Flight training at Chino Airport
Choose the Flight Training Path That Fits Your Goal
Whether you want to fly your family on weekends, earn an instrument rating, or build a professional aviation career, DuBois Aviation can help you move forward with one-on-one instruction and a diverse airplane and helicopter fleet.
Training programs
Start with the course that matches your next milestone
You do not need to know every FAA requirement before calling us. Tell us what you want to accomplish and what experience you already have, and we will help you identify the right next step.
Private Pilot
Learn to safely operate a single-engine airplane and carry passengers for personal travel and recreation.
Explore private pilot trainingInstrument Rating
Build precision, confidence, and the skills required to fly under instrument flight rules.
Explore instrument trainingCommercial Pilot
Develop professional-level knowledge and flying skill while meeting the experience requirements to be paid as a pilot.
Explore commercial trainingFlight Instructor
Prepare for CFI, CFII, or MEI certification and learn how to teach aviation knowledge and flight skills effectively.
Explore instructor trainingMulti-Engine
Add multi-engine privileges and learn aircraft systems, performance planning, and engine-out procedures.
Explore multi-engine trainingHelicopter Training
Begin with a private helicopter certificate or add rotorcraft-helicopter privileges to an airplane certificate.
See helicopter add-on optionsSpecialty flight courses
Build practical skills beyond your primary certificate
Train one-on-one with a DuBois Aviation instructor in courses designed around real operating decisions, aircraft control, and sound judgment.
Mountain Flying Course and Big Bear Airport Checkout
Build the planning, aircraft-control, and decision-making skills needed for safer mountain operations. The course includes a dual cross-country flight and checkout at Big Bear City Airport (L35), giving you practical experience operating at a high-elevation airport surrounded by mountain terrain.
What you will practice
- Preflight performance calculations and go/no-go decisions for high density altitude
- Mountain weather, winds, turbulence, downdrafts, and escape-route planning
- How to safely navigate canyons while preserving room to turn toward lower terrain
- Ridge and mountain-pass crossing techniques, terrain clearance, and visual checkpoints
- An introduction to or refresher on chandelles and energy management
- Arrival, traffic-pattern, landing, go-around, and departure procedures at Big Bear Airport
- Emergency planning, leaning, aircraft limitations, and reduced climb performance
Course details
- Up to two hours of one-on-one ground instruction
- Up to three hours of dual flight instruction, including the Big Bear Airport checkout
- Completed only in our Cherokee 180 or Mooney M20B
- Flat course price: $999
This is a proficiency course, not a separate FAA certificate or endorsement. Route and flight content depend on weather, aircraft availability, and instructor judgment. Additional training requested or required is billed at current aircraft and instructor rates. Images show Big Bear-area operations and are not DuBois Aviation aircraft.
Ask About Mountain Flying TrainingSpin Training and CFI Spin Endorsement
Develop a better understanding of stall and spin aerodynamics, recognize the conditions that lead to an inadvertent spin, and practice the correct recovery procedure with a qualified instructor.
- Ground instruction and preflight briefing
- Dual spin recognition and recovery training
- Completed in our Cessna 150
- Flat course price: $499
A CFI spin endorsement is issued when the applicant demonstrates the required instructional knowledge and flight proficiency. Flights are subject to weather, aircraft loading, operating limitations, and instructor approval. Additional training, if needed, is billed at current rates.
Schedule Spin TrainingPlanning your training
Understand the cost before you begin
Most lessons combine aircraft time, instructor time, and ground instruction. A typical lesson often costs about $300 to $460, depending on the aircraft, lesson length, and course.
Students working toward an airplane private pilot certificate commonly invest about $14,000 to $19,500. The FAA minimum is not a guaranteed completion time; consistency, preparation, weather, and individual proficiency all affect the final total.
Current instruction rates (reviewed August 2026)
- Single-engine airplane
- $69/hr
- Multi-engine airplane
- $80/hr
- Instruction in a customer-owned aircraft
- $80/hr
- Helicopter CFI instruction
- $80/hr
Aircraft rental is additional. Rates are subject to change; contact the school for a current estimate based on your goals and experience.
DuBois Aviation maintains special non-owned aircraft insurance that may provide up to $150,000 in hull-damage coverage while our instructor is teaching in your aircraft. Coverage is subject to the policy terms, conditions, exclusions, deductibles, pilot and aircraft eligibility, and insurer approval. Please ask us to confirm applicable coverage before training.
What training feels like
A clear path from your first lesson to your checkride
- Meet your instructor.Discuss your goals, schedule, prior experience, and the aircraft that best fits you.
- Build a consistent plan.Students generally progress faster and retain more when they train multiple times each week.
- Learn in the air and on the ground.Every flight has a purpose, with preparation beforehand and a useful debrief afterward.
- Prepare for the practical test.Your instructor will help you strengthen weak areas and confirm that you meet the applicable standards before endorsement.
Before your first solo
Documents and eligibility
You may begin flight lessons before holding a medical certificate, but most airplane students need an appropriate FAA medical certificate before solo flight. U.S. citizens must provide proof of citizenship. Non-U.S. citizens may need approval through the TSA Flight Training Security Program before training begins.
- Government-issued photo identification
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or required TSA approval
- FAA medical certificate before solo when applicable
- Time in your schedule for regular lessons and study
Common questions
Flight training FAQ
How often should I take lessons?
Training two or three times per week usually creates better continuity than long gaps between lessons. We can build a schedule around your availability.
How long does a private pilot certificate take?
Many consistent students finish in roughly three to four months, while others choose a slower pace. Weather, scheduling, preparation, and individual proficiency affect the timeline.
Can I train for a career from zero experience?
Yes. Our accelerated career program organizes private, instrument, commercial, and instructor training into a structured path.
Do you offer helicopter training?
Yes. We offer helicopter training for new pilots and airplane pilots adding rotorcraft-helicopter privileges.
Your next step
Talk with a flight training specialist
Tell us what you want to fly and where you want aviation to take you. We will help you choose a practical starting point.