Private Pilots License

If you can help it fly the less expensive plane, like a 152 or an older 172 as opposed to a shiny new 172sp with glass. As others have said the certificate you gat at the end is the same, however you save a significant amount by flying a less expensive aircraft. After all, they all airplanes and its usually just you and your instructor when you fly and theres no one to impress there.
 
Hey guys I got this email from another company. If I'm reading this correct, they offer a package for 6K that covers everything. Did I interpret that right?

Hi Christopher,

Thanks for your interest in our school. We offer fixed wing flight training in Cessnas and Diamonds. The private rating ranges from $4,500-$7,000 depending on the aircraft. Our Diamond DA 20 is the most popular plane for the private license. The pre-paid private pilot package is $6,000 for that plane and the package includes all the books and materials, flight time, classroom time and checkride fee. We work with your schedule. Everything is one-on-one with your instructor so there are no set classroom sessions. You schedule time using our online scheduling calendar so you train when you have time and availability.

We would love to give you a tour and have you meet with one of our instructors. Let me know what time works to come and let us show you around.

Thanks,
Ann Rychlik
American Aviation Services, LLC
ann@americanaviationllc.com
703-368-9599
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titansox said:
Hey guys I got this email from another company. If I'm reading this correct, they offer a package for 6K that covers everything. Did I interpret that right?
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It is probably a fixed fee, but would likely have surcharges if you exceeded a certain number of hours. The price sounds about average.

Most important thing - find an instructor that you like. Far more important than the price.
 
titansox said:
Hey guys I got this email from another company. If I'm reading this correct, they offer a package for 6K that covers everything. Did I interpret that right?
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I would e-mail back with a few questions:

1) Get a thorough list of what that includes. What airplane? How many flight hours? How many instruction hours? What books/course material? Any other materials? Headset?
2) What is the normal hourly rate for instructors? What is the normal hourly rate for the aircraft included in this deal?
3) Find out what the rate is for instructor and flight time should you exceed the included airplane/instructor time.

When you find the answer to number 1, put it all into a calculator and determine the cost. Then apply that to the normal hourly rates and see if there is really a savings. Remember, in marketing a deal should sound great to the buyer but not hurt the seller. Packages are a great way to make things sound nice when you are really getting stiffed or just not getting a deal at all.

Good luck
 
shdw said:
I would e-mail back with a few questions:

1) Get a thorough list of what that includes. What airplane? How many flight hours? How many instruction hours? What books/course material? Any other materials? Headset?
2) What is the normal hourly rate for instructors? What is the normal hourly rate for the aircraft included in this deal?
3) Find out what the rate is for instructor and flight time should you exceed the included airplane/instructor time.

When you find the answer to number 1, put it all into a calculator and determine the cost. Then apply that to the normal hourly rates and see if there is really a savings. Remember, in marketing a deal should sound great to the buyer but not hurt the seller. Packages are a great way to make things sound nice when you are really getting stiffed or just not getting a deal at all.

Good luck
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Thanks for the advice. Here's the list of questions I asked:

1) What is included in the deal? Is there an exact list of things?
2) What airplane would I be flying in? Is the Diamond 20 the standard plane used or are there options?
3) How many flight hours are assumed for this deal? What are the prices for going over the assumed flight hours?
4) Are instructor hours included in this deal? If not, what are they?
5) What books/course material are provided? What will I have to buy?
6) Any other materials? Headset?
7) Where are you located in reference to Manassas Regional Airport?
 
titansox said:
Thanks for the advice. Here's the list of questions I asked:
7) Where are you located in reference to Manassas Regional Airport?
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I believe their the same company as American Helicopters, located on the east side of the field pretty much at the end of the road that leads into Manassas airport.
 
One of the guys I know here is doing PPL multi-engine from scratch with no prior flying time.
 
Sled14 said:
I believe their the same company as American Helicopters, located on the east side of the field pretty much at the end of the road that leads into Manassas airport.
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Hehe I threw that question in there so it wouldn't sound like every question of mine was money based.
 
You should also ask about their refund policy. There's a huge drop out rate in pilot training, and package deals is a way for a school to combat that.

Package deals aren't bad, just make sure you know what you're getting into. I suggest you go for an intro flight before you plop down any sum of money that you may have trouble getting back if you change your mind. You should also talk to current and former students, and find out what they like and don't like about the school.

Where do you live? I know a couple of good schools in the Culpepper/Fredericksburg area.
 
titansox said:
Hehe I threw that question in there so it wouldn't sound like every question of mine was money based.
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Why shouldn't they all be money based? You are an investor. A smart investor would know exactly where their money was going, what their money would get them, and the likelihood that their money would accomplish the goals of their investment.

In my opinion, way to many people don't ask enough before diving into flight training. Treat it like an investment, the same as you would for a house, car, college, private school for the kids, and so on.

I was once told that, when making an investment, one should know as much about the product as the person selling it. That is the only way to invest wisely in any product.
 
Nihon_Ni said:
You should also ask about their refund policy. There's a huge drop out rate in pilot training, and package deals is a way for a school to combat that.

Package deals aren't bad, just make sure you know what you're getting into. I suggest you go for an intro flight before you plop down any sum of money that you may have trouble getting back if you change your mind. You should also talk to current and former students, and find out what they like and don't like about the school.

Where do you live? I know a couple of good schools in the Culpepper/Fredericksburg area.
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I live in falls church/fairfax
 
Manassas is probably the closest airport, but it might be worth your time to drive to Warrington or Culpepper. Stafford doesn't have a flight school yet, but Shannon does (in Fredericksburg). I think you'll find that the farther you drive away from DC the cheaper everything will be. You also can't put a price tag on avoiding the Washington DC SFRA. Manassas is inside of it, but he others I listed are out of it. I once held with a student for 45 minutes awaiting clearance back into the SFRA at the end of a lesson. Ouch!

I used to work with the owner & CFIs of JLS Aviation at Shannon. I highly recommend their instruction abilities.
http://www.jlsaviation.info/
 
Nihon_Ni said:
Package deals aren't bad, just make sure you know what you're getting into. I suggest you go for an intro flight before you plop down any sum of money that you may have trouble getting back if you change your mind.
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Paying in advance (more than $1,000 anyway) is almost always a terrible idea. Flight schools can, and do go out of business. Fairly often, actually.

Package deals can be fine in some cases. Those would be where it is fairly predictable how long something will take (type ratings, a commercial multi, etc). A PPL is not one of those - it may take 45 hours or 145 hours.

Also, the DC airspace is really not all that conducive to training. You might want to consider spending 2 or 3 weeks in Florida and knocking the PPL out that way.
 
I'm up in the New England corner of the world. I'm just finishing up my private wih just under 60 hours, for somewhere between 6,000 and 7,000. 60 Hours ground!? Wow! I didn't have half that....i suppose its up to you. Study more, less you need an instructor to teach you.
 
I agree with what others have said... NEVER prepay.. NEVER. If its more then $1000 or $2000 (if you are going to fly alot) thats OK. But what ever you do, do not walk into that place and slap down $6000 or more. I don't care what deal they offer.

I usually quote people around $10,000 from start to finish with the expectation that they can make it cheaper or more expensive.

The often you fly and the more you study on your own the cheaper it becomes over all.

But what ever you do, do not prepay more then $1000.
 
Hey Nihon, I've been looking into schools at the warrenton/fauquier airport and they do appear to be cheaper. And on top of that, its only 20 minutes further from me than the Manassas airport. So that is very doable. Good call.

I do have one other question. I have no idea if this is a practical question for you guys but I'll throw it out there:

I'm looking to start mid may. If I flew 3 days a week and lets say it took me 60 hours (I'm not a fast learner) would I be done by the second week in July?
 
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