Flight training, answered.

We offer training for private and commercial pilot certificates, as well as instrument ratings. For career-minded pilots we also map out the full path through multi-engine, CFI, and CFII. See all training programs & pricing.

A discovery flight is the perfect first step. For $200, you'll experience what it feels like to pilot an airplane firsthand in a no-commitment flight lesson. And yes, you will actually be the one flying. It's also a great time to ask about cost, scheduling, and which certificate fits your goals.

No. Most students start with zero experience. Your training begins with the fundamentals, and everything builds from there, one lesson at a time.

We fly Piper Cherokees, proven, stable, and forgiving training aircraft. Rental starts at $125/hr with fuel included.

We fly out of Chandler Municipal Airport (KCHD) in Chandler, Arizona. It's a short drive from Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek, Sun Lakes, and the rest of the Phoenix East Valley.

We charge $60/hour for both flight and ground instruction, and the planes cost as low as $125/hour (fuel included).

It depends on how quickly you progress, but we estimate it will cost roughly $15,775 with everything included: aircraft rental, dual and ground instruction, insurance, online ground school, a headset, and your written and practical test fees. See the itemized private pilot breakdown.

Going from zero experience to a commercial pilot certificate (private + instrument + commercial single-engine) is estimated at $39,945 at Chi-Rho Aviation, compared to $100,000 or more at many large flight schools. The commercial certificate itself is about $12,480 if you already hold your private and instrument.

It depends on how quickly you progress, but all in you can expect to spend around $55,475. That includes private ($15,775), instrument ($11,690), commercial single-engine ($12,480), multi-engine add-on ($6,500), CFI ($5,050), and CFII ($3,980).

Because we're a small operation, we have very little overhead compared to other flight schools, and those savings go straight to you. No big facility costs, fleets, or management layers get baked into your rate. You pay a fair hourly price for the airplane and your instruction, with training tailored to you so you don't waste hours.

• Fly consistently, ideally two to three times per week, so you don't lose skills between lessons.
• Study your online ground school between flights so airplane time is spent flying.
• Get your FAA medical and knowledge test done early.
• Chair-fly procedures and checklists at home before each lesson.

It depends mostly on how often you fly. Students who fly two to three times per week and keep up with ground study commonly finish in about four to six months. Flying less often stretches the timeline and usually increases the total cost.

The FAA minimum is 40 hours under Part 61, but most students need more than the minimum to be checkride-ready. Our private pilot estimate budgets 65 hours of aircraft time so there are no surprises.

Both lead to the same FAA pilot certificate. Part 141 schools follow a rigid, FAA-approved syllabus, while Part 61 training is flexible and can be tailored to each student's pace and schedule. Chi-Rho Aviation provides flexible, one-on-one Part 61 instruction built around you.

Yes. Each program includes an online ground school you can study at your own pace, plus one-on-one ground instruction with your instructor to prepare you for each flight, the FAA knowledge test, and your checkride.

The written (knowledge) test is a multiple-choice FAA exam taken at a testing center. The checkride (practical test) is an oral exam and flight with an FAA-designated pilot examiner. Both fees are included in our estimates.

Yes. Arizona's weather allows flying nearly year-round. In the summer we typically schedule lessons in the early morning, when it's cooler, the air is smoother, and the airplane performs better.

There's no minimum age to start taking lessons. You must be 16 to fly solo, 17 to earn a private pilot certificate, and 18 for a commercial pilot certificate.

You'll need an FAA medical certificate before you solo. A third-class medical is the minimum for private pilots, while a second-class is needed to exercise commercial privileges. If you're pursuing an airline career, we recommend getting a first-class medical before you invest heavily in training, so you know you qualify.

You'll want your own headset for regular training, which is why a $350 headset is budgeted into our private pilot estimate. You don't need one for your discovery flight.

Yes. Many of our students are career pilots. The typical path is private pilot → instrument rating → commercial pilot → multi-engine → CFI → CFII. From there, most pilots work as flight instructors to build the flight hours the airlines require.

After your private certificate, you need more pilot-in-command and cross-country hours for your instrument and commercial certificates. Splitting time means sharing the airplane with another pilot so you both log time at a lower cost.

It isn't strictly required, but it's strongly recommended. Without an instrument rating, a commercial pilot can't carry passengers for hire at night or on cross-country flights of more than 50 nautical miles. Most pilots earn their instrument rating right after their private.