Flight School Loans

Third-party flight school loans

We understand the cost of pilot training can certainly feel like a large financial investment. However, the cost is reflective of the quality of training, the future financial rewards, as well as the many other benefits of being a pilot.

As an L3Harris Flight Academy cadet, you will have access to high-quality FAA-approved pilot training delivered by over 100 experienced Flight Instructors, preparing you for a rewarding career that can take you all over the world. Not to mention, access to approx 90 single and multi-engine aircraft, and 5 Fixed Training Devices.

Flight school loans may be a viable way to fund your flight school training costs at our L3Harris Flight Academy.

Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program

The Federal Direct Stafford Loans are low-interest flight school loans available to help students cover the cost of their pilot training courses. This flight training loan is designed to support students undertaking a four-year pilot training course at a college, university, or other higher education establishment. 

The Federal Direct Stafford Loan covers two types of loan:

• Direct subsidized loans - Designed for students who need financial support, subsidized pilot training loans are approved by aviation schools, and the amount of aid available is determined by your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Subsidized loans have a maximum eligibility period that is based on the duration of your chosen aviation course.
  
  
• Direct unsubsidized loans - Any student can apply for an unsubsidized loan without proving a need for financial support. These loans are issued at the discretion of the flight school, and if you wish, interest on these flight school loans can be paid during the program.

Federal Plus Loan - for Parents

Parents can also apply for flight school loans to support their child’s pilot training expenses. The Federal Plus Loan is available to eligible parents of cadets under the age of 24 who are undertaking a flight training program.

This style of flight training loan requires parents to pass a credit check and is only available to parents and students who are USA citizens or eligible non-citizens.

Federal Pell Grants

Federal Pell Grants are another type of aviation funding available only to undergraduate flight school students. Unlike the Federal Direct Stafford Loan or the Federal Plus Loan, the Federal Pell Grant does not have to be repaid.

This method of flight school financing is considered to be a foundation of federal aid, and other forms of federal aid can also be applied for while receiving the Federal Pell Grant. Cadets who apply for the Federal Pell Grant through L3Harris must not have earned a bachelor’s degree in the past and cannot then apply for a second grant through a different flight school.

Private and State Student Loans for Flight School

Alaska Resident Loan

The Alaska Resident Loan is also known as the Alaska Supplemental Education Loan (ASEL) or the Alaska Family Education Loan (FEL) is a flight training loan available to Alaskan residents who are undertaking pilot training at an aviation school out of state.

This loan has a limit of $10,000 per year, and an aggregate limit of $56,000. Cadets who take out an Alaska Resident Loan must repay all money borrowed within 10 years of graduating from their flight training program.

New Jersey Class Loan

Similarly, to the Alaska Resident Loan, the New Jersey Class Loan is available to residents of the state of New Jersey who are attending a flight training school out of state.

Applicants for the New Jersey pilot training loans can borrow up to the total cost of their pilot training course. This loan has a repayment term that can range between 10, 15, or 20 years depending on your circumstances.

Vermont Advantages Student Loan

Residents of the state of Vermont can also apply for a dedicated flight school loan. The Vermont Advantages Student Loan allows cadets to borrow up to the total cost of their chosen flight training course.

Repayment of this aviation loan begins 45 days from the graduation of your aviation course and has a repayment term of 15 years.

American Airlines Credit Education Loan

If you are a member of the American Airlines Credit Union, you could be eligible for a student loan for flight school of up to $40,000. This loan requires repayment as soon as the funds have been sent and requires a repayment term of up to 10 years.

AOPA Aviation Finance Company

The AOPA Aviation Finance company offers a flight school loan, the AOPA Flex Finance Loan, which allows cadets to borrow up to $100,000 towards the cost of the flight training course. As with the American Airlines Credit loan, repayments begin as soon as funds are disbursed, and there is a maximum repayment period of 7 years.

International students can also apply for this aviation loan if they can show 2 years of USA tax history. Alternatively, if students cannot show this, they can still apply for this flight school loan with a cosigner who can prove 2 years of USA tax history.

We Florida Financial (WeFly)

The state of Florida also offers aviation loans to its residents. Florida residents or members with the AOPA could be eligible to borrow up to $30,000 for aviation courses. For this loan, the repayment term is 6 years. 

Florida National Guard: Educational Dollars for Duty

The Florida Educational Dollars for Duty (EDD) program is available for Florida National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and can support public tuition for the period of the Guard member’s service. This type of flight school funding is an alternative method of funding a flight training course.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, EDD can be used for courses that lead toward a Technical Certification, Associates, Bachelors, or Master’s Degree. The EDD can only be used towards approved courses with L3Harris.

L3Harris approved courses include: Private Pilot Ground School, Instrument Ground School, Commercial Single-Engine Ground School, Commercial Multi-Engine Add-on Ground School, and Certified Flight Instructor Ground School.

Other types of flight school financing

Flight school loans are not the only way to finance your pilot training program or course. Scholarships, grants, and Federal Financial Aid are also available to provide financial support for future pilots.