Cost of flight training today?

typhoonpilot

typhoonpilot

Well-Known Member
What would be the approximate cost to go from zero to COMM-INST-MULTI today? To include all ground school, flight training, checkrides, etc. Figure South Florida as likely location.

Follow up question: Any recommendations for schools in the Ft. Lauderdale area or southeast side of Florida. Asking for a person who would live with his brother while doing training so accommodation is not an issue.

Thanks in advance,


Typhoonpilot
 
I'd guess 40-50k. I did up to cmel 3 years ago in West Palm Beach. It was 57k all together. That was through the GI bill so it's a bit more than normal, 280 hours plus 50 in a simulator, part 61. No idea on the schools.
 
I had 180 hours at PPL (started young) and to get to 325 (ppl multi, cpl se, inst, cpl multi) it took about $35k. American flyers at PMP is a thought, I don't know what allatps at FXE charge. This was 2009-13 (70 training days spread across)
 
Places like florida and Arizona are faster, Minnesota and Iowa cheaper but as long as you are prepared both will get you done in the minimum time necessary, be prepared to work hard. Despite my part time visits I still hit it intensely during training, overtook a few guys and got it done. Think I saved a few $$ that way.
 
For all 3, it is hard to find quoted prices that are under $10k. If you have your own aircraft this maybe different.
 
ahw01 said:
For all 3, it is hard to find quoted prices that are under $10k. If you have your own aircraft this maybe different.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Seems like it would make sense to get CFI/CFII and instruct for a place that would offer you a discount for getting your MEI or include it in your employment.
 
True, most seem to do it that way. It's more like $5k with american flyers if you do it in a class format.
 
Yeh if you add in the CFIs I did it in 100 days and $50k post PPL, part 61 split between AZ and FL over 5 years. Think I managed to equal Allatps' current offerings.

If I had to do it again, I might do it faster paced, getting 1 visa (vs 5) etc. but I did it with no debt.
 
FWIW, I am currently training at Tamiami. Several schools offer a 61 or 141 program (seems like the majority of people train part 61, myself included) and will list the entire program at around 35K. This includes the multi engine rating but neither of your CFI certificates are included. 45k seems reasonable for everything you need. The key for a student starting fresh from the private is to really "do their homework" and study hard for their flight lessons as the quality of one on one attention from schools as such would differ from smaller schools which may be pricier but offer a better ground based instruction.
 
I know a former line guy at a local airport who is now a CFI closing in on ATP minimums. He got all of his certificates ~25k.

From what I hear, he became a friends with a lot of CFI's during training, he was able to get a lot of flights for a low price on instructions and also employee discount on aircraft rental
 
jafra98 said:
Cost of flight training today=Ridiculous
Click to expand...

Yea, something weird happened after 9/11. Prices spiked like they always do after some kind of event, and they never went back down. Insurance, fuel, parts and everything else just went into orbit. Even the LSA movement was a fail.

By and large, flight training was relatively expensive even in the late 1990s, but just went to plaid in the 2000s. The fuel price run-up in the late 2000s really kicked the industry while they were down.

Lots of issues at play here, and the overall health of the GA industry is a big player in that. You've got dozens of designs that are fully vetted, depreciated and are constructed with really basic processes. There's nothing there that is weird, arcane, particularly proprietary or requires any kind of exotic materials. Like the recent run up in the cost of oil, there is something else at play here that has nothing to do with the actual production of the product...even if you lump in a fair bit of profit margin.

Product liability...sure. But, weird how the gun makers seem to make a product that really can be hazardous*, and they are practically a dime a dozen.

Richman

* Absolutely no judgment on the firearms industry or users at all. None. Nada.
 
The average gun owner doesn't have deep pockets. The average guy who owns a Cirrus does. Litigators go after deep pockets. The ridiculous prices in GA are all about litigation risk.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top