Rental/Flight Training Cost Increase

I guess I got lucky. When I did my commercial and CFI, the Arrow I used was $95/hour and instruction was $35. Then for my multi and MEI the Seminole I flew was $169/hour and instruction was still $35. That wasn't all that long ago (2 years since commercial).
 
yup. just went up at mine as well....

I can't complain though, there is nothing schools (or ppl renting planes) can do about this. they gotta make their money somehow
 
My FBO raised all its rates on May 1. It's now 95 an hour for the cheapest single prop. That plus 35 an hour for the instructor is a lot! I usually do two hour lessons which means I pay $260 every time I go up in the air.

God I need my CFI!
 
There is NO way I could have been able to do flight training while going to college if I had to do it today... I guess I was lucky.
 
If you ever wonder why folks like me half ass their training, now you know. Let's see, piss away a hundred bucks an hour plus another 30 for the instructor so I can get a job that will pay me one third of what I'm making now?

Nope.

And then it's like, what's the point of getting an instrument rating? I mean, if I'm not going to pursue this as a career, why bother?

So there I am, half assing a rating I should have had finished a year ago because I just don't see the point of it.

I'll eventually finish it up, but I'm in no hurry to do so.
 
Been away from the boards for a while pursuing other interests/dreams! I can understand why the rental rates are increasing, however, I am in complete agreement with tonyw!

I may not be making a bundle, however, I am not doing bad. Every time I even consider making the change, I really have to question why. Not that it is not for me or that I do not want to do it, but plain and simple..............it makes zero financial sense to do it!:(

To drop the required coin and devote the time (even while keeping a full time job) to enter a field that is much less stable and will take 5 to 8 years to reach my current income level is just something I do not think I want to do.

For all of those who are currently getting paid to fly, consider yourselves the lucky ones!

For all of those who are currently in the midst (SP) of their training, I wish you luck!

For all of those who wish to make a career out of this industry, take your time and consider EVERYTHING very carefully!
 
PGA07 said:
Been away from the boards for a while pursuing other interests/dreams! I can understand why the rental rates are increasing, however, I am in complete agreement with tonyw!

I may not be making a bundle, however, I am not doing bad. Every time I even consider making the change, I really have to question why. Not that it is not for me or that I do not want to do it, but plain and simple..............it makes zero financial sense to do it!:(

To drop the required coin and devote the time (even while keeping a full time job) to enter a field that is much less stable and will take 5 to 8 years to reach my current income level is just something I do not think I want to do.

For all of those who are currently getting paid to fly, consider yourselves the lucky ones!

For all of those who are currently in the midst (SP) of their training, I wish you luck!

For all of those who wish to make a career out of this industry, take your time and consider EVERYTHING very carefully!
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Great Post!

I don't regret my training but I'm glad that I got out before I started.
 
I was paying about $90/hr wet for a C-172 and instructor in 1999/2000. The 172RG went for about $120/hr with instructor. Some of you guys are paying more for a single complex these days then I was for a multi back then. The other day I looked up rental rates at some of the local flight schools thinking it would be nice to get checked out and fly an old 172 again for fun. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw $78/hr DRY and passed.

The industry is imploding, the lucrative major jobs of yesterday are almost completely non existant and training costs are up at least 50% in the last 8 years. I think anyone trying to get into this industry today needs to have their head examined.
 
Hell I paid $65/hr for the new 172's at Riddle in 2000-2001. In 2002 they upped it to $80 then in 2003 it was $105. What a shame.
 
I was about to start a thread about this same topic.


I have really had sticker shock looking around for flight schools in Arizona. All my flying has been out of Northern California and Colorado, and the rates have been relatively cheap.

When I started in 2005
Colorado C-172N = $71/hr
Northern California C-172N = $77/hr tach

Now in 2008
Colorado C-172N = $85/hr
Northern California C-172N = $90/hr tach
Northern California C-172SP = $95/hr tach

In Arizona in 2008,
C-172N = $99/hr - $119/hr
C-172S = $129/hr - $150/hr

The Northern California rates were from a non-profit flying club. They are higher at the local FBO's, but not nearly as high as some of the places I have seen out in Arizona.

I really feel bad for the people at those pilot factory type academies. I have seen rates for a Cirrus at $200+, and the ATPer's who average $400/hr for a Seminole, much of which is safety pilot time. So I guess I don't have that much room to complain.


My feeling is that the best known way to power an aircraft is using gasoline (be it avgas, jetfuel,... some type of petrolium based product). The price of oil is only going to go up and up and up. As long as automobiles are powered by gasoline, we will be vying for a limited and costly resource, and the cost of flying is only going to go up. Until the majority of our cars are not powered primarily by gasoline, we will continue to have this problem of ever increasing flying costs.
 
aerospacepilot said:
I was about to start a thread about this same topic.


I have really had sticker shock looking around for flight schools in Arizona. All my flying has been out of Northern California and Colorado, and the rates have been relatively cheap.

When I started in 2005
Colorado C-172N = $71/hr
Northern California C-172N = $77/hr tach

Now in 2008
Colorado C-172N = $85/hr
Northern California C-172N = $90/hr tach
Northern California C-172SP = $95/hr tach

In Arizona in 2008,
C-172N = $99/hr - $119/hr
C-172S = $129/hr - $150/hr

The Northern California rates were from a non-profit flying club. They are higher at the local FBO's, but not nearly as high as some of the places I have seen out in Arizona.

I really feel bad for the people at those pilot factory type academies. I have seen rates for a Cirrus at $200+, and the ATPer's who average $400/hr for a Seminole, much of which is safety pilot time. So I guess I don't have that much room to complain.


My feeling is that the best known way to power an aircraft is using gasoline (be it avgas, jetfuel,... some type of petrolium based product). The price of oil is only going to go up and up and up. As long as automobiles are powered by gasoline, we will be vying for a limited and costly resource, and the cost of flying is only going to go up. Until the majority of our cars are not powered primarily by gasoline, we will continue to have this problem of ever increasing flying costs.
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Speaking of "academy" type places, I recall when I started researching about 2 1/2 years ago, ATP was $40,000 or $45,000. Then it was $50,000. I just say a recent ad and they are not $60,000! WTF! I understand the business model, but heck, that is CRAZY!

As someone else stated...............this industry will soon (sooner than anyone cares to admit) be ex-military and silver spooners.
 
Yeah the multi at my school has just gone up another $1,500 due to fuel and as stated in prev posts you really cannot blame the schools. I mean it is a business.
 
It's funny how AOPA keeps inviting members to chime in on why the crop of GA pilots is decreasing ... uhm, here's a guess - $6+ avgas. Whenever someone asks me about getting their PPL, I tell them that unless they can't live without it, don't - take up a cocaine addiction, it's cheaper.
 
PGA07 said:
Speaking of "academy" type places, I recall when I started researching about 2 1/2 years ago, ATP was $40,000 or $45,000. Then it was $50,000. I just say a recent ad and they are not $60,000! WTF! I understand the business model, but heck, that is CRAZY!

As someone else stated...............this industry will soon (sooner than anyone cares to admit) be ex-military and silver spooners.
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This is sad but true.
 
I've more or less gotten out of GA flying for the time being. When I learned how to fly in the mid 90s, the cost was $45 / hr wet for the 152, plus $18 for the instructor--100LL was $1.89. I feel sorry for you guys, really, because I doubt your take-home pay is keeping pace with that. :(
 
I payed $65/hr for a C172 and $25/hr for instruction back in 2003. This was in Hawaii too of all places. I am sure those numbers have at least doubled by now. I would have not been able to afford to learn to fly at todays rates or I would have been turned off by the price tag at the beginning. Good luck to all newbies.
 
bradj2000 said:
jees louise, 200/hr for an arrow with CFi. I pay $90/hr for a sweet arrow and 30/hr for instructor. And Im in So Cali.
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Where are you training? I'm in NorCal (Silicon Valley) and the prices are insane: $50-60/instructor and $140 for a 177RG (no Arrow here)
 
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