Why Mauna Loa Aero
Why Choose Mauna Loa Aero?
Mauna Loa Aero provides world-class training for a wide array of certifications and ratings, from private pilot to multi-engine flight instructor. We also provide flight reviews, and more! Regardless of your reason for wanting to fly, our team of certified flight instructors are ready to help you find success. Our structured one-on-one training and wide variety of airplanes allows for a personalized fit for your schedule.
With two island flight school locations, we are able to offer a wide variety of flight profiles and experiences, from untowered airports to Honolulu Class Bravo. Additionally, Hawaii's mild climate allows us more flyable days per year than nearly any other location in the United States. Come learn flying among stunning island views and consistent warm weather, and have an adventure that you will remember forever!
We currently provide primary training for 7 different certificates and ratings:
- Private Pilot - Airplane Single-Engine Land
- Instrument Rating - Airplane
- Commercial Pilot - Airplane Single-Engine Land
- Commercial Pilot - Airplane Multi-Engine Land
- Certified Flight Instructor - Airplane Single-Engine
- Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument Airplane
- Certified Flight Instructor - Airplane Multi-Engine
We also provide additional training for:
- Flight Reviews
- Instrument Proficiency Checks
- Complex Airplane Training
- Currency and Refresher Training
Typical Timelines
Total flight training for all certifications is typically 305 - 320 hours, with an additional 150 hours of ground training, and is usually completed in 10-18 months.
Timeline
Airplane Single Engine Land
40 flight hours
3-6 months
IFR Certification
50 flight hours
2-4 months
Private Pilot
The starting point for most future pilots, and the foundation for all other certifications. Learn the basics of flight and enjoy flying yourself and your friends all over the USA. You’ll learn about how to handle the airplane, safety, rules, airspace, weather, aircraft performance, flight planning, and decision making.
The IFR Certification will allow you to fly into clouds and low visibility while only using flight instruments. You’ll learn about how the instruments operate, how to fly the airplane under simulated and actual instrument conditions, weather, rules, and planning.
Airplane Single Engine Land
160 flight hours
2-4 months
Multi-Engine
10-15 flight hours
1 week
Commercial Pilot
Get paid to fly! This certification will allow you to get paid by an operator to fly airplanes. You’ll learn about long cross country flying, rules and regulations for commercial pilots, airspace, aircraft performance, airworthiness, and fuel management.
In the multi-engine add-on, you’ll learn characteristics of multi-engine airplanes, aircraft performance, single-engine aerodynamics, and emergency procedures.
Single Engine
15-25 flight hours
1-2 months
Instrument
15 flight hours
1-2 months
Multi-Engine
15 flight hours
2 weeks
Certified Flight Instructor
Is teaching in your future? These certifications will allow you to teach others how to fly safely. With the single-engine certification, you’ll learn how to teach aerodynamics, flight maneuvers, and many other concepts related to flight training.
The Instrument Flight Instructor certificate will allow you to teach students how to fly an airplane solely by reference to instruments. You’ll learn how to teach weather, instrument procedures, how the instruments operate, rules and regulations, and instrument flight planning.
The Multi-engine Flight Instructor certificate will allow you to teach others how to fly a multi-engine airplane safely. You’ll learn how to teach characteristics of multi-engine airplanes, aircraft performance, single engine aerodynamics, and emergency procedures.
Flight hours are calculated on aeronautical experience requirements by the Federal Aviation Regulations under Part 61. More training time may be required based on the student’s proficiency.