How much for a private certificate?
 

I got my private pilot certificate a long time ago. I'm curious: how much does a private certificate cost nowadays? Including headset, textbook, videos, written test prep, written test, check ride, etc.

Think the flight school I work at quotes about $14k. That is using 55 hours as a target. Airplane is $155, instructor $60. Large flight school in the NE.

I am working on my PPL now which includes 53 hours of flight time, 20 hours of ground study for just under $11k. The school is the largest in Georgia.

National average is around 70hrs.
If you calculate all that as dual you have the groundschool included.
Add $1000 for written, medical and headset.
$14-$15k is ballpark.

Including headset?
Not many ppl student owns one... luckily I have but I had none in the beginning...

I’m in MA, not a low cost state. Part 61 id be shocked if you couldn’t do it for less than 10k. Don’t waste your money on a school that has fancy g1000 sr20s over warriors or 172s, they’re better primary trainers anyway... same certificate in the end too


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I remember when I was a student pilot I would use whatever school headset was available that day. I quickly learned that buying my own headset was the way to go. At that time I was already committed to being a pilot for a long time, so I am glad now that I bought a good headset at that time. I still use it to this day.

And all of my private was done in a 150... I guess 150's and 152's are all gone now?

Many many schools will show prices between 5500-7500. However those are all based on the absolute minimums. Very few people get it done in that time.

For example I’ve bounced around from school to school and had to repeat some training. I think a rough estimate would be 10k to have everything all set and your confidence high.


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Checkride on Wednesday, total costs from nothing to PPL ended up being approximately 9500 dollars. About 7500 paid to my flight school, and about 2000 for A20s, iPad, foreflight, and miscellaneous supplies.

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Good luck misterpretzel!


What is an A20?

Thanks! Headset, Bose A20

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How many flight hours?

Came into checkride day with 43.6

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Nice job. That will definitely be less than the average.

Very accurate from my end too.

No, still available if you look for a school with them. My daughter did her initial training in a 150, I started mine in a 172 and switched to a 152 when I realized I was just wasting my money.

A lot of schools around here are using D20's and D40's. Very nice, but a little pricey for my tastes and IMO not really necessary for initial primary training.

I do agree about having your own headset though. I found 2 Bose X's on ebay for less than 1/2 price, still use them.

That sounds about right.