Help planning flight school

R

Riley Oblander

New Member
Hello, I have been looking around my area, Lawrence Kansas, for a good flight school and I landed on this website http://www.kcflight.com/. I emailed them and asked what it would take to get up to commercial, multi-engine, and instrumental and this was their response.
There are so many variables. I have gotten guys done in $19,000.00.

I could guarantee a price $25,000.00 max.

That would be 235 hours in a Cessna 152, 5 to 10 hours in a Piper Arrow and 10 hours in a Twin Commanche and all instruction. The time depends 100% on your availability. Reality is the max you can fly in a week is 25 hours. If you were doing it starting by June. You could finish in 4 months. Full-time.

I would suggest that you start with your private for $5500 and 30 Lessons and then go from there.
Click to expand...

I wanted to get some experts opinion on this, also I plan on getting my CFI and eventually my ATP however according to the website they do not offer those programs, would it be better to go to a school that does everything? and if so can anyone recommend some that are in Kansas around Lawrence? Thank you in advance.

Riley
 
Well 25,000? It could be done at cheapest but 19,000? I mean I'm not sure what the going rate per hour is for the 152 but that seems very low!

I would honestly count on spending around 35,000 just so you have a little cushion you can play with. However, it really is all depending on you and how much you put into it. Right now I'm finishing up my PVT PILOT CERTIFICATE after taking about 7 months off because of some personal reasons, but in that time lapse I have honestly learned allot and really embraced aviation in its entirety and made some great friends here on jetcareers.

Ed.
 
Description Price per hour Hours Cost
Cessna 152 N65550 $69.73 (block rate) 45 $3137
Flight Instruction $33 40 $1320
Ground Instruction $33 $200
Check Ride $300
Written Exam $150
FAA Medical $100
Books / Training Material $100
Headset $120

Total : $5427 (includes Tax)

here is the price rundown they give for the private license,
 
what current certification do you have, if any? I'm asking because your previous experience and rate of progress could be based on your past. If you have relatively no hours and are a student pilot then I would estimate about $5500 for a private pilot certificate. I'd get that finished before worrying about the next 3 - honestly. Why? Because it may be good to plan that far ahead, but until you have a little experience as to how fast you will progress, you''re jumping the gun a bit.

Baby steps.
 
moxiepilot yes i agree. I have flow a few times (discovery flights, ect.) I was mostly looking at the private license portion. I just want to make an informed decision based on expert opinion rather that a random website that looks pretty.

Thank you all for your opinions so far!

Riley
 
Wow... how do you make money with a 152 at $70 per hour? Figure 6 gph at $6.00 a gallon min = $36 + insurance @ $3000 a year + Maint.+ engine OH fund.
 
BillErvin said:
Wow... how do you make money with a 152 at $70 per hour? Figure 6 gph at $6.00 a gallon min = $36 + insurance @ $3000 a year + Maint.+ engine OH fund.
Click to expand...

Yeah, seems like a steal and it is twice that I paid 12 years ago.

Add 10-20%, but ballpark wise, sounds reasonable.
 
Riley-

This does seem like a very fair price in my experience. I would inquire as to if they offer CFI/CFII/MEI. They may just leave it off of their website because they may not do it often.

A couple of questions to better understand you situation-

-How old are you?
-Grade level?
-Total time now with your demo flights?
-Are you available to be at the airport for flight/ground lessons 3-4 times per week? (this will greatly influence the cost-like rosetta stone, immerse yourself in aviation and you'll learn better)
-Do you know anyone that has used this flight school before to get their opinion of it?

A couple of suggestions to make training go smoothly-

-Subscribe to AOPA if you're not already, they have a lot of quizzes and scenario based flash presentations on their website that are great for private through commercial and also for review once you've completed them all.
-The FAA has all of their books for FREE in PDF format on their website
-Keep in the books, read a little every day
 
TowJoe said:
Riley-

This does seem like a very fair price in my experience. I would inquire as to if they offer CFI/CFII/MEI. They may just leave it off of their website because they may not do it often.

I did and they said that they do indeed have that, they just don't post it (per your reasoning)

A couple of questions to better understand you situation-

-How old are you? 19
-Grade level? Freshman in college
-Total time now with your demo flights? umm probably only a few hours no more than 10
-Are you available to be at the airport for flight/ground lessons 3-4 times per week? (this will greatly influence the cost-like rosetta stone, immerse yourself in aviation and you'll learn better) Yes :) and agreed defiantly
-Do you know anyone that has used this flight school before to get their opinion of it? no i do not... i was actually hoping someone on here has, or at least has heard of them to get an appraisal

A couple of suggestions to make training go smoothly-

-Subscribe to AOPA if you're not already, they have a lot of quizzes and scenario based flash presentations on their website that are great for private through commercial and also for review once you've completed them all.
-The FAA has all of their books for FREE in PDF format on their website
-Keep in the books, read a little every day
Click to expand...
 
Do you have to money up front? Companies will sometimes give you a discount if you keep a certain amount of cash on account at the airport-typically 5-10% off. I highly suggest having the money up front or at least a large portion of it to be able to continuously be at the airport. Also read and study as much as you can prior to starting full-time this way you will have shorter ground lessons as long as you are comprehending everything.
 
Don't pay up front, instead pay as you go.
General Great Plains area prices are on par with those instructor and airplane rates.
Lots of places around here have those rates.
Though the math might be correct, don't be surprised or upset if it takes *you* a few more hours.

Pilots from the local area will be willing to tell you what they think of any given flight school.
 
I guess I should have elaborated on the money on account. I would not suggest paying for it all up front, but the places where I worked and trained had a deal similar to this: if you have $500 on account you get 5-10% off.
 
hummm... I've heard some contradicting opinions on this one...

would it be better to wait to start after I have all of the money together for the entirety, or start now and just do what I can as it becomes available?

Also has anyone had any experience with the Pilot finance loans? are they a good idea?

Thanks everyone!

Riley
 
TowJoe said:
I guess I should have elaborated on the money on account. I would not suggest paying for it all up front, but the places where I worked and trained had a deal similar to this: if you have $500 on account you get 5-10% off.
Click to expand...

I have no problem with that.
 
Riley Oblander said:
hummm... I've heard some contradicting opinions on this one...

would it be better to wait to start after I have all of the money together for the entirety, or start now and just do what I can as it becomes available?

Also has anyone had any experience with the Pilot finance loans? are they a good idea?

Thanks everyone!

Riley
Click to expand...

Don't borrow money. No problem if you don't have the cash for all of it up front, most people take 6 months or so anyway.

As long as you can afford to fly twice a month you are fine
 
TowJoe said:
I guess I should have elaborated on the money on account. I would not suggest paying for it all up front, but the places where I worked and trained had a deal similar to this: if you have $500 on account you get 5-10% off.
Click to expand...
yea flight school here gives a 10% discount for 150 and 20% for 300
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top