HOW DO I JOIN?
Before you join, make sure to read through the entirety of this page!
This page will inform you about how our club operates, the benefits, member obligations, and the steps required to join. It also details the general aspects of flight training and what you should expect when you train in our airplanes.
*Note that membership is limited to students, staff members, and faculty members of Purdue University at the West Lafayette campus, and to their spouses, and alumni, as cases warrant.
Become a member.
1
Get in Touch
Join our discord community and our newsletter to find about our callouts, meeting schedule, office hours, and other important information
2
Get Registered
Once you fill out our membership form, pay your dues and then collect your membership card you will be able to rent our aircraft from Purdue Aviation
3
Start Flying
Contact Purdue Aviation LLC to create a scheduler account and start booking your flights/lessons. Start renting our aircraft!
WHAT IS PURDUE PILOTS, INC?
Purdue Pilots is an Indiana Non-Profit and Purdue student organization dedicated to providing affordable flight rentals to Purdue students, faculty, and alumni. Purdue Pilots is an equity flying club which currently owns 2 aircraft. When a new member joins, they become a partial owner of the aircraft and gain the exclusive right to rent our airplanes. Purdue Pilots is NOT a flight school, but we do have a partnership with Purdue Aviation LLC who maintains and instructs in our aircraft.
SAVINGS
Our rental rates are usually $30-40 less than other rentals at Purdue for comparable aircraft. That means you could over $2,000 on your flight training costs by learning in our aircraft at Purdue.
MEMBER FREEDOM
Although we have our fair share of rules, our members are more or less free to fly our planes wherever they want, whenever they want, with whomever they want. You want to take a trip to San Francisco? Sure thing - we've even done that in the past! You want to take some of your friends with you so they can experience flying? Not a problem, just make sure you check the weight and balance!
If you're a Purdue Flight student, you'll find that we have fewer weather restrictions than the aviation program and our planes are available to you 24/7.
PROVIDED INSURANCE
Purdue Pilots maintains an insurance policy to cover both the complete hull value of our aircraft and liability for our members.
$100 deductible for non-motion incidents
$500 deductible for in-motion incidents
$1,000,000 liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage
In the event of an incident, the club member flying the plane will be responsible for paying the deductible. However, our members are safe and responsible and this has never been an issue!
HOW MUCH WILL IT ALL COST?
The total cost of your certificate will vary person to person depending on several factors. The three main factors are aircraft rental, instruction time, and dues. Our goal is to make flying as affordable as possible for those at Purdue and we will do our best to create a generalized breakdown of what to expect for you.
The most important factor in the cost of your training is how much time you can invest. Preparing for each lesson in advance and flying as often as possible will cut down on the time and cost to get your license.
AIRCRAFT RENTAL
Our current aircraft rental rate is $121.17/hr (wet – including fuel and oil). The minimum flight experience required to earn your pilots license is 40 hours but the national average that students earn their certificate is between 55-70 hours. The rental rate is only billed for the time the engine is spent running.
INSTRUCTION
Our instructors are employed by our partner, Purdue Aviation, and you can expect to fly with them for most of your flight training including some instruction on the ground. Expect to spend about 30–55 hours with your flight instructor. Purdue Aviation’s current instructor rate is $59/hr.
CLUB DUES & INSURANCE
Our club dues are billed by semester and are currently $205 for the Fall/Spring term and $200 for the summer term. This comes out to approximately $37 per month which is significantly cheaper than most flying clubs. New members pay a one-time $75 initiation fee as a “buy-in” to our aircraft.
Unlike a typical FBO or aircraft rental agency, our club provides our members with renters insurance
OTHER COSTS
Other costs you should expect include:
Headset
FAA medical exam
FAA written exam
Books/study material
Electronic flight bag (Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight, etc.) or paper charts
Pilot examiner fee (Checkride)
ALL-IN
Assuming you spend about a year in training and finish within approximately 55 hours of flight time you might spend about $10,000 on your license. If you have less time to invest in studying and/or you take longer to finish your certificate may cost closer to $12,500 (assuming 70 hours of flight time).
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
Starting with an introductory lesson is the perfect way to see if you are ready to begin your flight training. A discovery flight is a quick introductory lesson where you will fly with a certified flight instructor and even get to control the aircraft. It is a great way to see if you’ll be comfortable in a small aircraft before making a large commitment. Contact Purdue Aviation, our flight training provider, to book your discovery flight today.
GETTING YOUR LICENSE
The FAA requires 40 hours minimum of flight time to earn a private pilot license. During these hours, you'll train with an instructor, progress to nearby solo flights, on to flight planning and night flying. Toward the end of your training, you’ll take several solo long-distance flights across Indiana and into neighboring states. Your flight instructor will train you in all required skills, and it is typical for most student pilots to take 10-15 more hours than the minimum time to build the skills and confidence they need. Flight training is done at your own pace based on your schedule and the instructor’s schedule. The more often you can fly, the more beneficial. We recommend trying to fly around twice a week.
Once your flight instructor feels you are ready, he or she will sign off and arrange your final check-ride with an FAA examiner. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and skills as you plan a flight, interact with ATC, fly maneuvers, and follow all directions from the examiner. When you pass your check-ride, you’ve earned your stripes and are now an official private pilot.
FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS
Purdue Pilots does not offer our own set of instructors. Instead, we have a partnership with Purdue Aviation LLC, a flight school, which is home to some of the best flight instructors in Indiana. You’ll typically fly with one instructor throughout your training, and you have the flexibility to find an instructor whose personality and schedule works best for you.
AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FLIGHT TRAINING AND A PILOT’S LICENSE?
AGE
Although you can take flight instruction at any age, the minimum age to solo is 16 and the minimum age to obtain your license is 17.
CITIZENSHIP
Starting flight training requires proof of citizenship.
U.S. Citizens can provide either a U.S. passport or a birth certificate. If you’re a U.S. citizen, you can begin your training immediately.
Non-U.S. citizens can provide a passport and VISA. Non-U.S. citizens must apply for clearance from the TSA before starting any training. The TSA process takes about three weeks and costs about $130. Our flight training provider, Purdue Aviation, will be able to assist you through this process and you can click here for more information.