Flight School Cost in Georgia: PPL Pricing, Named Schools, and Hourly Rates for 2026
Atlanta hub growth. Strong post-CFI regional placement (Delta, Endeavor, GoJet, Republic).
Flight school in Georgia costs $11,500 to $16,500 for a Private Pilot License, with Cessna 172 wet rental at $170 to $215/hr and CFI instruction at $60 to $80/hr. Full career-track training from zero to ATP minimums runs roughly $110,000 (traditional path) to $123,995 (ATP Flight School fixed price).
Metro-tier breakdown
| Metro | Cessna 172 wet | CFI hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta metro | $180 to $220/hr | $65 to $90/hr |
| Savannah | $170 to $215/hr | $60 to $80/hr |
| Augusta / Columbus | $165 to $210/hr | $55 to $75/hr |
FAA-certificated Part 141 flight schools in Georgia (alphabetical)
Every 14 CFR Part 141 pilot-school location the FAA lists in Georgia: 16 locations under 14 air agency certificates, #14 of 51 states and territories, clustered in Atlanta (3), Lawrenceville (2) and Peachtree City (2). 16 have a page with the FAA record, nearest airport and peer schools; all are locatable. Part 61 instructors are not certificated and are not listed.
16 of 16 FAA locations plotted. Hollow pins (1) sit at a ZIP centroid rather than the street address.
Chart tiles: OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, data from OpenStreetMap. Boundaries: US Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (public domain). School positions: US Census geocoder; airfields: FAA NASR.
| School (FAA agency name) | City | From you | Nearest public airport | Certificate | Designator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48A Satellite | Cochran | 48A Cochran, 0.4 mi | HG6S059K | 0057 | |
| Academy of Aviation LLC | Peachtree City | KFFC Atlanta Regional Falcon Field, 0.3 mi | YOQS913K | 3OQS | |
| Faithful Guardian Aviation | Atlanta | KFTY Fulton County Executive/Charlie Brown Field, 0.3 mi | 4FGS387C | 4FGS | |
| Fly Corps Aviation, LLCCertificate holder: Fly Corps Aviation | Savannah | KSAV Savannah/Hilton Head International, 2.0 mi (approx.) | 5YCS284L | 5YCS | |
| High Tide Aviation | Saint Simon's Island | KSSI ST Simons Island, 0.4 mi | HTTS071M | 0048 | |
| KMAC Satellite | Macon | KMAC Macon Downtown, 0.4 mi | HG6S059K | 4HGS | |
| Lagrange | Lagrange | KLGC Lagrange/Callaway, 0.5 mi | QYYS929K | QYBS | |
| Lookup Flight Academy, LLC | Lawrenceville | KLZU Gwinnett County/Briscoe Field, 0.4 mi | LUAS092M | LUAS | |
| Middle Georgia State University | Eastman | KEZM Heart of Georgia Regional, 0.6 mi | HG6S059K | HG6S | |
| Phoenix East Aviation LLC | Kennesaw | KRYY Cobb County International/McCollum Field, 0.3 mi | IHMS995E | 81HS | |
| Quality Aviation Inc | Atlanta | KPDK Dekalb-Peachtree, 0.4 mi | JJ8S244Q | JJ8S | |
| Savannah Aviation | Savannah | KSAV Savannah/Hilton Head International, 1.5 mi | SAAS411L | SAAS | |
| Skybound Aviation | Atlanta | KPDK Dekalb-Peachtree, 0.1 mi | 5K0S299L | 5K0S | |
| The Flight School of Gwinnett Inc | Lawrenceville | KLZU Gwinnett County/Briscoe Field, 0.4 mi | UAOS205K | UAOS | |
| US Aviation Group LLC | Peachtree City | KFFC Atlanta Regional Falcon Field, 0.3 mi | U9FS750K | 0070 | |
| Wheelers R Flying, LLCCertificate holder: Lanier Flight Center | Gainesville | KGVL Lee Gilmer Meml, 0.2 mi | 9LDS316L | 9LDS |
Listed alphabetically, never ranked. Hover or tap a row to light its pin on the plate, and use the location button to sort the list by distance from you. Source: FAA AV-Info "Find a Facility", 14 CFR Part 141 pilot schools, public domain, data updated 24 Aug 2026; status as reported by the FAA on that date. Nearest public-use airport from FAA NASR (effective 6 August 2026). See the national Part 141 directory for every state.
Published pricing anchors behind the Georgia range
The PPL, Cessna 172 and CFI bands above are aggregated from these schools' published pricing pages (verified April 2026). They are pricing evidence, not a recommendation; the FAA list above is the authority on who is certificated.
| School | Location | Published pricing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATP Flight School | Atlanta-Peachtree, Savannah | ACPP fixed pricing $123,995 / $90,995 with PPL | View |
| Atlanta Flight School | Falcon Field, Peachtree City | Per-hour, see published rates | View |
| PEA Falcon Aviation | Atlanta region | Per-hour, see published rates | View |
| Middle Georgia State University School of Aviation | Eastman | Collegiate aviation tuition + fees | View |
Pricing is current to April 2026 from the published source. Verify with the school at the time of enrolment.
Georgia-specific cost factors
- Atlanta is the world's busiest airport (KATL); pilots train in realistic Class B environment
- Delta, Endeavor, GoJet, Republic all hire actively from Atlanta-area CFIs
- Lower cost of living than Northeast metros
- GA101 / state-level scholarships at degree-granting Part 141 programmes
Scholarships and grants
Major aviation scholarships available regardless of state include AOPA Flight Training Scholarships, EAA Flight Training Scholarships, Women in Aviation International, OBAP, NGPA, LeRoy Homer Foundation, and Tuskegee NEXT.
Georgia-specific programmes:
VA-approved Part 141 schools in Georgia
Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill must enrol at a VA-approved Part 141 school for flight training to be covered. The current VA-approved school list is published at VA.gov. Some of the FAA-listed Part 141 schools above are VA-approved, but the FAA list does not record VA approval; verify each school individually at the VA site at the time of enrolment.
See the financing options page for the GI Bill PPL-coverage gap and the alternatives available to veterans.
Georgia flight school cost: frequently asked questions
How many FAA-certificated Part 141 flight schools are in Georgia?
The FAA's Part 141 pilot-school list (data updated 24 Aug 2026) carries 16 certificated locations in Georgia under 14 air agency certificates, ranking the state #14 of 51 states and territories by location count. The largest clusters are Atlanta (3), Lawrenceville (2) and Peachtree City (2). 14 of the 16 listed addresses are under a mile from a public-use airport. The full list is on this page; Part 61 instructors are not certificated and so do not appear.
How much does flight school cost in Georgia?
A Private Pilot License (PPL) in Georgia costs roughly $11,500 to $16,500 all-in, aggregated across named-school published pricing. That covers aircraft rental, instructor time, ground school, exams, and supplies through the FAA checkride. Full career-track training from zero to ATP minimums runs far higher, on the order of $110,000 via the traditional path or $123,995 via the ATP Flight School fixed-price programme.
What is the hourly Cessna 172 rental rate in Georgia?
Cessna 172 wet rental (fuel included) in Georgia runs about $170 to $215 per hour, varying by metro and school. Atlanta metro sits around $180 to $220 per hour for a wet rate.
How much do flight instructors (CFIs) charge in Georgia?
CFI instruction in Georgia typically costs $60 to $80 per hour, whether an independent instructor or Part 141 staff. CFI time is billed on top of aircraft rental, not instead of it.
Does the Post-9/11 GI Bill cover flight training in Georgia?
Yes, but only at VA-approved Part 141 schools, and coverage begins at the Instrument Rating rather than the PPL (it requires a current PPL and FAA medical in hand). For the 2026-2027 academic year (effective 1 August 2026), the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays the net cost of vocational Part 141 flight training up to $17,662 a year. Confirm a school's VA approval at VA.gov before enrolling.
Continue reading
Primary sources
- Pilot License Cost. AOPA, accessed April 2026. https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/pilot-license-cost
- AV-Info Find a Facility: 14 CFR Part 141 Pilot Schools. Federal Aviation Administration, data updated 24 Aug 2026, captured 28 August 2026. https://www.faa.gov/av-info/facility-dashboard
- NASR 28-day subscription, airport data (APT_BASE), effective 6 August 2026. FAA Aeronautical Information Services, accessed August 2026. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/aero_data/NASR_Subscription/
- Climate Normals (VFR-day data). NOAA, accessed April 2026. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals
- ATP Flight School published pricing page (pricing anchor). Atlanta-Peachtree, Savannah, accessed April 2026. https://atpflightschool.com/locations/
- Atlanta Flight School published pricing page (pricing anchor). Falcon Field, Peachtree City, accessed April 2026. https://www.atlantaflight.com/
- PEA Falcon Aviation published pricing page (pricing anchor). Atlanta region, accessed April 2026. https://www.peafalcon.com/
- Middle Georgia State University School of Aviation published pricing page (pricing anchor). Eastman, accessed April 2026. https://www.mga.edu/aviation/
- HOPE Scholarship (Georgia). State / institution, accessed April 2026. https://gsfc.georgia.gov/scholarships/hope-scholarship
- Middle Georgia State scholarships. State / institution, accessed April 2026. https://www.mga.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.php