ApeXX

Hey guys,

After doing some extensive research, I've decided that I would like to become a student pilot. It's been a childhood dream of mine to be able to fly (I'm 20 now, sophomore in college). Trouble is I'm having a hard time justifying the cost of training, at least at this point in my life.

Although I can readily pay for enough training to get my student's license and have it endorsed for solo flight (my goal at this point), I don't know how I'm going to pay to fly past that point.

Basically from what I've seen plane rentals go upwards of $100 / hour, which means it would be very difficult to fly often. I've looked in programs like Civil Air Patrol, but I don't think I would be able to fly at all. I've also looked into buy-in pilot clubs, but they don't seem to offer much of a discounted rate.

Could anyone please point me in the right direction? Or is this hobby just too expensive for someone still in college?

Thanks!

Assassin

I think it's an expensive hobby for anyone, both in college and once you graduate with a professional career. That's why many seek to fly professionally (still taking a financial hit non the less). Your best bet for now is to save up for your "Private Pilot's License" and once you get your PPL, fly whenever money allows, and eventually get the instrument license and multi engine rating...

Thereafter, once you graduate and start to work in whatever profession you choose. You'll be able to buy into a flying club, buy a plane, or at the very least pay the rental fees.

davyvfr

This is exactly what I am doing.

OHPilot213

I would wait until you can do the whole thing at once. I soloed at 16 and having to wait a year sucked because the student pilot certificate was so limited. You will want to take people up and fly around at night and on cross countries with no restrictions, especially if you're trying to do this as a hobby.

TI 3VOM

I would definitely wait until you have the funding to do it all at once. Having large breaks in your training costs so much more overall. If you make it to solo and have to stop flying for a year, then you will probably need pretty close to the same amount of hours of review to be able to solo again.

Pilot Trainer

Would definitely wait until you have enough time and money to do it all at once. It's much better to have larger blocks of learning rather than bit's and bobs.

Shame less plug but our website maybe able to help you out, its called Pilot Training.co.uk and has info on qualifications and licensing.

Please note that it's very new so more info will be added soon!

rickair7777

It will be more cost-effective to do the training all at once.

However...you are doing it for fun, so if you are eager to get started there's no reason that you can't jump in right now if you like, pay as you go, and train at a slower pace. It will just cost a little more in the long run but you won't have to wait.

gdpballin

I'm also in your situation and have been working on my private for over 8 years now (haven't gotten it half because of money, half because of my lack of motivation and interest in other things throughout my teenage years). I'm 21, junior in college, and flying whenever I can.

I'd suggest saving your money, graduating and doing at all at once. It's good you are in college and not chasing a professional pilot degree. 9/10 pilots will tell you to go for a degree outside of aviation simply because of the risk of loosing your medical and not being able to go into a different field.

Just remember, when you graduate you have a way to pay for your flying. Flying isn't going anywhere, so don't waste your money flying every once and a while, just save it and wait till you are ready to go after school.

snippercr

Are you trying to just get your private or are you considering career pilot?

Either way my advice is pretty much the same - do not go into debt. Either save up and do it all at once or pay as your go.

The problem with pay as you go, is you might not be able to fly all that often if finances are such. As a 2+ year CFI, I can tell you from experience (personal and observing students) that the more often you fly, the better you are. I recommend 2-3 times per week. Especially during the private and instrument stages.

Airplane costs/rental have gone up. For airplane+CFI, I would say easily $130/hour in a 150. Maybe a little less, but quite possibly more. You need at LEAST 40 hours: 20 with an instructor, 10 solo and the rest filler - I recommend with an instructor. Even the best people have a hard time being ready to even solo after 20 hours, let alone solo cross country and pass a checkride.

ApeXX

Sorry I wasn't clear. I'm just looking to fly for fun and get my PPL, I'm not at all interested in a career in aviation at this point.

Do you think if I worked up the ~20-30 hours of training needed to solo, it would be a bad thing to solo 2-3 hours a month for awhile? I think that's all I could afford at this point, and it would still get me up in the air every other weekend for a small amount of time.

As long as I could continually fly solo using my students license, I think I'd be happy for awhile.