Originally Posted by
Fegelein
You don't need to "invest" $100,000+ to get into this career. I paid around $10K for my private, instrument, commercial and multiengine ratings and was at a major 5 years later.
Right in 1985. That figure adjusted for inflation is $21,000. Most of these college programs are charging $15,000 just for a Private License, charging $180/hr for the airplane and $75-$100 for the Instruction. Some places a mid 70s 172M rents for $100 an hour. Places using the Cirrus charge upwards of $250 an hour for the aircraft.
I'm sure you could get all that when a 152 rented for $30 and hour and the instruction was $10 an hour, but those days are long gone.
I know a Delta captain who hadn't been around GA since his training days and went looking for someplace to send his son to learn to fly and was shocked at the cost now.