Quality Score
Good
Base (15) + components above = 67
About
The Franconia Soaring Association (FSA) is New Hampshire's only soaring club, located at Franconia Airport in the picturesque White Mountains. FSA operates a well-maintained fleet of gliders and offers scenic rides, introduction to soaring flights, glider rentals, flight instruction, and glider towing. The airport is just a few miles west of Franconia Notch State Park and Cannon Mountain, offering some of the best ridge, thermal, and mountain wave soaring in the Northeast. The club operates from mid-May through late October on weekends and select holidays.
Estimated PPL Training Cost
| Line item | Hours | Rate (range) | Subtotal (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schweizer SGS 2-33 (cheapest in fleet) | 70h | $10 – $30/hr Hobbs | $525 – $2,100 |
| Flight instruction (dual) | 42h | $40 – $160/hr | $1,675 – $6,725 |
| Ground instruction | 20h | $30 – $110/hr | $550 – $2,200 |
| Admission fee | — | one-time | $250 |
| Estimated Total Range | $2,900 – $11,500 | ||
Instruction Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Training for a Private Pilot Certificate at Franconia Soaring Association is estimated to cost $2,900 – $11,500. to see the full breakdown with exact aircraft rental and instructor rates.
No, Franconia Soaring Association operates under Part 61. Training is self-paced: you and your instructor set the curriculum rather than following a pre-approved syllabus. The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot Certificate under Part 61 is 40 flight hours, though most students need 60 to 70.
No, Franconia Soaring Association does not have a Designated Pilot Examiner on staff. When you're ready for your checkride, you'll need to book with an independent DPE. Ask the school if they can point you to one nearby.
Franconia Soaring Association's training fleet includes the Schweizer SGS 2-33, Schweizer SGS 1-26, Pilatus B4, Let L-23, and Cessna L-19 (Bird Dog). Having multiple types in the fleet keeps your training on track if one plane is down for maintenance. Ask the school about current availability and any additional charges per aircraft.
Yes, Franconia Soaring Association has the following flight training device: Grob 103 (Twin Astir). Ask the school which ratings the device count toward and how many hours you can log.
No, Franconia Soaring Association does not charge a fuel surcharge. The published rental rates are your actual hourly cost.