Aviation Program

Flight Training Costs

In addition to the regular cost of tuition and student charges, Walla Walla University charges fees for flight training as follows:

Cessna 172 $135 per hour
Cessna 182 $160 per hour
Piper Arrow $160 per hour
Beechcraft Duchess $300 per hour
Computer Simulation:
     Frasca Mentor AATD $35 per hour
     Frasca TruFlite AATD   $50 per hour
Instruction Fees $55 per hour
Student Pilot Insurance Fee $23.59 per year


FAA Flight Medical $100 (cannot be charged to account)
FAA Practical Test (Check Ride) $500--$900 per rating/license (cannot be charged to account)

Aviation Examination Fees

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) knowledge examinations are $150 per examination, and is charged to the student as a course fee. These examinations are required for students enrolled in the following classes:

AVIA 135 One Exam
AVIA 141 One Exam
AVIA 261 One Exam
AVIA 334 One Exam
AVIA 356 One Exam
AVIA 358 One Exam
AVIA 458 One Exam

Fuel Surcharge & Fees Subject to Change

An additional variable fuel surcharge fee may apply to all flights when average fuel costs exceed $6.50 per gallon.

All aviation program fees are subject to change as a result of the fluctuation of operating costs. Please contact the Department of Technology for additional information concerning aviation flight costs.

Aviation Payment Options

In order to prevent delays in training, students must have a payment plan in place with the Aviation office. The deadline is the Wednesday before classes begin in order to be placed on the flight schedule for that quarter. These are the options:

  1. Payment in full for the estimated cost of the flight courses for which they are registered. The student will be removed from the flight schedule if their balance drops below $350. Financial aid can only be considered if the student’s regular tuition account has been paid in full with other funds.
  2. Automatic Payment Form. The automatic payment plan can use an e-check or a credit or debit card. Charges are processed weekly. If a credit card is used, a 1.75% convenience fee is charged by the payment processor. The form for enrolling in the Automatic Payment Plan can be requested from the front desk of the flight center or by contacting the Director of Operations for Aviation. If an Automatic Payment fails, the student’s flight training is put on hold until the problem is resolved.
  3. Confirmation of third party institution payment (examples: Veterans Administration, parent employer)

Aviation Scholarships

Walla Walla University automatically awards aviation scholarships to subsidize a portion of the flight-training costs.

A student taking AVIA 140, Introduction to Flight, receives a $345 scholarship to put towards the costs of the two-hour flight requirement. Costs in excess of the $345 scholarship are the student’s responsibility and must be paid in advance.

For any other flight training class, the student receives a scholarship of $375 for each credit hour of flight course in which the student enrolls. The Aviation Scholarship is deposited into the student’s aviation account from which the student’s aviation program fees are paid. Fees incurred will be paid from the scholarship first. Additional fees, after scholarship depletion, are the responsibility of the student. Should any scholarship money remain unused, the money is returned to the general fund six months after the student’s last flight training activity. If a student withdraws from a flight training class, or receives an “X” grade (unofficial withdrawal), the scholarship is revoked, even if the student had flight expenses. Students can only receive the scholarship once per class.

Estimated Aviation Program Costs

Ratings/Licenses

Estimated Flight Costs

Course Scholarship

Estimated Student Portion to Pay

Private

$12,303

$2,250

$10,053

Instrument

$15,113

$3,000

$12,113

Commercial

$19,245

$3,000

$16,245

Mission/Humanitarian

$4,520

$750

$3,770

Multiengine

$6,150

$1,125

$5,025

CFI

$7,020

$1,875

$5,145

CFII

$4,050

$1,125

$2,925

MEI

$5,248

$750

$4,498

Practicum

Varies based on the individual student

Total (without Practicum)

$73,649

$13,875

$59,774

Aviation Notes

The above estimated average costs include all aviation classes. AVIA 358, 458, and 460, are optional for Aviation Management students, AVIA 458 and 460 are optional for Aviation Technology students. Both majors may have practicum flight credits added, the cost of which are not included in the above estimate. Aviation Program Fees are based on a minimum to complete the required flight classes. Please contact the Department of Technology for additional information concerning aviation flight costs.

Walla Walla University provides aircraft with the fuel costs covered by the rental rate. If a flight is not operated from our home airport and a fuel purchase is necessary, fuel can be charged to an aircraft credit card. An additional variable fuel surcharge fee will apply to any of these external fuel purchases made above a specified surcharge rate. This rate is variable depending on current regional and national fuel prices. The current fuel surcharge rate can be found at the Flight Center or by contacting a flight director. For further details consult the Aviation Program Procedures and Regulations document at fly.wallawalla.edu. Walla Walla University is revising its fee structure for Flight Training expenses. Aviation students will be notified by the Department of Technology and/or Student Financial Services prior to the implementation of the change.