Aviation Program FAQ

Gallatin College Aviation program costs include general Gallatin College or MSU tuition and fees, depending on the student’s enrollment path, as well as program-specific flight training costs and fees.

The total cost of flight training will vary based on factors such as prior flight experience, student progress, breaks in training and individual pace. The estimated flight training costs listed are based on the average time required to complete each rating and certification.

Flight training rates are subject to change. We make every effort to update published estimates promptly when rates change.

➔ Explore Tuition & Costs
➔ View 2026-27 Flight Training Costs & Fees

Aviation-specific course descriptions are available in the MSU Course Catalog.

AVFT courses are limited to students formally accepted into the Aviation program.

The flight training curriculum is designed to be completed in two years when students:

• Enroll full-time in the Aviation program
• Fly a minimum of 2–3 times per week
• Progress through flight training within the minimum hours required by the FAA for each certificate or rating
• Are not concurrently enrolled in another degree program
• Continue flight training during the summer between Years 1 and 2 and avoid extended breaks in training

While completing flight training in two calendar years is possible, many students take longer. Individual timelines vary based on flight progress, training consistency and the number of hours needed to meet certification requirements.

Students and families should plan for the possibility of additional time to complete the program.

Each semester, students register for a 2.5-hour flight block as part of the academic registration process. Flight blocks are available throughout the day and follow either a Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday schedule. Aviation courses and flight blocks are coordinated to ensure students can meet program requirements.

Students taking courses outside of the Aviation program should schedule those courses after registering for their required Aviation courses and flight block. Ridgeline Flight School is also open on Sundays, and additional flight time may be available depending on aircraft and instructor availability.

Flight lessons take place at Ridgeline Flight School at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (KBZN). Each flight block includes approximately 15–20 minutes of pre-flight briefing and preparation, as well as a post-flight debrief and follow-up instruction. Students should arrive at Ridgeline 15 minutes before their scheduled flight block to complete any necessary administrative requirements.

Ridgeline works to pair students consistently with the same flight instructor, but students may occasionally train with a different instructor. Exposure to different instructors and teaching methods is common in the aviation industry and helps support training consistency and standardization.

Aviation program classes are primarily held on the Montana State University campus. Flight training takes place at Ridgeline Flight School at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (KBZN) in nearby Belgrade, approximately a 20-minute drive from campus.

Students must have reliable, all-season personal transportation to and from flight training, as public and university-provided transportation is not available to Ridgeline’s facility. Four-wheel drive is highly recommended, particularly for winter travel.

It depends on the type of training you have completed. Previous flight time will remain part of your personal flight record and may count toward total flight-hour requirements for certain certifications.

Students who have already earned a Private Pilot Certificate through another FAA Part 141 flight school or through Part 61 may be able to apply that certification toward the Private Pilot portion of the Gallatin College Aviation program.

However, to meet Gallatin College degree requirements and remain eligible for the Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) Certificate at 1,250 total flight hours, all subsequent ratings and certifications must be completed through Gallatin College’s FAA Part 141 program.

Students who enter the program with previous flight experience but have not yet earned their Private Pilot Certificate must complete the full Private Pilot training course through Gallatin College’s flight training partner.

An FAA medical certificate verifies that a pilot meets the medical standards required to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) or as a required crew member. Gallatin College requires all Aviation students to begin flight training with a First-Class FAA Medical Certificate.

While commercial flight training requires a Second-Class Medical Certificate, a First-Class Medical Certificate is required to exercise Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) privileges. Gallatin College requires the higher standard at the beginning of training to help ensure students have the full range of career opportunities available to them after graduation.

A student may allow their First-Class Medical Certificate to revert to Second-Class privileges while completing the program; however, students are encouraged to keep their First-Class medical current throughout their training.

A list of FAA Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) in your area is available on the FAA website.

1. Apply to Gallatin College or Montana State University.
To join the Aviation program waitlist, you must first be accepted to either Gallatin College or Montana State University. If applying to Gallatin College, select Aviation as your program of interest.

➔ Apply To Gallatin College
➔ Apply To Montana State University

2. Join the Aviation program waitlist.
Once you have been accepted, email a copy of your acceptance letter to Gustavo Leon at gustavo.leon@montana.edu, Aviation Program Admissions Lead. Your information will then be added to the Aviation program waitlist.

3. Complete the Aviation program admission requirements.
Review the Aviation admissions process for the steps and prerequisites required for formal acceptance into the program.