Aircraft Rental & Hour Building in London, Ontario
Aircraft rental and structured hour building for qualified Recreational Pilot Permit and Private Pilot Licence holders who want more flight experience, renewed proficiency or the hours needed for their next aviation goal.
A practical next step after your RPP or PPL
CPA aircraft rental is best suited to pilots who already hold a valid Canadian Recreational Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence and want to keep flying, strengthen skills or progress toward additional training.
- RPP and PPL holders building confidence and recent experience
- PPL holders accumulating aeroplane time toward Commercial Pilot Licence requirements
- Pilots preparing for Night, VFR OTT or Instrument Rating training
- Licence holders returning to flying after time away
- Pilots seeking instructor-supported proficiency or cross-country planning
If you are not a CPA student, insurance requirements call for a 2.5-hour aircraft checkout with a CPA instructor before you can rent independently. Rental approval also remains subject to document verification, medical and recency requirements, weather, aircraft availability and CPA operating policies.
Current hourly rates
$254.25 aircraft / flight hour
$101.70 instructor / instructional hour
Instructor time is added only when required for checkout, recurrent training, advanced instruction or another agreed training objective.
Rates are estimates before applicable taxes and may change. Final booking terms and inclusions are confirmed by CPA.
Choose a 20-hour or 40-hour hour-building plan
Pay as you fly
$254.25 / flight hour
Best for occasional proficiency flights, local flying or pilots who want maximum scheduling flexibility.
- No fixed flight-time commitment
- Non-student renters: 2.5-hour checkout with an instructor required for insurance
- Instructor available at $101.70/hour when needed
20-hour flight-time plan
$5,085.00 aircraft time
Ideal for RPP or PPL holders planning a focused period of currency, cross-country experience or progress toward advanced training.
- 20 aircraft flight hours × $254.25
- Structured planning discussion
- Instructor time added only when used
40-hour flight-time plan
$10,170.00 aircraft time
Designed for pilots pursuing substantial hour building, longer-term proficiency or a commercial-training pathway.
- 40 aircraft flight hours × $254.25
- Useful for staged cross-country planning
- Instructor time added only when used
Package figures are arithmetic estimates based on the stated aircraft rate. Applicable taxes, instructor time, landing/parking fees away from base and other agreed charges are additional. Ask CPA to confirm current rates, expiry terms, refund conditions and scheduling before purchase.
CPA’s Cessna 172K
The Cessna 172K is part of the widely used Skyhawk family: a stable, familiar four-seat, high-wing, fixed-gear platform well suited to proficiency flying, cross-country experience, hour building and advanced instruction.
CPA’s aircraft combines the familiar C172 cockpit with visible avionics updates that support modern navigation and instrument awareness.
Modern Avionics Upgrades
- Garmin electronic flight displays for attitude and navigation presentation
- Garmin colour touchscreen GPS/NAV/COM
- Garmin transponder
- Audio/intercom control panel
- Digital engine RPM monitoring
- Traditional standby instruments retained in the panel
Build useful cockpit experience
The panel supports pilots who want experience combining conventional Cessna handling with modern electronic navigation displays. A CPA checkout covers aircraft-specific systems, operating procedures, avionics familiarization and local dispatch expectations.
From enquiry to dispatch
1. Confirm eligibility
Provide your permit or licence, medical, logbook and recency information for review.
2. Complete checkout
Non-student renters complete a 2.5-hour checkout with an instructor for insurance. Review aircraft systems and local procedures, and demonstrate the required knowledge and proficiency.
3. Define your plan
Select pay-as-you-fly, 20 hours or 40 hours and identify any instructor-supported objectives.
4. Schedule flights
Book subject to aircraft, weather, maintenance, airport and operational availability.
Frequently asked aviation questions
Answers for pilots researching Cessna 172 rental, hour building and advanced flight training in London, Ontario.
Who can rent the CPA Cessna 172K?
Rental is intended primarily for pilots with a valid Canadian Recreational Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence. Approval requires document verification, appropriate medical validity, satisfactory recency and a CPA checkout.
Is aircraft rental suitable for PPL hour building?
Yes. PPL holders may use approved rental time to gain experience and, where applicable, work toward experience requirements for advanced training. Discuss your goal with an instructor before relying on any hours for a specific licence or rating requirement.
Can an RPP holder rent the aircraft?
Potentially, within the privileges and limitations of the permit and following CPA approval. The planned route, passengers, conditions and operating privileges must remain appropriate to the permit.
What does the 20-hour package cost?
At $254.25 per aircraft flight hour, 20 hours totals $5,085.00 before applicable taxes and any instructor or additional charges.
What does the 40-hour package cost?
At $254.25 per aircraft flight hour, 40 hours totals $10,170.00 before applicable taxes and any instructor or additional charges.
Is instructor time included in the rental plans?
No. Instructor time is $101.70 per instructional hour and is added when used for checkout, recurrent training, advanced instruction or another agreed objective. Non-student renters must complete a 2.5-hour instructor checkout for insurance; aircraft and instructor time are charged at the posted rates.
Do I need an aircraft checkout?
If you are not a CPA student, yes: a 2.5-hour checkout with a CPA instructor is required for insurance before independent rental. It covers aircraft knowledge, safe handling, procedures, avionics familiarity and local operating readiness. CPA confirms rental authorization after the checkout.
What documents should I bring?
Expect to provide your pilot permit or licence, valid medical documentation where required, government identification and pilot logbook. CPA will confirm the exact checklist.
What if I have not flown recently?
CPA may recommend or require instructor-led recurrent training before solo rental. The amount depends on recency, experience, proficiency and regulatory requirements.
Can I use rental hours toward a Commercial Pilot Licence?
Some flight time may contribute to experience totals when it meets applicable Transport Canada requirements. Plan with a qualified instructor so flight activities are logged and structured appropriately.
Can I book cross-country flights?
Cross-country rental may be available after checkout and route approval, subject to weather, aircraft availability, fuel planning, airport suitability and CPA policies.
Are overnight rentals available?
They may be considered case by case. Discuss aircraft scheduling, parking, security, weather, return timing and any away-from-base charges before booking.
Are fuel and landing fees included?
Inclusions depend on CPA’s current rental terms. Ask for the written rate sheet and policy covering fuel, away-from-base landing or parking charges, and any reimbursement procedure.
Can I take passengers?
Only when your licence or permit privileges, recency, aircraft approval, weight and balance, conditions and CPA rental policies permit it.
What happens if weather cancels my flight?
Safety and aircraft limitations take priority. Weather-related changes are handled under CPA’s current scheduling and cancellation policy; confirm those terms when booking.
How far in advance should I reserve?
Advance booking is recommended, especially for longer hour-building blocks and cross-country flights. Availability depends on training demand, maintenance and weather.
Can rental flights include Night or Instrument training?
Advanced training may be scheduled with an appropriately qualified CPA instructor and serviceable required equipment, subject to the approved training programme and operating conditions.
Why choose a Cessna 172 for hour building?
The C172 family is widely used for training and personal flying because of its stable handling, practical cockpit, high-wing visibility and broad familiarity across Canadian aviation.
How do I start?
Contact CPA with your licence or permit type, total time, recent flight experience and goal. The team can confirm eligibility, checkout needs, rates and current aircraft availability.
Not sure where to begin?
Book a complimentary one-hour consultation with Canadian Pilot Academy to discuss your goals, eligibility, schedule and the best starting point.
Now accepting flight-training and RPAS students
Speak with CPA about eligibility, scheduling, current availability and the programme that fits your aviation goals.
Canadian Pilot Academy does not offer programs for international students.
International applicants may search the Government of Canada Designated Learning Institutions list and the Ontario career-college registry for eligible institutions.
Canadian Pilot Academy’s current programs are not eligible for T2202 tuition tax certificates.