Building flight hours is one of the most expensive and logistically frustrating stages of a pilot’s career. You’ve earned your certificate, you know how to fly — but the airlines, Part 135 operators, and corporate flight departments all want to see more hours in your logbook before they’ll give you a shot. So you’re stuck in the classic aviation catch-22: you need hours to get hired, and you need to get hired to build hours.
That’s where time building programs come in. Flight schools and independent operators across the country offer block-rate programs that let pilots rent aircraft at discounted hourly rates specifically for the purpose of accumulating flight time. The problem? Finding and comparing these programs has always been a mess. Rates are buried in website footers, scattered across forum threads, or only available if you call and ask. There’s been no single place to see what’s out there, filter by what matters to you, and make an informed decision.
Until now.
Introducing the US Pilot Time Building Programs Directory
Skyfarer just launched a free, searchable directory of pilot time building programs across the United States. You can find it at time-build.skyfareracademy.com.
The tool lets you browse and compare programs side by side, with the details that actually matter when you’re choosing where to build time. Every listing includes single-engine and multi-engine hourly rates, aircraft types available, and location information — the core data points you need to make a smart financial decision about where to fly.
What You Can Filter For
The directory isn’t just a static list. It includes filters designed around the real decisions pilots face when choosing a time building program:
Single-engine and multi-engine rates. Some pilots need SE time for their ATP minimums. Others are specifically chasing multi-engine hours to be more competitive. The tool lets you filter by which rate types a program offers, so you’re not wading through irrelevant listings.
Shared or split time options. Shared time — where two pilots split the cost and take turns flying — can cut your hourly expense nearly in half. Not every program allows it, so being able to filter for this upfront saves a lot of phone calls.
Programs with housing. If you’re willing to relocate temporarily to build hours (and many pilots are), housing availability can be a deciding factor. Some programs in lower-cost areas offer accommodations as part of the package, which can make the total cost of a time building block significantly cheaper than flying locally at a higher hourly rate.
State-level filtering. Want to build time close to home, or in a state with better weather and cheaper fuel? The state filter lets you narrow your search geographically.
A Table View and a Map View
The directory offers both a sortable table and a map view. The table makes it easy to compare rates across programs at a glance — sort by single-engine or multi-engine hourly cost and quickly find the most competitive pricing. The map view helps you think geographically, which matters if you’re planning to relocate for a few weeks or months to knock out a block of hours.
Why This Matters
Time building is one of the least-discussed but most financially significant phases of a pilot’s training journey. A pilot building from 250 to 1,500 hours — the ATP minimum under Part 61 — needs 1,250 additional hours. Even a $10/hour difference in rental rates translates to $12,500 in total cost. At the extremes, the difference between an expensive rental market and a well-priced block rate program can save a pilot $30,000 or more.
Despite these stakes, there hasn’t been a good centralized resource for comparing options. Pilots have relied on word of mouth, Reddit threads, and Facebook groups to share recommendations. Skyfarer’s directory brings structure and transparency to a decision that deserves both.
A Note on Insurance
The directory also surfaces a practical detail that catches many new time-builders off guard: most programs require renters insurance before your first flight. The page includes quick links to aviation insurance providers like Avemco and SkyWatch, where pilots can get instant quotes online — a small but thoughtful touch that helps pilots avoid showing up on day one unprepared.
Built for Pilots, by Pilots
This tool is part of Skyfarer’s broader mission to build free, genuinely useful resources for the aviation training community. From airport lookup tools to CFI directories to weather briefing pages, Skyfarer has been steadily assembling a library of tools that solve real problems for student pilots, instructors, and flight schools.
The time building directory is the latest addition — and for pilots staring down a long, expensive road to their ATP minimums, it might be the most immediately valuable one yet.
Explore the directory: time-build.skyfareracademy.com
