jhallen92

Hello,

I am looking for advice for flight training. I was originally planning on taking out mountains of loans and going to ATP for Instrument through CFI. After having researched and reviewed ATP I have mixed feelings. I have recently began exploring the option of purchasing a simple but reliable trainer plane to complete my training in and possibly lease back to a flight school. I'm not looking to make a profit just offset some costs of training and plane ownership. Any input is welcomed.

Thanks,

Hunter

radish

There are plenty of good options other than ATP. I did my instrument-CFI/CFII/MEI at a 141 school in a comparable amount of time.

Also, If you buy a plane, it will need to be a complex aircraft for you to do your commercial and CFI training. If you want a good instrument trainer, the instruments/avionics will need to be more than simple.

I have had 3 students that have bought their own planes. It is a lot of work and a lot of money. Unless you lease back you will be just as far in the hole as if you had paid for the hours at a school, not to mention the time wasted that your plane spends in the shop.

Just my 2 cents

TiredSoul

This ^^^
I’ve worked for schools with lease back owners and Its diffucult to keep the owner happy.
If as a Private pilot you would recreationally fly 200hrs/year ( and that’s a lot) you’re now looking at 3-4 times that amount of maintenance cost.
And MX increases exponentially and not linear.
High ticket items will come quickly.
And the hours that you fly won’t be free.
Let’s say that the fixed costs are $80/hr
That’s MX, engine fund, tie down, insurance and a management fee for the school.
10gal/hr. brings that to $120/hr while they may charge a walk-in customer $130-$140.
You need 250 hrs which is $30k
Purchase price decent airplane $50k
Revenue-operating cost = your cut.
So let’s say that’s $10/hr.
Airplane flies 800hrs/year so you get $8k. For two years $16k.
So you’re out $80k-$16k = $64k
Now a student dings a wing on a solo and minus deductible it’s -$5k.
Puts you back at $69k.
A bald spot on a tire? $250 incl labor
Alternator? Starter fried? Vacuum pumps? It just goes on and on.
After two years you’re sick of it and you sell the plane for $40k.
You’re out $29k plus whatever you couldn’t fly on a fixed gear single.
Your commercial, your ME and your Initial CFI.
That will put you back up to like $50k.
And at that point it’s like 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

jarinawoz

I also agree with the others that will be hell of a money... Think about just buying a used car... always something is broken, need repairment or to change some items etc etc etc.. even cheap things are expensive when allt he stuff comes together... all the amount of money spent on the plane could be spent on flying....
BUT... on the other hand... give it for rent can be a good business.. BUt then you need to get used to that fact, even if you want to fly, the plane can be out in the air. And you as the owner need to wait for your own flight.