• Train with an instructor in the air and on the ground (average 65-75 hrs)

• Fly solo in the air (minimum 10 hrs)

• Pass an FAA Oral and Practical Exam
  
  We highly recommend calling and scheduling a complimentary meeting with our chief pilot who can answer questions before your training begins. In addition, it will be very helpful to read this document first and then contact us to set up a meeting.

Training costs vary for a variety of reasons. When it comes to flight training, you truly get what you pay for. We highly encourage everyone to avoid seeking the cheapest training you can find because quality matters more than cost. Your safety and your future as a pilot depends on the quality of training you receive.

Ultimately, we encourage you to set up a meeting with us to discuss what you might expect to pay based on your specific situation and needs. Click on the link below to see estimated costs based on actual student averages:

• Training Program Cost Estimates

• Airplane and instructor rates

• When you begin flight training, we will match you with one instructor that will be your primary instructor. He/she is the one you will fly with most and will monitor your progress. If your primary instructor is unavailable, we have several other instructors you can fly with to avoid delays in your training.

• The FAA has set requirements for the number of hours you must train with an instructor prior to your check ride. During this time, you will gain practical knowledge about safely operating an aircraft in the national airspace system. Your instructor will discuss these requirements with you in detail. The FAA’s minimum flight time requirements is 40 hours however, the national average is between 65-80 hours for an average student pilot to get their license.

• Many factors affect the number of flight hours you acquire during training including your availability, motivation, prior knowledge and experience, complexity of the aircraft, weather, simulator use, etc. You can see estimated training costs on our website where we use an average of 65 hours.

• Before you are assigned to an instructor, you will select the airplane you wish to train in (Cirrus or Cessna). We are a Platinum Cirrus Authorized Training Center so training in the Cirrus is our bread and butter and there are a lot of great advantages to learning in the Cirrus. However, we understand that the Cirrus may not be for everyone, so we also have Cessna 172s available for primary and advanced training.

• Information about our fleet is available on our fleet page. We are happy to show you the differences between the airplanes and help you make a well-informed decision.

• Each lesson includes a pre-flight briefing, preflight inspection of the airplane, a 1-to-2-hour flight, and a post-flight briefing. Expect every flight lesson to be 3-4 hours from start to finish.

• No! Ground school is not required to begin flight training, but it is the starting point for many new students. For students unable to attend our ground school, there are several online ground school options we can recommend.

• Ground school equips students with the knowledge and skills required to pass the FAA written exam. We offer Private Pilot Ground School throughout the year in an interactive classroom setting. Each class is about 3 months from start to finish.

• More information, including dates and times, for our ground school is available here.

Yes! An intro flight is a great way for anyone new to aviation to experience what it’s like to fly in a small airplane. Before the flight, your instructor will talk about the airplane and explain what to expect during the flight. After takeoff you will have the opportunity to take the controls and actually fly the airplane! The instructor will guide you through basic turns, climbs, and descents. We understand that some people would rather just sit back and enjoy the experience rather than take the controls – you can do that too! After landing, you will have time to debrief with your instructor and, if interested, take the next steps to start flight training…or at least leave with a big smile on your face!

Intro flights are approximately 30-40 minutes in duration. Payment is required at the time of booking and all intro flights are non-refundable. If the flight must be rescheduled for any reason (bad weather, maintenance etc.), payment will be rolled over to the new booking. Want to bring a friend or family member with you? Great! There is no additional charge for additional passengers - however, our ability to take multiple passengers depends on everyone’s combined weight.

Give us a call at 509-458-2359 to schedule your flight!

COST
2017 Cirrus SR20 - $475
1978 Cessna 172 - $350

• The short answer is no. A medical certificate is only required before you can fly solo. However we encourage students to get a medical certificate early in their training to ensure there isn’t anything that could disqualify them.

• A medical certificate can only be issued by an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). A list of local AMEs can be found on our website, or by visiting the FAA’s database of AMEs.

• There are 3 classes of FAA medical certificates: 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. A person who intends to fly for pleasure or business only needs a 3rd class medical. The airlines require a 1st class medical, while other corporate aviation jobs may require a 1st or 2nd class medical. If you want to fly for a career, we recommend obtaining a 1st class medical initially to ensure you can get one.

With the exception of ground school and introductory flights, all flight training is pay-as-you-go. We do not make you pay the full cost of flight training up front.

We do not offer in-house financing but there are a lot of great scholarship opportunites out there. In addition, AOPA offers flight training financing for qualified individuals. Click HERE for more information.

The Cessna 172, is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing aircraft designed for general aviation. It’s known for its reliability, simplicity, and suitability for both flight training and local recreational flying.

Our Cessna 172s Feature:
- Updated interior
- Dual Garmin G5 avionics
- Garmin 430W GPS/NAV/COM
- ADS-B In/Out with traffic and weather
- Fully IFR capable.

The Cirrus SR20 is a modern, single-engine, low-wing aircraft designed for both student pilots and seasoned aviators. Known for its innovative technology, luxurious comfort, and advanced safety features, the SR20 is a fantastic training airplane and ideal for students interested in a career as an airline pilot, or pilots who want to elevate their flying experience. If you travel for business, the Cirrus can be a game-changer for you!

Our Cirrus SR20s Feature:
- Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS)
- Seatbelt airbags
- Advanced Stall Resistance
- State-of-the-art glass cockpit (Garmin Perspective +)
- Synthetic vision, traffic awareness, weather data, and GPS navigation
- Integrated autopilot
- Air Conditioning
- Higher cruise speed and range compared to other training airplanes (Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee etc)
- Fully IFR Capable

Visit www.cirrusaircraft.com to learn more about the SR20, SR22, SR22T and the SF50 Vision Jet.

• The check ride is the culmination of all the training that took place while working toward your private pilot certificate.

• This test will be conducted by an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and can be done here at our facility. On the specified date, you will meet the DPE and show him/her what you know.

• The check ride is composed of two parts: the Oral and the Practical. The oral must be completed first and involves the DPE asking questions and putting together scenarios to test your knowledge. This usually takes between 2-3 hours. The practical test is when you get to fly. You and the DPE will fly together, and he/she will ask you to perform take offs and flight maneuvers, test your handling of simulated emergencies, grade your landings, and assess your overall ability to be the pilot in command.. The flight is usually between 2-3 hours.

• Upon successfully passing the check ride, you and the DPE will complete the appropriate forms and you will receive a temporary pilot certificate right then and there. You are officially a pilot!

We believe there is no substitute for high-quality, structured flight training by experienced professionals. No matter how you look at it, quality flight training is not cheap, but we cannot emphasize enough that quality and value is far more important than cost, and cheaper is rarely better when it comes to flight training. Choosing quality flight training over cost is an investment in your safety and future as a pilot. While cheaper options may seem appealing, they often come with trade-offs, like less experienced instructors, or outdated or poorly maintained aircraft. Choosing cheaper cost over quality can lead to gaps in your knowledge and skills, which can be costly down the road.

One of the best things we have to offer is experience. We have been providing flight training in our community longer than any other flight school in our region. Our instructors come from a wide range of aviation backgrounds and we have proven success of helping people reach their goals. We have a 100% pass rate with 80% of our students passing their checkride on their first attempt.

Our faciliy is unlike any other flight school in Spokane. We have private briefing rooms, a modern conference room, and a spacious classroom for distraction-free learning. In addition, we have two state-of-the-art flight simulators that are great money-saving tools and give us the ability to train in a variety of situations and environments.

Our airplanes have been updated, are well maintained, and have good availability. Our instructors work with your personal schedule to train as often as you would like. We can customize our training syllabus to fit individual needs.

Safety and quality is our #1 priority. Our instructors receive frequent training to keep themselves safe and proficient, and our airplanes are maintained to the highest standards by our own FAA certified and factory-trained mechanics.

We are very proud of the awards we have received. In 2017, Northwest Flight Service was selected as the Cirrus Training Center of the Year for North America. In 2018 and 2019 we received Cirrus Approach Safety Awards, and in 2022 we were designated as a Platinum Cirrus Training Center. Later that same year, our Chief Pilot was recognized as the Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot of the Year.

Finally, customer service is very important to us. We want you to feel like you are a part of something special…. because you are! Our office is open Mon – Sat, 9am – 5pm but training happens 24/7/365. We look forward to talking with you and showing you why we are the best!

We offer the following flight training programs:

Private Pilot
Instrument Rating
Commercial Pilot
Certified Flight Instructor
Certified Instrument Flight Instructor
Cirrus SR2X Transition Training
Flight Review / IPC
Aircraft Ferry Service

Average cost varies for several reasons and every person is different. It is important to understand that training doesn’t always mean flying in an airplane. In fact, our instructors spend many hours teaching on the ground because we have found that students who do more training on the ground require fewer hours in the airplane, thus reducing their overall cost. Difference in costs can also be attributed to some students being able to grasp new concepts quickly while others require more time. A person’s age and frequency of training is also a factor. A person training 1-2 times a week can expect that it will take longer to get a license than someone training 3-4 times a week. The longer it takes, the more expensive it will be overall. The cost of training also depends on the airplane you are flying as well as the airport & airspace where you are flying.

• Don’t skip ground instruction. The airplane is the most expensive part of flight training and is not a good classroom. Learn the fundamentals on the ground and then go to the airplane and apply what you’ve learned.

• Train in a simulator. Our simulators will help you learn how to talk on the radio, and you will learn checklists and avionics faster than you will learn them in the airplane.

• Study, study, study! If you can dedicate at least one hour every day to studying at home, you will save time and money on the ground and in the air.

• Train at least 2-3 times per week. The more often you train the less you will pay overall.

• Avoid taking long breaks in your training.

The Cirrus is known for its advanced technology and safety features including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). That’s right – it has a parachute for the whole airplane! The Cirrus has many other benefits that most training aircraft do not have, including a glass cockpit, autopilot, air conditioning, seatbelt airbags, dual alternators, dual batteries and a plethora of other features which make the Cirrus the safest and most comfortable airplane to fly. It's no wonder our students love training in the Cirrus! To learn more about the Cirrus visit www.cirrusaircraft.com.

Yes, however Non-U.S. citizens must register with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) before they can receive flight training in the United States.

Non-U.S. citizens please visit: https://fts.tsa.dhs.gov/

Aircraft rentals are available to enrolled students who are working towards a license or rating. At this time we are unable to offer full-day or overnight aircraft rentals.