How Does Your Flight School Compare?
Enter your school's metrics and get a free Flight Training Health Score based on FAA, AOPA, and industry data. See where you lead — and where to improve.
Your School Metrics
Data Sources: Industry benchmarks are based on published data from the FAA Airman Testing Statistics, AOPA Flight Training Experience Survey, the Redbird 2025 State of Flight Training Report, and aviation industry research. Actual distributions vary by region, school type, and program. Scores are estimates for informational purposes.
Metric Breakdown
Top Areas for Improvement
Your completion rate is near the industry average. To pull ahead, focus on the 15-hour cliff — students between hours 10-20 are most at risk of dropping out.
Your pass rate is near the FAA national average of 73.9%. Targeted oral exam practice and identifying weak ACS areas before scheduling the checkride can push you above 85%.
Your hours-to-certificate is near the 76-hour national average. More frequent scheduling (3x/week) and structured self-study between lessons can reduce total time by 10-15 hours.
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Join the WaitlistFlight Training Industry Benchmarks 2024-2025
Comprehensive reference data from the FAA, AOPA, Redbird, and industry surveys. These are the benchmarks used to calculate your Health Score.
| Metric | National Average | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completion Rate | 20% | AOPA Flight Training Experience Survey | 2024 |
| Checkride Pass Rate | 74% | FAA Airman Testing Statistics | 2024 |
| Avg Hours to Private Pilot Certificate | 76hrs | Redbird State of Flight Training Survey | 2025 |
| Days Between Lessons | 7days | Industry consensus | 2024 |
| CFI Average Tenure | 18months | Academy of Aviation / Zippia | 2024 |
| Student-to-CFI Ratio | 4:1 | Industry consensus | 2024 |
| Knowledge Test Pass Rate (Private Pilot) | 91.9% | FAA Airman Knowledge Test Statistics | 2024 |
| Average Private Pilot Training Cost | $14,000 | Redbird State of Flight Training | 2025 |
| Calendar Months to Private Pilot Certificate (median) | 6 months | Redbird State of Flight Training | 2025 |
| Average Hours to Solo | ~15 hrs | Industry consensus | 2024 |
How Is the Flight Training Health Score Calculated?
Percentile-Based Scoring
Each metric is scored 0-100 based on where your value falls relative to the industry average. A score of 50 means you're exactly at the national average. Higher scores indicate better performance. The scoring uses a sigmoid curve that gives diminishing returns at extremes — going from average to above-average earns more points than going from great to excellent.
Weighted Composite
Your overall Health Score is a weighted average of all six metrics. Completion rate carries the highest weight (30%) because it's the ultimate outcome measure. Checkride pass rate is second (25%) as a direct training quality signal. Operational metrics like lesson frequency and CFI tenure are leading indicators that predict outcomes.
Learn more about the research behind these benchmarks: Student Pilot Dropout Rate • The 15-Hour Cliff • Flight Training Cost
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