adventurechick 0 #1 August 25, 2006 Does anyone know the average costs of getting a pilot's license and if there is somehow an inexpensive way of getting it? PMS #449 TPM #80 Muff Brother #3860 SCR #14705 Dirty Sanchez #233 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #2 August 25, 2006 My boyfriends est is 5 grand , hes working on it now... Quoteinexpensive way of getting it? stripperSudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 900 #3 August 26, 2006 you can't jump out when you're flying the damn thing! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #4 August 26, 2006 QuoteDoes anyone know the average costs of getting a pilot's license and if there is somehow an inexpensive way of getting it? *** You Bet! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #5 August 26, 2006 5 grand is cheaper than what I'm paying. Then again I changed schools in the middle of training. Just remember what people told me when I started (and I ignored): more expensive does NOT mean better training. I burned through $3000 before I finally told the flight school I was at to take a walk because they were doing nothing but taking me on scenic flights and taking my money. ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #6 August 26, 2006 Quotethere is somehow an inexpensive way of getting it? O.F.E.My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #7 August 26, 2006 Thats just his estimate, hes going on his fouth hour now. He already did the take off and I get sick when he talks about his stalls.... Hes only going for private license, no plans to move upwards to commercial.Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl1 0 #8 August 26, 2006 The place I'm training at says that it typically costs $9154, but it varies depending on the rate at witch you learn. http://www.tradewindsaviation.com/private-pilot-certificate.asp#costFly like a girl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #9 August 26, 2006 I've been looking into this myself and I've heard a few ways to shave the cost off is to get the books and pass the written before you ever show up to take a flight hour. By doing this you can be soloing by 10 instuction hours or so. Who ever posted that almost $10k flight school really needs to look around, 40 hours of instruction is WAY up there. Then again all te CFI's I've talked to said they would do it for tach time too. Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pop 0 #10 August 26, 2006 QuoteDoes anyone know the average costs of getting a pilot's license and if there is somehow an inexpensive way of getting it? $5K7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davedlg 0 #11 August 26, 2006 QuoteI've been looking into this myself and I've heard a few ways to shave the cost off is to get the books and pass the written before you ever show up to takea flgiht hour. By doing this you can be soloing by 10 instuction hours or so. Who ever posted that almost $10k flight school really needs to look around, 40 hours of instruction is WAY up there. I am in the middle of getting my license right now. $10k really isn't all that outrageous once you add everything up. I think I am going to end up spending somewhere around $8k. When you solo depends a lot on your instructor and your flight school's policies. For example, at my school we had to be performing within PTS for all the PPL maneuvers and you have to do a check ride with a senior pilot before you can solo. I soloed at 23 and that is considered early for where I am learning. Getting your license in 40 hours is very optimistic in most cases. 60 is more on par with what is average. I'm not saying it can't be done, it is just rare. Flying out of a smaller, noncontrolled airport as well as staying very current (several flights a week) are also things you can do to reduce the amount of time it will take. As Phreezone said, showing up with the FAA written test under you belt will also help a lot too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
godfrog 2 #12 August 26, 2006 it all depends on where you go, different costs at different places, insurance, fuel, instructor rates etc. what I would look for is the quality of the instruction and the attitude of the instructors. drill sargent types usually dont teach very well. my training was hands on from the very first. lots of talking and coaching. also make sure that they use the building block method of teaching. if you can find others, rent an airplane by block time, you can get an hourly break usually. or try group leaseing a plane. good luck and blue skies.Experience is a difficult teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ashtanga 0 #13 August 26, 2006 Average of 8 grand to get it... I checked. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davedlg 0 #14 August 26, 2006 Adding it up is relatively simple: A cessna 172 will run from $75 to $100 per hour, instruction will run from $30 to $50 per hour, books materials will run from $400 to $800 depending on what you buy. Club enrolment fees and dues also need to be added in, that might run you anywhere from $0 to $1000 depending on where you go. You will end up with about 40 to 70 hours of flight time by the time it is all said and done with about 10-15 of those hours will be solo. So adding that all up, on the low end you are looking at $4500 on the low end and well over $10k on the high end. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #15 August 26, 2006 Want inexpensive? Look into the Sport Pilot license. It's new. License to fly small 2-seat aircraft in as little as 20 hours. http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/sport_pilot/ Comparison between different licenses Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #16 August 26, 2006 QuoteI've been looking into this myself and I've heard a few ways to shave the cost off is to get the books and pass the written before you ever show up to takea flgiht hour. By doing this you can be soloing by 10 instuction hours or so. Actually I wouldn't base your solo ability on your book smarts. Of course all of the knowledge you can cram in will help, but there is a 'feel' that no matter how many books or flight sim time you try, you MUST get it down in the aircraft. I went in with ground school done and didn't solo any earlier than anyone else. That also depends on what kind of school you're in, too. It depends what part they follow, many have such strict guidelines that it doesn't matter what you 'know' prior, you still must go through their designated course. -Also, most of the bookwork was assigned as homework, and so had no bearing at all on flight hours to solo... Just some thoughts.~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #17 August 26, 2006 Yeah I didn't really do any organized ground school (a couple hours hear and there with my instructor) and it took me 50 hours to solo and 100 hours to get my private. Ok so I was 16 when I soloed and 17 when I got my private... Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #18 August 26, 2006 QuoteQuoteI've been looking into this myself and I've heard a few ways to shave the cost off is to get the books and pass the written before you ever show up to takea flgiht hour. By doing this you can be soloing by 10 instuction hours or so. Actually I wouldn't base your solo ability on your book smarts. Of course all of the knowledge you can cram in will help, but there is a 'feel' that no matter how many books or flight sim time you try, you MUST get it down in the aircraft. I imagine he is refering to the fact that by showing up with the test (and subsiquent knowledge) you can avoid extra time and money paying someone else to teach you the necessary knowledge, such as learning the regulations, making a flight plan, etc... but since I've not done it... I could be wrong... I've actually heard the same thing though.Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #19 August 26, 2006 QuoteQuoteQuoteI've been looking into this myself and I've heard a few ways to shave the cost off is to get the books and pass the written before you ever show up to takea flgiht hour. By doing this you can be soloing by 10 instuction hours or so. Actually I wouldn't base your solo ability on your book smarts. Of course all of the knowledge you can cram in will help, but there is a 'feel' that no matter how many books or flight sim time you try, you MUST get it down in the aircraft. I imagine he is refering to the fact that by showing up with the test (and subsiquent knowledge) you can avoid extra time and money paying someone else to teach you the necessary knowledge, such as learning the regulations, making a flight plan, etc... but since I've not done it... I could be wrong... I've actually heard the same thing though. Meh, I'm just saying that you can read all you want about driving a stick shift, but you're still gonna kill it the first time you take it out. A plane is a weeee bit more advanced than that. And as a matter of fact, I didn't just have private ground school done...I also had college level aviation weather, aviation operations, and even IFR ground school done when I started flight. Some people had none of that and soloed well before me. They had the touch, I had to develop it. It's very individual, and it was horribly depressing to know I didn't break the school's earliest solo record until I realized that it wasn't a reflection upon my intelligence or future proficiency. I just had to find a style that worked for me in the plane, and that was totally different than what worked for me on the ground.~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #20 August 26, 2006 QuoteMeh, I'm just saying that you can read all you want about driving a stick shift, but you're still gonna kill it the first time you take it out. A plane is a weeee bit more advanced than that. And as a matter of fact, I didn't just have private ground school done...I also had college level aviation weather, aviation operations, and even IFR ground school done when I started flight. Some people had none of that and soloed well before me. They had the touch, I had to develop it. It's very individual, and it was horribly depressing to know I didn't break the school's earliest solo record until I realized that it wasn't a reflection upon my intelligence or future proficiency. I just had to find a style that worked for me in the plane, and that was totally different than what worked for me on the ground.I'm following you... and I'm not really arguing... I'm just saying what I've heard.Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #21 August 26, 2006 We just need to take the copilots up on their offer for tach time and beer this winter Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl1 0 #22 August 26, 2006 QuoteQuoteQuoteI've been looking into this myself and I've heard a few ways to shave the cost off is to get the books and pass the written before you ever show up to takea flgiht hour. By doing this you can be soloing by 10 instuction hours or so. Actually I wouldn't base your solo ability on your book smarts. Of course all of the knowledge you can cram in will help, but there is a 'feel' that no matter how many books or flight sim time you try, you MUST get it down in the aircraft. I imagine he is refering to the fact that by showing up with the test (and subsiquent knowledge) you can avoid extra time and money paying someone else to teach you the necessary knowledge, such as learning the regulations, making a flight plan, etc... but since I've not done it... I could be wrong... I've actually heard the same thing though. It worked for me and Brianfry713. We took our ground school at a local community college and it only cost us something like 75$ for the hole 45 hours in stead of the 40$ an hour our instructor charges. Plus it saved us some time to since we were so prepared.Fly like a girl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #23 August 26, 2006 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI've been looking into this myself and I've heard a few ways to shave the cost off is to get the books and pass the written before you ever show up to takea flgiht hour. By doing this you can be soloing by 10 instuction hours or so. Actually I wouldn't base your solo ability on your book smarts. Of course all of the knowledge you can cram in will help, but there is a 'feel' that no matter how many books or flight sim time you try, you MUST get it down in the aircraft. I imagine he is refering to the fact that by showing up with the test (and subsiquent knowledge) you can avoid extra time and money paying someone else to teach you the necessary knowledge, such as learning the regulations, making a flight plan, etc... but since I've not done it... I could be wrong... I've actually heard the same thing though. It worked for me and Brianfry713. We took our ground school at a local community college and it only cost us something like 75$ for the hole 45 hours in stead of the 40$ an hour our instructor charges. Plus it saved us some time to since we were so prepared. Well f*ck then fine, I'm a loser. I hate airplanes! I'll never figure this out! I hate this place! I hate flying! Who needs a stupid commercial rating anyways?! F*ck it I'm going scuba diving!! ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LyraM45 0 #24 August 26, 2006 depends on what you do and where you go. I go to FL Tech, which is an aviation school and it's like 9 grand just for your friggen private. But, if you go to some place that offers lessons over the counter part 61, you can do it for 4/5 grand now adays I think.... I dunno, aviation fuel is just so damn high right now, so I don't fly anymore; can't afford it. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #25 August 26, 2006 QuoteWe just need to take the copilots up on their offer for tach time and beer this winter oooo... tell me more... actually... I'll probably wait until next year... after I finish my masters program... Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
