| The First thing you want to do is understand what the | | | | Here in the phoenix area, I tell people to plan on $8,000- |
| private pilot license is going to cost you. If you have | | | | $9,000. That is on a steady schedule with an instructor |
| looked around my website you can see that I have an | | | | who is dedicated and will commit to finish your training |
| entire section on the Cost of learning to fly and the | | | | all the way through. |
| Private Pilot License Training Cost. I will outline and | | | | As I have said before there are many factors that |
| explain it here in this article. | | | | can change the cost of your training. You have to look |
| Most people don't have unlimited budgets so the most | | | | at all of your options before you start flying. |
| important thing to do is plan ahead so you don't get | | | | So lets take a look at the cost estimates. I have them |
| stuck halfway through your training. | | | | broken into four sections. This way you can |
| With rising fuel costs, the costs per hour for airplanes | | | | understand how the Pilot Training Process works. |
| is getting more expensive. You don't want to make the | | | | Books and Materials |
| wrong choices. You want to research and plan all of | | | | Private Pilot License - Pre Solo Training Costs |
| your options before you start. Once you have your | | | | Private Pilot License - Post Solo Training Costs |
| Private Pilot License, it is yours for the rest of your life. | | | | Private Pilot License - Flight Test Preparation Costs |
| You will have to do a flight review every two years | | | | I have this broken down this way so you can see |
| and meet some other requirements to carry | | | | what it required of you and the cost associated with it. |
| passengers but once you get it, it is yours. | | | | I will just give you the outline here and you can look at |
| Many times I have seen students start and stop and | | | | my individual articles about each one. |
| start and stop again. Once they are finally licensed, | | | | Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost: This is |
| they may have spent up to three times what they | | | | the cost of the things you need to study for the |
| should have if they had committed to it in a short | | | | Private Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge required and all |
| period of time. | | | | of the other things you will need for your flight training. |
| First thing is, you need to understand that this is going | | | | There are many industry standard courses out there |
| to cost you more that most flight schools will put in | | | | based on the FAA publications for the Private Pilot |
| their cost estimates. There is a difference between | | | | License. They all have the same material they are just |
| the FAA minimums for the Private Pilot License and | | | | presented differently. |
| the amount you are going to actually fly. | | | | Private Pilot License - Pre Solo Training Costs: These |
| Many students will just go into a flight school and start | | | | are the costs that it will take you to get through the |
| flying. Half way thru their training, they will run out of | | | | Pre Solo Phase of your training. This is the cost of all |
| money. Why does this happen all the time?... Because | | | | training required before your instructor can get out of |
| people don't plan. It is really that simple. | | | | the plane and let you go on your own. |
| First of all you want to get a REALISTIC idea of what | | | | Private Pilot License - Post Solo Training Costs: These |
| it is going to cost you. The quotes from most flight | | | | are the cost that it will take you to get through the |
| schools are probably at least $2,000 if not more short | | | | post solo phase of your flight training. This includes |
| of what you are going to actually spend. | | | | your cross countries, night flights and simulated |
| So if you are on a tight budget for your Pilot Training I | | | | instrument flight. |
| suggest you do some planning ahead. I have broken | | | | Private Pilot License - Flight Test Preparation Cost: |
| the cost of learning to fly down into four parts. I do this | | | | This is the final phase of your flight training. In this |
| so you can understand what is required at each phase | | | | phase your instructor will get you ready for the Private |
| of your training. I make reference to the rates that I | | | | Pilot License Flight Test. |
| charge for the airplanes and the instructor rates. In | | | | Total Private Pilot License Cost: Here in this section I |
| different parts of the country this can be cheaper or | | | | put everything together so you can get a realistic idea |
| more expensive. I use the C-172 for my cost | | | | of what it will actually cost for a Private Pilot License. |
| estimates. There are many other airplanes out there | | | | When you put all of these together, you will see there |
| that you can train in. | | | | is a little bit more involved than most flight schools will |
| I have looked at some articles out there that say it will | | | | lead you to believe. When you add all of these up you |
| cost $4,000-$6,000. Maybe ten years ago but not now. | | | | get a number that is somewhere around $8,500. |
| If you are in a less expensive part of the country I | | | | Remember this will depend on the Aircraft and |
| would say that you may be able to get your license | | | | Instructor Rates but will also depend on many other |
| for $7,000 or so if you have a good instructor and | | | | factors. |
| stay on track. | | | | |