Plane Training: Flight School in Rapid City, South Dakota

Photos via Google Maps; they belong to their authors.

Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
School Type: Local flight school
Training Focus: Pilot training
Google Rating: 4.3 (12 reviews)

Call (605) 939-9326 Get Directions Visit Website

Listing data is maintained editorially and confirmed with schools over time. Programs and pricing change; verify details directly before enrolling.

Hours

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

See It on the Map

What Students and Pilots Say

★☆☆☆☆ 2 years ago

Regrettably, my experience with this company proved to be both exasperating and unproductive. In my recent endeavor to arrange a service during my visit to the Rapid City area, I encountered unexpected challenges with the scheduling process. Initially, assurances were provided regarding the feasibility of my request. However, upon being transferred to the office representative, Miranda, I was presented with a serie…
Luke R via Google

★★★★★ 5 years ago

I got my multi in a Cessna 310R. This was a big step up from flying a 172 for 800 hours. They were able to teach both at a high level and in a way that had me learning a lot. It could have saved a few dollars getting my rating in a smaller aircraft, but it was well worth it. The 310 feels like a big airplane. With learning in that, I can step down to most other twins out there.
eric bailey via Google

★★★★★ 6 years ago

Big thank you to Miranda, Steve, John and everyone else at Plane Training. I had heard good things about this flight school and am pleased that it has lived up to the reputation. Safe, professional, and FUN!! Thanks guys!
TNT howard via Google

★★★★☆ 5 years ago

Planes were clean and we'll maintained. CFI Steve was a pleasure to fly with and very knowledgeable. Enjoyed my time spent at Plane Training.
Larry Luchsinger via Google

Reviews via Google Maps; they belong to their authors and are not our endorsement.

Planning Your Training Here

Planning training at a local school like Plane Training trades the academy's speed for flexibility and often meaningfully lower total cost. The pay-as-you-fly model keeps your money in your control, and training two to three lessons weekly around work is the proven rhythm, enough frequency to retain skills without the academy's all-in schedule. The variable to manage is momentum: local-school students who succeed book standing lesson slots, fly year-round, and treat ground study as homework rather than something that happens at the airport. Ask about aircraft scheduling depth, instructor availability on your target days, and examiner wait times in Rapid City, the three friction points that stretch part-time timelines.

What Flying in South Dakota Teaches You

South Dakota splits between plains flying in the east, wind, visibility, and straightforward fields, and the Black Hills in the west, where Rapid City students learn genuine terrain and density-altitude judgment. Airspace is quiet everywhere, and Ellsworth's traffic adds military awareness near the Hills.

How to Evaluate Plane Training on Your Tour

Every school on this directory gets the same advice from us, because the fundamentals don't move. Walk the ramp and count how many aircraft are down for maintenance. Ask how many lessons a week they can actually schedule you, and how far out the booking calendar runs. Ask for first-attempt checkride pass rates and how long students wait for an examiner. And keep your money in your control: pay as you fly, or in small blocks with clear refund terms.

Then weigh the location itself. Training in Rapid City means building your early hours in South Dakota weather and airspace, and both become part of your airmanship. Our school-selection guide covers the full vetting checklist, and the financing page maps scholarships and loans that apply at schools like this one.

Common Questions About Training at Plane Training

How long would my training take here?

Part-time students flying two to three lessons weekly typically earn a private certificate in six to twelve months and a commercial certificate in two to three years, with pace set by your calendar and the weather. Consistency decides everything: standing lesson slots beat sporadic bursts by months.

What will it cost, and can I get help paying?

Get Plane Training's current rates directly; published numbers age fast in this industry. Nationally, plan on $80,000 to $120,000 from zero time to commercial certificates before instructing pay starts offsetting costs. Our financing guide maps the loans, scholarships, and airline cadet programs that apply here, and several scholarship cycles go undersubscribed every single year.

How should I arrange a visit?

Call ahead and ask for a tour on a normal training day, not a quiet one. Use the directions button above to plan the drive to Rapid City, arrive early enough to watch ramp operations, and bring the vetting checklist from this page. A school proud of its operation will show you everything; hesitation is itself an answer.

Get Matched

Considering Plane Training? Tell us your goal and timeline and we'll line this school up against comparable options near you, with the financing routes and scholarship deadlines that fit. One form, no spam, a real reply within a business day.