Pilot Rise publishes all pricing and fees openly so you know exactly what to expect. We were the first flight school in DFW to post full rates online, and we continue to keep this list current.
Below is a complete breakdown of aircraft rates, instructor rates, and any additional fees or conditions. Everything is in one place for clear, accurate cost planning.
Our goal is straightforward: transparency and no surprises.
| Aircraft | Standard Wet Rate* |
|---|---|
| C172 N738TZ (Garmin 500 & AC) | $180/hr |
| C172 N172JA | $165/hr |
| C172 N46198 | $165/hr |
| C172 N89878 | $160/hr |
| C172 N912AT | $160/hr |
| C150 N714FW | $130/hr |
| C150 N447DK | $115/hr |
| BATD | Free for Students |
Block rates usually require large, non-refundable prepayments
When schools mismanage funds, students lose money — for example, multiple flight schools in the U.S. closed in recent years after spending prepaid block funds, leaving students out $10,000–$40,000+ EACH.
Our standard model avoids this entirely:
No lock-in contracts
No non-refundable block hours
Pay as you go with full transparency
We intentionally stay away from block-hour systems and recommend that students do the same
The Basic Aviation Training Device is free to be used by enrolled Pilot Rise students. To qualify, you must have received training in the previous 30 days from us. You still have to pay for the instructor if you are training with an instructor. We HIGHLY encourage all students to maximize the BATD to save on costs and accelerate training.
Non-students: $30 / hour
Airport Fees
All airport fees incurred during your rental are billed to you.
During training, our procedures avoid airports with known fees.
Minimum Billing (1:5 Rule)
For every 5 hours reserved, billing is a minimum of 1.0 Hobbs hour.
Example: A 24-hour reservation with 1.0 flown = 5.0 billed.
Damage & Loss
You are financially responsible for any damage, loss, or liability resulting from your actions. When acting as the Pilot-in-Command, you also assume responsibility for any operational or legal exposure created by your decisions. Pilot Rise may recover all related costs, and Pilot Rise may apply a reasonable administrative fee when staff involvement is required. We may charge a $100.00 fee for any policy violation regardless of damages, however, we typically waive this if any mistake is self-reported and was unintentional. This fee may be assessed to the individual who violated a policy or the Pilot in Command.
As of May 11, 2026, a temporary fuel surcharge of $0.90 per gallon applies due to fuel price increases across the Metroplex caused by the war in the Middle East.
The surcharge is based on the current fuel price at Hicks Airport, rounded up to the next highest $0.05, compared against $5.75 per gallon. As fuel prices change at Hicks Airport, the surcharge may be adjusted or removed without notice.
| Standard | $70/hr |
| Early Bird / Night Owl | $65/hr |
| CFI Training | $90/hr |
Additional ground is billed when:
You receive classroom ground instruction or
The lesson requires extended ground (e.g., multiple fuel stops on long cross-countries)
Classroom instruction is billed from the scheduled start time or the actual start time — whichever comes first — until the lesson is complete.
Receive the “Early Bird” or “Night Owl” rates for flight instruction for the entire flight if your flight:
CFI Training Rate: $90/hr when training for an initial CFI certificate
Spin Training Surcharge: +$150 if seeking a spin endorsement only
Foreign Student Processing: TSA/SEVIS paperwork time billed at instructor hourly rate
If you do not wish to remain in the program, simply withdraw your account balance.
Grandfathered rates do not lock in old prices—only continued access to any legacy pricing or perks we currently offer, which may change at any time.
These only apply to those receiving financing.
Early Termination: $500
Standard Headset: $10/flight
Hicks Airport in Fort Worth, Texas
Dallas Executive in Dallas, Texas
