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Learn to Fly

From your very first lesson to advanced certificates — flexible Part 61 training tailored to your goals, your schedule, and your budget.

Getting Started

First Time Pilots

Call us at 979-260-6322 to schedule your first flight. We will take it from there. We are open every day, including weekends.

If this is your first time flying in a small aircraft, the best way to get started is to schedule an Introductory Flight by calling our front desk. Feel free to ask any questions — we will be glad to help make this experience as fun and enjoyable as it should be.

For novices, we also recommend the free Aviation 101 primer course. Or just come meet us at our office! We will be glad to show you our facilities and offer an airplane walk-around.

Bring these documents before your first lesson:

A valid government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License or US Passport)
Proof of United States Citizenship (Certified Birth Certificate or US Passport)

Documents must be valid — we cannot accept expired documents! Non-US citizens: ask us about the TSA Flight Training Security Program.

Some Experience or Advanced Pilot?

If you have a few hours under your belt or you are a seasoned aviator, schedule an introductory meeting with one of our qualified instructors to create a training plan that is right for your needs. Call 979-260-6322 or email info@bvfs.net.

FAA Medical Certificates

First Things First: Your Medical

Before flying solo, every pilot must pass an FAA Medical Exam. A medical certificate is not required to start training, but we invite our customers to take care of this early to prevent delays. A Third Class Medical is the minimum for Private Pilot; airline pilots ultimately need a First Class. We recommend a certificate adequate to your current level of training.

How to get your medical

Complete the initial application at FAA MedXPress
Schedule an appointment with an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) in your area
The AME completes your exam and, if you meet the standards, issues your certificate on the spot

Certificate classes

Third Class — Private Pilot
Second Class — Commercial Pilot privileges
First Class — Airline Transport Pilot. Career-focused? Consider getting one early to confirm eligibility.

Training Offered by BVFS

From Student Pilot to Flight Instructor

Our fleet is made of the best trainers the industry can offer, based on Cessna 172 aircraft — plus a Cessna 182RG for Commercial and CFI training. Every certificate, every rating, all right here.

Student Pilot

The first step to full certification — all pilots must obtain one. It is required to fly “solo” and earn the aeronautical experience necessary for the Private Pilot certificate. Your instructor will guide you through the application process at the beginning of training, and limitations are progressively removed by endorsements as you advance.

Main requirements:

At least 16 years of age
English language proficient
FAA Medical or BasicMed

Private Pilot

The certificate most pilots earn first — and for many, all they ever need. A Private Pilot can fly most single-engine aircraft, carry passengers, and reach practically any public-use airport in the country under Visual Flight Rules. With a Private Pilot certificate, our great State of Texas becomes much smaller and more accessible.

Main requirements:

At least 17 years of age
English language proficiency
FAA 3rd class medical or BasicMed
Minimum 40 hours flight time
Pass the Private Pilot Knowledge Test
Pass the Practical Test with an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE)

Instrument Rating

Open up the highways of the sky by flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). When ceilings are low or clouds reduce visibility, the instrument rating lets you complete flights safely and legally — and it will make you a fundamentally better pilot.

Main requirements:

Private Pilot Certificate
Minimum 50 hours cross-country pilot-in-command time
About 40 hours of simulated or actual instrument conditions
Pass the FAA Instrument Knowledge & Practical Tests

Commercial Pilot

Fly for hire — become a professional pilot. Aerial photography, charter flying, aircraft repositioning, banner towing, pipeline inspection and more. This certificate makes you a “master” of the aircraft and is the fundamental prerequisite to CFI and ATP. We have the Cessna 182RG you’ll need for complex-aircraft training.

Main requirements:

At least 18 years of age
Private Pilot Certificate (Instrument Rating recommended)
Minimum 250 hours total time
Pass the FAA Commercial Knowledge & Practical Tests

Flight Instructor (CFI)

Teach others how to fly, introduce people to the world of aviation, and jumpstart your professional pilot career. Get your CFI, CFI-I, AGI, and IGI certificates with BVFS — experience flight training at its best and learn to share your skills with others.

Main requirements:

At least 18 years of age · English proficiency
Commercial Pilot Certificate
Fundamentals of Instruction + CFI Knowledge Tests
Lesson plans & practical test with FAA inspector or DPE

Acronyms: CFI – Certificated Flight Instructor · CFI-I – CFI with Instrument qualifications · AGI – Advanced Ground Instructor · IGI – Instrument Ground Instructor

Interactive Estimate

Build Your Own Training Estimate

Drag the sliders to see how flight hours shape your investment for each certificate. Most students spread these costs over many months — you simply pay as you fly, lesson by lesson.

Private Pilot

FAA minimum 40 hours · national average 55–70

Flight hours50 hrs

Includes aircraft, instructor & ground time, study materials, FAA knowledge test, and examiner fee.

Instrument Rating

About 40 hours of instrument training is typical

Training hours35 hrs

Includes aircraft, instructor & ground time, materials, knowledge test, and examiner fee. Cross-country PIC time not included.

Commercial Pilot

Time building + training to reach the FAA 250-hour requirement · includes Cessna 182RG time

Hours after instrument rating165 hrs

Covers everything from instrument rating to commercial checkride — mostly solo time building at the aircraft-only rate, plus dual commercial training (including Cessna 182RG), knowledge test, and examiner fee.

Flight Instructor (CFI)

Your first flying job starts here

Training hours20 hrs

Includes aircraft, instructor & ground prep, FOI + CFI knowledge tests, and practical test costs.

Zero to Flight Instructor — Combined Estimate

This estimate covers the full journey — roughly 250–275 total hours from first lesson through commercial, including time building, then CFI. Spread across 2–4 years of pay-as-you-fly training — and remember, from CFI onward you are earning, not spending. Compare that to the salaries above and the math speaks for itself.

These figures are an illustrative planning tool based on typical aircraft and instructor rates, not a quote. Actual rates vary by aircraft and current pricing — please confirm with our official Cost Estimate Sheet or call 979-260-6322.

Transparent Pricing

Our Promise: No Hidden Fees

We value transparency and clear communication. Our official estimates include incidental fees and examiner fees that may not be disclosed up-front by other training services. Do not be misled by other quotes! Flying 2–3 times per week keeps skills fresh, which lowers your total hours — and your total cost.

View the Official Cost Estimate Sheet

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Just call 979-260-6322 — we are open every day, including weekends — or book an Introductory Flight online. No paperwork is needed for an intro flight; we only coordinate date, time, aircraft, instructor, whether you are bringing a friend, and approximate weight.

The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours; most students finish between 50–70 hours. Flying 2–3 times per week, many students earn the certificate in roughly 4–6 months. Consistency is the biggest factor in both time and cost.

No — you can begin training right away. A medical certificate (FAA 3rd Class or BasicMed) is required before your first solo flight. We recommend taking care of it early via MedXPress and a local Aviation Medical Examiner to prevent delays.

We no longer operate an FAA testing center on-site. Your instructor will help you prepare thoroughly and schedule your knowledge test at a nearby authorized testing center when you are ready.

Yes! Non-citizens complete the TSA Flight Training Security Program before beginning certificate training. We have guided many international students through the registration, fingerprinting, and approval process. Intro flights and sightseeing tours require no TSA approval.

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk — the most proven trainer ever built. Our fleet ranges from classic analog-panel 172s to a 2026 model with Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpit, plus a Cessna 182RG for advanced training. See the Aircraft page for every tail number.

You can start lessons at any age. You must be 16 to solo, 17 for the Private Pilot certificate, and 18 for Commercial. There is no upper age limit — many of our students train during retirement!

BVFS provides instruction under FAA Part 61 regulations as a Cessna Pilot Center. That means flexible scheduling and the ability to tailor the curriculum to your individual needs — ideal for students balancing work, school, or family.

Are You Ready to Fly?

Schedule Your First Flight Today

Call 979-260-6322 — open every day, including weekends — or book your introductory flight online right now.

Call 979-260-6322 Book Online