What is the average cost of flight training?

I

Isidor

Well-Known Member
I have decided to make a career change from business management to aviation. I want to be a commercial pilot. I went to a flight training academy and took my Introductory Flight Lesson, which I loved! After the flight I spoke to someone in the Academy who told me that it would cost $50-$60k to get all my ratings/certificates. Is that the average? If not, what is the average cost?
 
When all is said and done, $50k is a pretty accurate snapshot. However it can be more or it can be less. It can also depend what state you live in as well. Obviously some are cheaper than others with respect to rentals and fuel. If you find a place that only has a few old 172s and Pipers, it will probably be less than a place with a fleet of Diamond and Cirrus airplanes. Go with who ever has the cheapest rates. An airplane is an airplane is an airplane. Some just look nicer than others, but ultimately they all serve the same purpose in regards to flight training. Your going to be paying more at any academy. Overall, it is not a cheap industry to get into. Try to avoid taking out large loans at all cost.
 
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I did all of my training in the Washington DC area and my cost was around 55k. i also flew quite a variety of aircraft to include a Cirrus. Id say 50-60 is fairly accurate.
 
There is always the option of buying your own airplane or buying in on a partnership and devoting 8 to 10 hours p/week to flight training. Knock it out fast, study your butt off, and sell what you bought in for. There are some potential pitfalls to this method but it can work out really well if you do it right.
 
In this economy, cash is king. You can save a fortune buying block time. I met a kid a couple of years ago and suggested buying block time. He took that suggestion and ran. He bought 50 hours (Hobbs) of block time in a nice 152 with 20 hours of instruction for $3000 from a reputable FBO that was experiencing a cash crunch.
 
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Isidor said:
I have decided to make a career change from business management to aviation. I want to be a commercial pilot. I went to a flight training academy and took my Introductory Flight Lesson, which I loved! After the flight I spoke to someone in the Academy who told me that it would cost $50-$60k to get all my ratings/certificates. Is that the average? If not, what is the average cost?
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It should still be possible to go from zero time to ASEL/CFI for about 35k, in florida at least. Less if you are careful - looking at my back-of-the napkin math, I spent about 20k by the time I was a CFI. Over about 10 years, and I didn't fly at all half of those years.

You definitely do not need to do it all at once. Make a plan to get the PPL, and by then you should have learned enough to figure out what you want to do.
 
The easiest schools to find are going to be the most expensive. Do some searching around on airnav.com on all the nearby airports. At the bottom it will say if they offer flight training. Call all of them and see who can offer you the best price. There still some schools out there that focus on offering good instruction at a reasonable price.

I did my private, instrument, commercial, and cfi for less than 25,000 between 2006 and 2009. Good luck!
 
Surprisingly enough, the cheapest alternative here in OKC was at the university in Norman. Saved between $20-$100 an hour compared to the local competition. Agree with shopping around for different options.
 
The biggest question in my mind is are you aware of what you are getting into? Have you done research on what it will take to get into the career?

There are a TON of very knowledgeable and experienced people here. Ask questions. If I may, how old are you, and what are your career goals in aviation?

I'm not trying to discourage you, but if you do the career change, you need to go in eyes open. It's not an easy road.
 
I saw an allATPs advertisement for something like $50k. I'm not saying it's a great program but the price isn't horrible compared to others.
 
Isidor said:
I have decided to make a career change from business management to aviation. I want to be a commercial pilot. I went to a flight training academy and took my Introductory Flight Lesson, which I loved! After the flight I spoke to someone in the Academy who told me that it would cost $50-$60k to get all my ratings/certificates. Is that the average? If not, what is the average cost?
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That seems about right. I paid about 10k less than that at UND 2004-2008 when the place was still reasonable. It might still be now, haven't looked in awhile at what flight costs there are now these days.

As others have said, do your research. I'll let someone else explain the intricacies of the new 1500 hour rule, but while I don't think the hours make a difference(very few have hired people with those hours anyways during my time so far. 2008 was a bit of a fluke), the other requirements might. Like the additional requirements JUST to take the ATP written.

We don't know your age yet, but if the airline thing is what you want to do, do it as expeditiously as possible. Still try to enjoy the ride and be content with each step though or you'll be burned out. It's alright to have goals and aspirations but envy will drive you mad. It's also OK to meander around a bit if you fancy something in particular before focusing on one sector of the industry, if you have time to of course. ;) Myself as an example, randomly in the middle of CFIing, on the fast track to a regional, I wanted more experience and a little adventure. A buddy of mine described his aerial survey job to me and that was the ticket. Left flight instructing the next month and flew all over the country in a clapped out 172 for a year. :)
 
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I don't trust any of these estimates other than schools giving a program price. People told me my PPL would cost around $8k, I paid close to $20k. It was spread out over 5 years, which in the end meant I had to fly a lot more than most did since flights were often 2-4 months apart. There was one year I took only took 3 lessons, in the middle of trying to do solo XCs. I did it through an FBO, paid $55-60/hr for CFIs and $135-160/hr for airplanes depending on which one I ended up in.

I'd highly recommend anyone wanting to get into flying sets aside time and money to do it all as soon as possible, paying as you go can cause a lot of interruptions when life gets in the way. Hell, I'm trying to get checked out in a 172 as soon as I get paid on the 22nd. By the 25th, it will have been a year since the last time I flew. Makes me glad I didn't take a loan, I'm already about 11k in debt just because of life outside of flying. Can't imagine $60k+ of debt like some have.
 
ChasenSFO said:
I don't trust any of these estimates other than schools giving a program price. People told me my PPL would cost around $8k, I paid close to $20k. It was spread out over 5 years, which in the end meant I had to fly a lot more than most did since flights were often 2-4 months apart. There was one year I took only took 3 lessons, in the middle of trying to do solo XCs. I did it through an FBO, paid $55-60/hr for CFIs and $135-160/hr for airplanes depending on which one I ended up in.

I'd highly recommend anyone wanting to get into flying sets aside time and money to do it all as soon as possible, paying as you go can cause a lot of interruptions when life gets in the way. Hell, I'm trying to get checked out in a 172 as soon as I get paid on the 22nd. By the 25th, it will have been a year since the last time I flew. Makes me glad I didn't take a loan, I'm already about 11k in debt just because of life outside of flying. Can't imagine $60k+ of debt like some have.
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This ^.

Try to pay as a you go - avoid debt if possible. Set money aside for the PPL and knock it out at once. Once you get the PPL, you can build time as and when you can. I started off in the same situation as @ChasenSFO; took forever to get the PPL.

Anyway, welcome to the forum. Lot's of good advice and people!
 
6 written exams = $900
Part 61 basic aircraft rental 230hr * $100 = $23,000
Part 61 complex rental 20 hr * $160 = $3,200
100 hours instruction * $40 = $4,000
4 paid check rides = $1,400
5 check ride aircraft rentals = $1,200
Supplies, books, headset, prep tools = $1,000

That's a 0 time to about a 250 hour Instrument / Commercial SEL/ CFII / CFI Airplane total of: $33,700

Using standard run of the mill Part 61 training aircraft. You might not find them that cheap, you might find them a few dollars cheaper, but it's a pretty decent estimate.

Adding Multi, then of course it will be higher by maybe another $4,000-5,000 for MEI.

If you're using fancier/newer aircraft, of course it will be higher.

Of course spreading things out, being inconsistent, and not doing a good job preparing yourself will cost you $$$.
 
If at all possible try to do it full time, flying as often as you can. I was able to do 0-250 TT with 20 ME in 7 months and a total cost of $28k. Went the flight school route. Wasn't working at the time (used inheritance money/saved income) so that helped me finish it quickly and with relative ease/lots of fun.... and I had found a great deal on the twin time. Guy was offering $200/hour wet (with instruction!) in a Seneca.


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