Income-based repayment better matches the pilot journey—supporting students through training and early career years as earnings ramp.

NEW YORK, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edly, a fintech lending platform that offers income-based repayment (IBR) education loans designed to be more affordable than fixed-rate alternatives, today announced the expansion of its lending program to include flight training, providing aviation schools and aspiring pilots with a new financing option built to support completion—from first lesson through the start of a pilot career.

Flight training can require a significant upfront investment, while many pilots experience a well-known earnings reality: income starts low in the earliest professional roles before increasing meaningfully over time. Edly’s pilot loans are designed specifically around that progression—aiming to reduce financial pressure when students need flexibility most, and to help more aspiring pilots stay enrolled and on track.

“Becoming a pilot is one of the clearest examples of a career where the long-term trajectory can be exceptional, but the early stages are financially stressful,” said Chris Ricciardi, CEO of Edly. “Our goal is to be affordable when you need it most—when income is low during training and in the earliest career steps. We’ve seen how a more flexible repayment approach can help borrowers persist in other career pathways, and we’re bringing that same philosophy to aviation.”

Edly’s expansion builds on years of experience supporting students across career-focused education programs – including nursing, welding and commercial driving – with an approach designed to be more flexible than traditional fixed-payment private loans—particularly early in a borrower’s career. For flight schools, Edly’s pilot lending program is intended to help reduce financing friction for qualified students and support stronger enrollment persistence and completion outcomes.

Availability

Edly’s pilot financing will be available to eligible students through participating aviation schools, subject to applicable eligibility criteria and lender approval. Schools that are interested in making Edly aviation loans available to students should email Edly at [email protected].

About Edly

Edly is a fintech lending platform that provides bank-originated, income-based repayment loans designed to be affordable when it matters most, with payments intended to better align with early-career earning realities.

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