| If you have been looking around the internet on | | | | number for an airline, your flight training will be |
| information about the cost of a private pilot license, I | | | | compromised and you can plan on spending a lot more |
| am sure you have seen some articles written by | | | | money. |
| people who are not even in the industry and others | | | | 3:Books and materials: In most cases you can get |
| written by private pilots who may have just received | | | | home study courses for about $200 or so. Some |
| their private pilot licenses. | | | | schools will require you get their $500 DVD packages. |
| Some of the information may be close and others are | | | | I have always told students to do what is best for |
| pretty far off. There are a lot of factors that will | | | | them. All of the courses out there cover the same |
| determine what a Private Pilot License (Certificate) will | | | | material taken from the official FAA publications. The |
| cost you. The first things you want to think about are: | | | | material that is used for your practical test is the FAA |
| 1: Airplane Price Per Hour | | | | publications. |
| 2: Flight Instructor Price Per Hour | | | | 4:Examiner Fees: This part most flight schools don't |
| Depending on where you are in the country these | | | | even mention at all. Once again depending on where |
| rates can be dramatically different. These two rates | | | | you are in the world, this price can vary a lot. One part |
| will be the most important factors however, there are | | | | of the country you may find a private pilot flight test |
| other factors that can dramatically increase your cost. | | | | for $200 but in others like here in phoenix it will around |
| I will give you some examples of things you want to | | | | $400. |
| look at. | | | | A few of these factors put together can make the |
| 1: The Flight School Itself: You need to poke your nose | | | | difference between a happy safe confident Private |
| around the community and see what is going on. You | | | | Pilot and a frustrated student pilot. If you are on a tight |
| will want to ask people who recently got their Private | | | | budget and have been saving for a long time, these |
| Pilot License and ask them how much it cost and how | | | | factors will make a difference. |
| many hours they ended up having. | | | | Planning this out is the most important thing you can do. |
| In many cases you will see much more than the flashy | | | | In order to pass the Private Pilot License flight test you |
| clean flight school. I know of many Flashy High Dollar | | | | need to be proficient. Depending on the rates, |
| Flight Schools that once you get out into the aviation | | | | instructor, and Flight School You Choose, |
| community, you will want nothing to do with them. You | | | | $8,000-$9,000 is a realistic budget and finishing at |
| may find many of the people you talk to ending up | | | | 45-50 hours is realistic. |
| with an excessive amount of hours and may have | | | | The Planning process is the most important part. There |
| had up to six instructors. I know this first hand since | | | | are many delays that can happen, weather, |
| many of those students come to me half way through | | | | maintenance and people getting sick. |
| their training. This is one reason I always tell people to | | | | For Explaining this I break the Private Pilot License |
| take some time and research and come up with a | | | | Cost down into four parts. I do this so you can |
| plan first. | | | | understand each phase of training. Then we will add it |
| There are on the other hand many flight schools that | | | | all up and you can see were the expenses are |
| are concerned about their students and are willing to | | | | coming from. I have published an article on each one |
| work with students to get them licensed in a cost | | | | of the areas. I break everything down in the following |
| effective manner. You just have to find them. | | | | manner: |
| 2: The Flight Instructor: If your instructor is not a good | | | | Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost |
| teacher your chances of getting your private pilot | | | | Private Pilot License Pre-Solo Pilot Training Cost |
| license in a cost effective manner get slimmer. You | | | | Private Pilot License Post- Solo Pilot Training Cost |
| need to look into this. Other factors that have to do | | | | Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation Cost |
| with the flight instructor is their aviation game-plan. If | | | | Private Pilot License Total Cost |
| they are a good flight instructor that cares about his | | | | Each one of these areas has a cost. It is easier to |
| her students you can plan with them and get things | | | | understand when you have everything broken down in |
| done in a cost and time effective manner. If you have | | | | front of you. Planning for the Private Pilot License is |
| an instructor that is just trying to get to the magic hiring | | | | the most important thing you can do. |