Learn to Fly With Poudre Aviation, Inc.! Have you always wanted to take flying lessons, but never had the opportunity to pursue it? We have the solution and are passionate about introducing others to the exciting world of aviation and the numerous of benefits that it offers. As a licensed pilot, you can finally experience freedom from inconvenient commercial airline schedules, time consuming drives to/from a major airport, unnecessary lines, large crowds and impersonal security screenings. With your own plane (or one from our well-maintained rental fleet), you have access to almost 10 times the number airports across the country, which means that you can save travel time and get closer to your destination! Think of the opportunities that having your own pilot's license can offer you, your friends and your family! Since you only pay while the prop is spinning, the costs involved are probably a lot less than you think and are easily justifiable for most travels.

Whether you want to fly for pleasure, business or make it a career, our knowledgeable and experienced staff of FAA certified instructors (known as "CFI's") are here to help you every step of the way. They have thousands of flight hours and have taught hundreds of people just like you how to fly. One of the best resources to include in your research is probably the website for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) which can be accessed at this link: http://www.aopa.org/learntofly/ .

Poudre Aviation, Inc. is located at 633 Buss Ave. Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY) and our training facilities are comfortable with a friendly and helpful atmosphere. We invite you come out to visit our facility, meet our people and discuss your goals and training options with one of our instructors without any obligation or commitment. The best way to determine if flying is for you is to take an introductory "Discovery Flight" for only $59 where you will have the opportunity to feel the controls and enjoy the freedom of flight. If this sounds interesting to you, contact us TODAY to get started! Click here to schedule a Discovery Flight or call us at (970) 530-0503.

Courses Offered

• Private Pilot
• Recreational Pilot
• Sport Pilot (Limited to Low Performance Airplanes)
• Instrument Rating
• Advanced Ratings (High Performance, Complex, Tail Wheel, Sea Plane, Etc.)
• Commercial Pilot
• Become a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI or CFII)
• Air Transport Pilot (ATP)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where do I start?
The first step is to setup a time to come visit our training facilities and meet with one or more of our instructors to review your goals and outline a reasonable plan of action. We always welcome your questions and this is the perfect opportunity to get any details. Of course, we also recommend that you treat yourself to an actual "Discovery Flight" for only $59 to get a hands-on feeling for what your flight training will encompass. We will work to match you with an instructor who meets your needs and has a similar personality profile, as we have found this to be crucial to the success of our students. Once you are ready to proceed, we will schedule your first lesson!

2. What are the general requirements to earn my Private Pilot's License?

• You must be at least 17 years of age when you finish your training and take your FAA practical flight test.
• You must be able to read, speak, write and converse fluently in English.
• You must undergo a routine medical examination to obtain an FAA 3rd Class Medical Certificate. (Note: Your instructor will help you locate a local AME doctor).
• You must pass (70% or better) the written FAA knowledge test which consists of 60 multiple-choice questions from a 700+ question test bank. (Note: Your instructor will help you prepare for this through your ground-school training, plus there are LOTS of self-study aids and prep classes available).
• You must log a minimum of 40 flight hours, although most students average 50-55 hours by the time that they are done so that they feel comfortable with everything. The flying will break down to include some local flights (including touch-and-go's), cross-country flights (50-150+ miles), night flights, instrument training, and flight planning. You will have about 30 hours of dual-instruction and the remainder will be solo.
• You must pass the "practical" test with the local FAA designated pilot examiner. This will include actual flying for 2-3 hours to demonstrate your proficiency, in addition to an oral examination. Again, your instructor will help you be well prepared for this!

(Note: Please see your instructor for a more complete detail of the above requirements)

3. How long does the process usually take?
This varies with each student and really depends upon how much time you can commit to studying on your own and flying with your instructor. In general though, it takes most students between 3 months and 1 year to complete all of the requirements and earn their Private Pilot's License. Assuming you did not have a job, social life or any other commitments in your world, it would however be possible (although not recommended) to complete the entire process in as little as 2 weeks. The entire learning process is intended to be fun and flexible, so you may take it at your own pace!

4. Do I need to purchase my own plane?
No, absolutely not. Although you have the option to do so, we highly recommend that you start your flight training by renting one of our well-maintained aircraft. This will generally keep your costs more controllable and you will have the opportunity to fly several different models to see which one you like the best for your needs. Additionally, planes used for training are held to much higher maintenance and inspection standards than private aircraft, so it is probably also a safer choice. Our rental rates start at a very reasonable $55 per hour and this not only includes the plane itself, but fuel, maintenance, hangar storage, and insurance. Once you have completed your flight training, you may consider the purchase of your own plane if it makes economic sense, or you may continue to rent a variety of aircraft from Poudre Aviation, including our high-performance Cessna 182 -- ideal for mountain flying and long cross-country trips.

5. What does it cost?
The cost can vary considerably depending upon how many flight hours you actually complete, how much instructor time you use, and what learning aids or optional items you choose to purchase (such as your own headset). In our experience however, we find that it ends up costing most students somewhere between $3,500 and $7,000 for the complete package. Your instructor is an independent contractor and will bill you for his/her time separately at rates which generally range from about $25 to $50 per hour depending upon their level of experience and teaching style. For the hours that you fly, you will also need to budget $55+ per hour for the plane rental. Once we learn a little about your goals and timeframe, we can probably give you a better estimate of the actual costs you are likely to incur.

6. Do you offer financing or payment plans?
Yes, of course! We gladly accept most major credit cards, or you can pay as you go. We can also help you to arrange financing in most cases, or we can connect you with one of the industry Visa card issuers who even gives you a 5% discount on all of the aviation merchandise that you purchase from their catalog.

7. What is the next step from here?
Drop us an email or give us a call at (970) 530-0503 to schedule a time to visit our training facility and meet with an instructor. We look forward to hearing from you and look forward to having you join the ranks of the pilot community through Poudre Aviation, Inc.!