How much do SBA lenders typically lend to a flight training business?

The median SBA approval in NAICS 611512 is $141,600, with the middle 80% of loans between $15,700 and $1,460,000. Across all industries the median is $180,000.

Which lenders are most active in flight training?

By dollars approved: Byline Bank, Regions Bank, Midwest Business Finance Corporation, Bank of Montana, American Bank. A lender's experience in your NAICS code matters - underwriters who have seen a hundred deals like yours ask better questions and move faster.

Is flight training considered a risky industry by SBA lenders?

Of FY2010-FY2019 approvals in this industry that have reached a terminal status, 11.7% were charged off, versus 7.6% across all SBA lending. That is materially above average, which in practice tends to mean tighter underwriting, more collateral, or a larger equity injection.

NAICS 611512 · Education

SBA loans for flight training

240 SBA loans worth $110.6M have been approved in this industry since FY2010 - the #494 most-financed NAICS code in the country.

Median loan

$141,600

-21% vs all industries

Typical range

$16K-$1.5M

Middle 80%

Median rate

7.47%

7(a) initial note rate

Median term

10 yr

Charge-off rate

11.7%

vs 7.6% all industries

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA data, as of 2026-06-30. Approvals from FY2010 onward. How we calculate this.

Lenders

Most active in this industry

Lender	Loans	Approved
Byline Bank	4	$6.8M
Regions Bank	3	$5.4M
Midwest Business Finance Corporation	2	$5.3M
Bank of Montana	1	$5.0M
American Bank	1	$5.0M
U.S. Bank	13	$4.6M
Horizon Bank	1	$4.3M
Commercial Bank of Texas	4	$4.2M
Business Expansion Funding Corporation	1	$4.1M
Bank OZK	1	$3.9M

Geography

Where these loans were made

State	Loans	Share
California	39
Texas	24
Florida	19
Utah	18
Idaho	11
New York	9
Minnesota	8
Arizona	8

Approvals by fiscal year

’10

’11

’12

’13

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’16

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’19

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’26

Loan count. Final bar is a partial fiscal year.

Loan sizes

Under $50K
28%
$50K - $150K
23%
$150K - $350K
20%
$350K - $1M
16%
$1M - $2M
7%
Over $2M
6%

Nearby

Other education industries

See the sector

Sports and Recreation Instruction4,125 · $161,000 All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction2,168 · $135,000 Fine Arts Schools1,997 · $125,000 Educational Support Services1,693 · $90,000 Elementary and Secondary Schools1,386 · $601,500 Exam Preparation and Tutoring920 · $120,000 Professional and Management Development Training745 · $100,000 Other Technical and Trade Schools744 · $200,000

Common questions

How much do SBA lenders typically lend to a flight training business?: The median SBA approval in NAICS 611512 is $141,600, with the middle 80% of loans between $15,700 and $1,460,000. Across all industries the median is $180,000.
Which lenders are most active in flight training?: By dollars approved: Byline Bank, Regions Bank, Midwest Business Finance Corporation, Bank of Montana, American Bank. A lender's experience in your NAICS code matters - underwriters who have seen a hundred deals like yours ask better questions and move faster.
Is flight training considered a risky industry by SBA lenders?: Of FY2010-FY2019 approvals in this industry that have reached a terminal status, 11.7% were charged off, versus 7.6% across all SBA lending. That is materially above average, which in practice tends to mean tighter underwriting, more collateral, or a larger equity injection.

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