How Much Does It Cost To Get A Pilot’s License?

The short answer is that it will probably cost more than you initially think or budget. Generally it is probably going to range from $10,000 - $40,000+ depending on many factors that you can control and some that are out of your control. Here are some of the factors that are going to influence cost.

Why Do You Want To Earn Your Pilot’s Certificate?

Do you want to visit new destinations while flying above the traffic with friends and family or do you want a career in aviation. A local not for profit flying club might be a better choice for a casual general aviation student pilot and have cheaper rental rates and CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) rates. For a student interested in entering the airlines a more formal flight school may be the better option although potentially more expensive.

What Kind Of Experience Do You Want to Have?

Do you just want to earn your wings as quickly as possible or do want to take the scenic route and enjoy the journey? There are many ways to minimize hours flown to save some cash, but, that might not provide the most enjoyable flying experience and could add a lot of pressure and stress to your flight training. If you have the time and money I personally think it’s better to take your time for many reasons that I cover in all these pages.

Where Do You Live?

Location, Location, Location does not only apply to real estate. Where you live is going to have a major impact on the number of airports and flight schools available to you. Rural areas may offer slightly better rental rates but there will be less choice and potentially more travel. I am fortunate to live in a metropolitan area with three class D airports within a 30 minute drive. But, my flight time is about $300/hr. with an instructor. There are cheaper options with local clubs, but, I prefer the more structured flight school I chose.

Weather

Weather is a major part of aviation especially in the parts of the country with four full seasons. In order to become a pilot you have to become an amateur weather man/woman. Flight cancellations due to weather are extremely common for VFR pilots. I have had entire months washed out due to weather cancellations. Your luck or lack there of with the weather can have a direct impact on cost as you might need to spend some time refreshing some skills if there is a long stretch of down time.

Aircraft selection

What type of plane do you want to fly? A Cessna 152 is one of the cheapest planes you can fly but the larger, faster Cessna 172 can provide a quieter more comfortable ride. Of course the C172 will have a higher rental rate, but the more enjoyable experience might be worth it for you. There are other aircraft options also with variation in rates.

Flight School Choice

Do you want to fly with a local club, part 61 flight school or very formal part 141 flight school. Each option has it’s own cost/experience plusses and minuses.

How Often Can You Fly?

Most CFIs I have spoken to agree that you will earn your license in fewer flight hours if you can fly more often. Optimally at least 2 or 3 times a week. It is entirely possible to get your license flying once a week or less, however, it will obviously take longer. If you are not in a rush, there is nothing wrong with going this route. The national average is 55-80 flight hours and it is not uncommon to take longer. For me it took about 100 hours over the course of a year and a half and am very satisfied with my experience.

Scheduling And Meeting The FAA Requirements

The minimum number of hours required to earn you license is 40, which can technically be accomplished if everything goes right such as aircraft availability, CFI availability, weather, your availability and many other factors. It will also be a very stressful journey which may not be worth the savings.

Ultimately, there are many ways to go about earning your pilot’s license and you have to choose the path that is best for you. You may even find that you enjoy flying so much that the cost becomes just a small inconvenience to experience the exhilaration feeling of soring off into the skies.