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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
Piper Arrow $165 per hour
Beechcraft Duchess $300 per hour
Computer Simulation:
     Frasca Mentor AATD $40 per hour
     Frasca TruFlite AATD   $50 per hour
Instruction Fees $55 per hour

Student Pilot Insurance Fee
(Non-refundable after fourth day of the quarter.)

 $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 $160 per examination. Students must pay this fee when registering online for the examination. 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 $600 without autopay on file. 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 2.25% convenience fee is charged by the payment processor.  Students and parents can enroll at: payment.wallawalla.edu (sign in, go to the Account Menu, then Payment Plans, then Add a New Payment Plan) If the 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 Scholarships1

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

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 Costs2

Ratings/Licenses

Estimated Flight Costs

Course Scholarship

Estimated Student Portion to Pay

Private

$14,870

$2,250

$12,620
Instrument

$16,760

$3,000

$13,760
Commercial

$17,110

$3,000

$14,110
Mission/Humanitarian

$2,450

$750

$1,700
Multiengine

$8,010

$1,125

$6,885
CFI

$6,900

$1,875

$5,025
CFII

$3,480

$750

$2,730
MEI

$5,275

$750

$4,525
Practicum

Varies based on the individual student
Total (without Practicum)

$74,855

$13,500

$61,355

*Please note that Walla Walla University will no longer award aviation scholarships beginning Fall 2022.

*Students flight costs exceeding estimates will be charged to the students accounts as charges occur.


Aviation Notes

The above estimated average costs include all aviation classes. AVIA 357, 358, 458, and 460, are optional for Aviation Management and 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 an average student completing the flight class. Students are required to pay anticipated flight course expenses at the beginning of each quarter. Student flight costs exceeding the estimates will be charged to their aviation account as charges occur. If there are
funds available after the course is completed, those funds can be applied to the next flight class in which the student enrolls, or returned to their student account. 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.

Due to federal regulations, international students, including students from Canada, cannot major or minor in aviation, and cannot take any flight training classes. International Students are allowed to take Intro to Flight.