MikeInTx

Hello everyone, first post ever...

I have enrolled at a local flight school here in my city (San Antonio), and I have been told that PPL will be "between 7000-9000 dollars, depending on how fast I advance."

Is this about right/average/normal?

Thanks!

Mike

Slice

Seems a little high to me. I thought the 4-6K range was more common.

CRJ-200

I think the average is 5-7K at my FBO.

WhiteH2O

I would say $6k -$8k for Washington area. Prices will be different depending on what airplanes they have and what they are charging for them, also how you do ground, as well as how fast you advance, and just as important, how often you go in for lessons.

flynavyj

national average was still 70 hrs of flight time for a private pilot...can be done w/ less if you can fly often enough to remain profecient, commonly i see between 40-60 hrs of flight time, which can work to between $5800 - $8700 dollars using a 110/hr aircraft and a 35/hr instructor...don't forget groundschool , or your self study course. cause that wasn't included.

JSchraub

Hey Mike I am in Austin I got my PPL down at HRL for $4700. How old is the plan you are using there in SAT? 7-9k for your PPL seems a little high for that area.. I am looking to speek about 6-7k for my instrument here at AUS in an '04 and '99 C172S...

surreal1221

White Air has a PPL program for $3999.

Get your Private Pilot License at White Air for $3999.99
45 Hours of Cessna 172
Unlimited Ground and Flight Instruction
Books, Materials, and Written Test Included

But, they are in KS.

PM me for URL.

ryane946

Depends where you are. If you are in a state like California or Florida, it will be much more expensive than that.


I CFI in Colorado. I just had a student who was a great pilot from the start. He knew how to fly. He knew all the technical book work before he came to start training. It cost him $7200.


That is probably as low as it will get for a 172. Fly in a 152, and you can probably save $1000.

I am using $85 an hour for a 172, and $35 an hour for instruction. That is fairly typical. Again, more in California. Less in some other places. Be sure and shop around for a cheap operation. If two operations are similar, ask one of them to cut you a deal so that you will fly there.
Figure this. 60 hours is a reasonable average. That is flying about 2 times a week and doing lots of studying on your own:

60 X 85 an hour = $5100
Figure about 10 hours of solo flight. Therefore you have about 50 hours of dual flight training.
50 X 35= $1750
But figure about 1/2 your flight time for instructor ground training.
30 X 35 = $1050

And figure about $1,000 in miscallaneous costs:
Flight school monthly fees or joining fees.
$150-400 headset.
$300 flight test.
$90 written test
$75 medical
$300 worth of books/supplies

Comes to $8900!

Obviously, recompute these numbers for actual prices. More hours if you fly less than twice a week. More money if you don't study hard at home.

Pilotpip

We're estimating about that for our 141 program with 42 hours total time upon recieving your certificate. We're on the high side though. Our planes are much better equipped than you'd need for your private and our fleet is new. I rented from the other school for a while after recieving my private and knowing what I now know, I'd pay more for the nicer aircraft. I feel that the difference in MX quality was enough. Paying more, however, doesn't always get better quality in this industry. Shop around and find what works best. Get lots of testomonials from students and other sources. No matter if it's $6k or $9k, you're spending a lot of money.

Ryane hit it on the head. The worst thing in the world you can do regardless of where you go is not study on your own or fly regularly (at least twice every week). Spending more short term to fly more will save much more in the long run.

IronWalt

My suggestion is to go out and buy your own Cessna 152 and hire your own "experienced" instructor to work with you. You will save a lot of money and learn a lot more about aviation through the enjoyment of aircraft ownership too.