Private Pilot Costs

Private Pilot Costs

The cost of obtaining your Private Pilot License is made up of airplane rental, instructor time, books and other study materials, pilot supplies, and the test fees. Obviously the final cost depends heavily on how many lessons you find you need before you're ready to take the tests. Another significant variable is the airplane you decide to fly while learning. Many people choose to fly a Cessna 172 while they're pursuing a Private Pilot license, and that will typically cost $115~$150 per hour to rent. If you're light and not too tall (perhaps less than 170 lbs and under 6' tall you might choose to fly the Cessna 150 instead, which is a little cheaper). Expect your instructor to bill time in the region of $45/hour, and to bill for ground time as well as flight time. You can minimize the costs of "ground school" by studying the bookwork by yourself as much as possible and turning up to each lesson well prepared.

For a reasonably realistic working budget you should consider airplane and instructor time, add perhaps $500 for books and materials, another $150~$900 for a headset (you'll probably want your own) and charts, and about $500 for the exam fees.  The costs are spread over the time you take to complete your license, so typically expect to be paying this total over eight to twelve months. Budget for a regular monthly outgoing based on the amount you can afford, and schedule your flight time limited by that and what your lifestyle will allow. Look on this as a journey, rather than a single achievement, as you'll presumably want to continue flying after you have been awarded your pilot certificate. Some lenders offer financing for flight instruction, though this varies with the economic climate. Notably, if you're a Veteran, your benefits can be used for some aspects of flight training.