Learn to Fly
Sport through CFI/CFII, plus advanced ratings and endorsements in your own aircraft.
Programs & ratings
Serving pilots since 1975 · Alexandria, MN
You're cleared to land in Alexandria.
Flight training, aircraft rental, scenic air rides and full FBO service — delivered with genuine enthusiasm in the heart of Minnesota's lakes country.
Open 7 Days8:00–20:00 summer
CTAF 123.0Chandler Field
FAA-ApprovedScenic rides & Part 61 training
50+Years on the field
5,000+Pilots trained & inspired
7 DaysOpen every week
3Aircraft in the training fleet
Everything under one roof
One FBO, every aviation need
From your first discovery flight to a full tank of Jet A, we handle it — on the southeast ramp at Chandler Field.
Rent the Fleet
Well-maintained, hangared Cessnas and Pipers at transparent wet hourly rates.
View aircraft & ratesScenic Air Rides
FAA-approved sightseeing flights over the lakes for up to three guests.
See the viewFBO & Fuel
100LL and Jet A, heated hangars, courtesy cars and friendly line service.
Fuel & hangar details
Flight training
Instruction you can believe in.
Instruction you can believe in.
Relationships you can value.
You can't have airplanes without pilots, and you can't have pilots without instructors. It's our calling to grow the aviation community one student at a time — from your very first lesson to advanced ratings.
Sport Pilot
Fastest pathThe FAA created this certificate to make recreational flying more accessible — less cost, time and regulatory burden than a Private license.
Typical budget$5,500 – $8,000
Private Pilot
Most popularThe classic certificate. FAA minimum is 40 flight hours; the national average for new pilots is about 60. Most students finish in 9–12 months.
Typical budget$11,500 – $13,500
Instrument Rating
AdvancedAdd the skills and confidence to fly safely in the clouds and expand where — and when — you can travel.
Instruction rate$60 / hour
Commercial Pilot
CareerTurn your passion into a profession. Build the time and standards required to be paid to fly.
Instruction rate$60 / hour
CFI & CFII
TeachCertified Flight Instructor and CFI-Instrument — train the next generation and build hours while you do it.
Instruction rate$60 / hour
Your Airplane
AdvancedMulti-engine, MEI, tailwheel, complex, high-performance, insurance checkouts, transition training and ferry flights — in your own aircraft.
Instruction rate$60 / hour
Transparent pricing
Rates, in the open
No mystery invoices. Here's exactly what instruction, aircraft and FBO services cost today.
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Private Pilot instruction | $55 |
| Instruction in your own airplane | $60 |
| All advanced training | $60 |
| Multi-engine training | $70 |
| Ground school | $55 |
Rates subject to change. A standard lesson is a two-hour block with roughly one hour of flight time, adjustable to your schedule.
| Aircraft | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Cessna 172 Skyhawk (two available) | $140 |
| Piper PA-28-161 Warrior | $160 |
| Aircraft | Price |
|---|---|
| Cessna Skyhawk discovery flight | $125 |
All flight-school aircraft are hangared year-round. Rates subject to change.
| Product | Full Service | Self Service |
|---|---|---|
| 100LL Avgas | $6.90 | $6.60 |
| Jet A (pre-mixed with Prist) | — | $6.95 |
| Aircraft | Per night |
|---|---|
| Single-engine piston | $50 |
| Multi-engine piston | $75 |
| Turboprop | $120 |
| Jet | $175 |
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Handling fee — turboprop (waived with fuel purchase) | $75 |
| Handling fee — jet (waived with fuel purchase) | $100 |
| Tie-down (monthly) | $30 / mo |
| Cord and plug-in | $6 |
| Preheat (per engine) | $16 |
| GPU | $30 |
Aircraft requesting service after hours are subject to an after-hours fee. Rates subject to change.
Aircraft rental
Hangared, maintained, ready to fly
Every flight-school airplane is hangared year-round and kept to high maintenance standards, so a Minnesota winter never grounds your training by surprise. Rates are wet — fuel is included.
- Two Cessna 172 Skyhawks — the industry-standard trainer, stable and forgiving
- Piper PA-28-161 Warrior — low-wing handling and solid cross-country manners
- Introductory flights from $125 — take the controls on your first lesson
From $140/hrWet rate, fuel included
Scenic air rides
Everything is better at 3,000 feet
Want to see Alexandria from above? Through our FAA-approved scenic air rides, we can take up to three people flying around Alexandria — and you pick what you'd like to see in the local area.
We encourage you to call a few days in advance so we can have a pilot and airplane lined up for you.
- 1/2 hour flight — $105
- 1 hour flight — $210
- Price is all-inclusive — not per person — for up to three guests
FBO services
You tell us what you need. We're on it.
Some days you want to fuel your own plane and keep moving. Other days, that Minnesota weather has you thinking someone else can do it. We get it — we're pilots too.
Fuel
100LL — full service$6.90
100LL — self service$6.60
Jet A (Prist pre-mixed)$6.95
Full or self serviceFrequency 123.0 — we monitor CTAF.
Nightly heated hangar
Single-engine piston$50
Multi-engine piston$75
Turboprop$120
Jet$175
Other services
Tie-downs$30 / mo
Cord and plug-in$6
Preheat (per engine)$16
GPU$30
Handling — turboprop$75
Handling — jet$100
On the field
Courtesy cars & bikes
Multiple courtesy cars available — just ask. Crew cars, rental cars and catering can be arranged on request.
Good to know
After-hours service
Aircraft requesting service after hours are subject to an after-hours fee. Handling fees are waived with a fuel purchase.
Flight students & visiting pilots
Trusted by pilots, from first lesson to jet cockpit
"Their instructors did a great job getting me ready for and through my check ride. Excellent flight school!"
JD
Joe DiVietroPrivate Pilot
"I worked with Kreg on my instrument instructor rating — got it done efficiently and feel that I received great training and great value. Thanks for the quick turn on the add-on in just a few days!"
AB
Alex BohmerMedevac Pilot
"I started with these guys in 1987 flying the Tomahawk. Since my training with them I've taken a position with a charter company on twin-engine jets. Alexandria Aviation gave me the boost I needed and I will always be thankful for them."
VK
Victor KremerCommercial Pilot
"I stop in maybe once or twice a year, and every visit is fantastic. Friendly staff, affordable fuel, and great services."
DL
David Leiting Jr.Visiting Pilot · Wisconsin
"Great facilities and fun community. The airport has several bikes available in addition to the crew car. Would visit again!"
WW
Whittaker WarringtonVisiting Pilot · North Carolina
Our story
Fifty years of sharing the passion of flight
Aviation is an industry of passion. Over the past 50 years, Alexandria Aviation has been able to share that passion of flight with thousands of individuals just like yourself.
Located in the heart of lakes country at one of Minnesota's leading airports, we're ready to serve you seven days per week with our unparalleled enthusiasm. Since 1976 we've managed Chandler Field in partnership with the City of Alexandria.
We feel it's our calling to foster and grow the aviation community one student at a time. Not only will you achieve a pilot's license — we hope you walk away with a sound understanding of why we believe flying is one of the greatest freedoms we have.
The field
Chandler Field (KAXN)
- Airport has occupied its current site for nearly 100 years, originating as "Raiter's Pasture" in the late 1920s
- In 1940 the U.S. Army Air Corps invested $1 million to pave two runways and a ramp
- Two miles south of downtown Alexandria, in the heart of lake country
- 54 city-owned T-hangars, managed through Alexandria Aviation
Our staff
The people who'll know your name
Experienced instructors and a team that has been on this field for decades — many of us learned to fly right here.
Kreg Anderson
Airport Manager & Chief Flight InstructorAn Alexandria native and self-described airport bum, Kreg grew up here and has worked at Alexandria Aviation since he was 16. He flies everything from a Tomahawk to a King Air.
Shelly Johnson
Vice President & General ManagerOriginally from Elbow Lake, Shelly has been with Alexandria Aviation since 1989 — the steady hand behind the front office and the customer experience.
Kayla Anderson
Flight InstructorA full-time CFI who earned her Private license through Alexandria Aviation before completing her advanced ratings at ATP. Now she calls Alexandria home.
Kasey Martin
Flight InstructorFrom Glenwood, Kasey majored in Commercial Aviation at the University of North Dakota and returned to the Alexandria area to instruct full-time.
Kian Gackle
Flight InstructorAn Alexandria local and part-time CFI who trained at ATP in Florida before coming home to teach the next generation of pilots.
New pilot FAQ
Answers before you ever leave the ground
Still confused about a rule or a cost? Our instructors have studied the latest FAA changes — including the October 2025 Sport Pilot updates — and are happy to walk you through it.
It varies based on your work ethic, how quickly you pick up new information and how often you train — but with Alexandria Aviation it is safe to budget $11,500 to $13,500 for a Private Pilot License.
The FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight time. The national average for new pilots is around 60 hours.
It depends entirely on your schedule, work, family and finances — some students finish in six weeks, others over two years. On average, our students take 9–12 months doing one lesson per week. A standard lesson is a two-hour block with roughly one hour of flight time.
For the Private license you'll need a valid FAA 3rd Class Medical certificate and a Student Pilot Certificate. Our instructors help with the student certificate; for the medical we'll refer you to an FAA-approved physician. Sport Pilot students generally don't need a medical exam if they hold a valid driver's license.
The FAA requires students to be 16 to solo an airplane and 17 for a Sport or Private Pilot checkride. Our students range from 15 to 84 years old.
The modern route is an online course such as Sporty's, Gleim, MZeroA or King, plus some ground topics that must be completed in person with an instructor. Budget about 15–20 hours of ground school with an instructor.
The Sport Pilot certificate was created by the FAA to make recreational flying more accessible — less cost, time and regulatory burden. Budget $5,500 to $8,000. Sport Pilots may fly with one passenger, are limited by aircraft stall speed, can't fly at night without a valid medical, and need extra training for towered airports. Due to the FAA's October 2025 Sport Pilot changes, our entire rental fleet can now be used for Sport Pilot training and rental.
Yes! It is not uncommon to start with a Sport Pilot license and progress to a Private Pilot license over time.
Yes. If you supply your own airplane we can travel to your home airport; you'll be charged the IRS mileage rate per round trip. If you need our airplane, you'll be charged for the aircraft and instructor time to and from.
Two exams: a computer-based knowledge exam (which can be taken any time during training) and a practical exam of oral and flight segments with an FAA-appointed examiner. The certificate itself lasts a lifetime — though there are ongoing currency requirements.
Get started
Book your first lesson or a free consultation
Call, email, or send us a note below and we'll pair you with the right instructor. No experience needed — just curiosity.
Visit or call
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Location Alexandria Municipal Airport
2604 Aga Drive, Alexandria, MN 56308
Get directions →
Chandler Field · KAXN -
Phone & radio (320) 762-2111
Frequency 123.0 · Fax (320) 762-2112
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Email alexandriaaviation@gmail.com
We reply to every inquiry.
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Hours Open 7 days a week
Weekdays: 8:00–18:00 (Oct–Apr) · 8:00–19:00 (May & Sep) · 8:00–20:00 (Jun–Aug)
Weekends: 9:00–17:00
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