Financing Your Training
Flight Training Is an Investment.
Here's How Students Fund It.
Most pilots don't pay for training all at once. This page lays out the financing options that most students actually use.
Financing Your Training
Most pilots don't pay for training all at once. This page lays out the financing options that most students actually use.
How Students Fund Training
Many students cover training through personal savings, help from family, or a personal credit card. Flight training doesn't require a large upfront commitment — most students simply pay as they go, lesson by lesson, which keeps the financial pressure low and the pace flexible.
A personal loan, home equity line of credit (HELOC), or local credit union loan can give you a pool of funds to train from without waiting. Many students fund one certificate at a time — Sport Pilot first, then Private, then Instrument — borrowing only what they need for the next milestone rather than the full career-track cost upfront.
Specialized aviation lenders offer loan products built specifically for flight training — with terms, timelines, and underwriting that reflect how pilot training actually works. FES works with partner lenders who understand the process and can fund training here directly.
FES Partner Lenders
These lenders specialize in pilot training and work directly with Fly Eagle Sport as a partner school. They understand flight training timelines, certificate stages, and what it takes to fund a pilot career — which makes them the best starting point for most students.
Built specifically for flight training. Stratus works with Part 61 and Part 141 schools and offers customized rates and terms for students pursuing a commercial pilot path. Arizona is in their lending footprint and applicants must be at least 18. Lower credit does not automatically prevent approval — underwriting is flexible by design.
Focused exclusively on pilot training expenses — Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI/CFII, and full career-track programs. Because their entire model is built around flight training, they offer more flexibility than a general consumer loan, including understanding of stage-based funding and real-world training timelines. Use their online finance calculator to preview estimated monthly payments before applying.
Ask each lender whether the initial rate check is a soft inquiry before submitting a full application. Do not apply to multiple lenders simultaneously — each hard inquiry can affect your credit score.
AOPA Member Product
A line of credit that can be used at any flight school for any certificate or type rating. No school approval required — if you're an AOPA member (or willing to join), this is often the fastest way to fund a single training stage.
Interest accrues only on the amount you draw, not the full line. Works well as a bridge product for Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, or a defined funding gap in a larger program.
Note: No deferment option currently available. Repayment begins on drawn amounts promptly. Plan your training schedule accordingly.
Arizona-Based Options
Personal loans from Arizona credit unions are borrower-based — they do not require FES to be an approved school. They're ideal for funding one certificate or rating at a time. Membership and credit approval are required. Rates below are published starting rates as of June 2026; verify current terms directly with each institution.
| Institution | Product | Amount | Starting APR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Financial | Signature Loan / Line of Credit | $1,000 – $25,000 | As low as 11.99% | Up to 60 months; no application fee or prepayment penalty |
| Arizona Financial | Unsecured Fixed-Rate Personal Loan | From $500 (36/48 mo.) · $5,000 (60 mo.) | As low as 10.75% | No application fee or prepayment penalty; membership required |
| OneAZ Credit Union | Personal Loan / Line of Credit | Personal loan up to $25,000 | As low as 10.50% | Soft-pull prequalification available; fixed term up to 48 months |
| Credit Union West | Fixed-Rate Personal Loan | Amount based on underwriting | 10.99% – 25.74% | Terms up to 84 months; membership and credit approval required |
Rates are published starting APRs and may not reflect the rate you receive. Your actual rate depends on creditworthiness, loan amount, and term. Always confirm current rates with the institution before applying.
National & Online Lenders
Major banks and online lenders may offer unsecured personal loans to Arizona residents without requiring school approval. Confirm that flight training is a permitted loan purpose before applying. Rates below are as of May–June 2026.
| Lender | Amount Range | APR Range | Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | $1,000 – $50,000 (existing clients) Up to $25,000 (new) |
9.24% – 24.99% | 12–84 months | Soft rate check; no origination fee or prepayment penalty |
| Discover | $2,500 – $40,000 | Personalized fixed APR | 36–84 months | Soft rate check; no fees; funds may arrive next business day |
| SoFi | Varies by borrower | Personalized — verify current APR | Varies | Soft rate check; same-day funding may be available |
| LightStream | Varies by purpose and credit | Personalized fixed APR | 24–240 months | No fees; intended for good-to-excellent credit borrowers |
Personal loans typically begin repayment immediately — there is no deferment period while you're in training. A low monthly payment may result from a long term and substantially increase your total interest paid. Always compare total repayment cost, not just the monthly payment amount.
Before You Borrow
Not all loans are the same. Here are the factors that matter most when evaluating financing for flight training.
Aviation lenders may require FES to be an approved partner school. Personal loans generally don't. Our partner lenders (Stratus, Flight Training Finance) are pre-confirmed for FES.
APR reflects interest plus certain fees and is a more accurate cost comparison than interest rate alone. Always compare APR across lenders.
A fixed APR gives you a predictable monthly payment for the life of the loan. A variable rate may rise — factor in worst-case scenarios before choosing.
An origination fee is deducted from proceeds at closing — you'll receive less than the stated loan amount. Factor this into your actual cost calculation.
Personal loans generally begin repayment within 30 days. Some aviation products offer structured repayment options. Know when your first payment is due before you sign.
The full amount repaid over the loan term — principal plus all interest — is the most important number. A lower monthly payment with a longer term often costs significantly more in total.
Do Your Due Diligence
Before authorizing a hard credit inquiry or signing any documents, get clear written answers to these questions from every lender you consider.
Financial Disclaimer. Fly Eagle Sport is not a lender or financial adviser. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any lender. Rates, amounts, terms, membership rules, and eligibility requirements change frequently — verify all details directly with the lender and consult a qualified financial professional before borrowing. Inclusion of a lender on this page does not guarantee approval or that the product will be appropriate for your situation. Rates shown are published starting APRs as of June 2026.
Ready to Talk Numbers?
We can walk you through what each stage of training is likely to cost — so you know exactly what you're financing before you apply anywhere. We can't tell you which loan is right for you, but we can give you the honest numbers.