What Does it Cost?
Learning to fly is not cheap and there are many things to consider when calculating the cost of your flight training.
Things to Consider
1. Aircraft rental rates and fuel reimbursement
2. Instructor hourly rate
3. Books, Headset, Written Test and Check Ride Fee
3. Extra Fees associated with Flight Schools
4. Misleading Quotes
Misleading Quote in a Cessna 152
| Quantity | Cost | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Hours | 40 | $53 | $2,120 |
| Flight Instruction | 20 | $45 | $900 |
| Ground Instruction | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Supplies | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Written Test | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Flight Test | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $3,020 | ||
The national average for completing your Private Pilot's Liscence is 60- 70 hours, but the required total is 40 hours. It is more realistic to complete your rating in the average amount of time.
Average Hours in a Cessna 172
| Quantity | Cost | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Hours | 60 | $95 | $5,700 |
| Flight Instruction | 50 | $60 | $3000 |
| Ground Instruction | 20 | $60 | $1200 |
| Supplies | 1 | $500 | $500 |
| Written Test | 1 | $80 | $80 |
| Flight Test | 1 | $500 | $500 |
| Total | $10,980 | ||
A Cessna 172 is much more comfortable and has much better performance than a Cessna 152. It is the preferred training aircraft.
Flight School using new Cessna 172's
| Quantity | Cost | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Hours | 65 | $130 | $8,450 |
| Fuel Surcharge | 65 | $10 | $650 |
| Flight Instruction | 55 | $65 | $3,575 |
| Ground Instruction | 20 | $55 | $1,100 |
| Enrollment Fee | 1 | $100 | $100 |
| Supplies | 1 | $500 | $500 |
| Written Test | 1 | $80 | $80 |
| Flight Test | 1 | $500 | $500 |
| Total | $14,955 | ||
Factors That Will Affect Cost
- Your aptitude for learning how to fly
Some people take to flying quickly and others do not. The best pilots have excellent judgment and place a high priority on learning as much as they can; their coordination, motor skills, and "stick and rudder" skills may be only average. Temperament and physical skills are both necessary parts of becoming a pilot, and your innate ability will have an impact on the cost of your training.
- Your study habits and commitment
The more time you spend studying at home and the more commited you are the less money you will spend. Ground lessons will go much quicker and smoother if you are prepared and studied ahead of time. Also, "chair flying" can be done at home or on a flight simulator to help you memorize flight procedures. This will save you a lot of money since "flying" on the ground is free.
- How expensive an airplane you fly
If you are paying 130 dollars an hour for a new Cessna 172, then your cost is going to be much more than if you were paying 95 dollars per hour for an older Cessna 172. Cessna 152's are less expensive but you give up climb and cruise performance, so lessons take longer. Also, they are very small and can be cramped.
- Your instructor
The more efficiently your instructor can train you, the less you’ll spend. This has to do with his/her experience and how well the instructor’s personality and techniques fit with your personality and learning style. It is also important to find an instructor who trains you to be a safe pilot, not just a person prepared to pass the checkride. You should fly with more than one instructor to determine who would work best for you.
- Your priorities and goals
If you want to be an airline pilot and are ready to commit to training five days per week and study several hour per day, you will find that you earn your certificate in a couple of months and with fewer total hours in your logbook. If you are flying for fun, once a week, and studying when it’s convenient, your total investment will be higher, but you may be more likely to enjoy the training (although your progress will be slower). It’s up to you.