Like I said there are a lot of great flight schools out there and then there are a lot of bad ones. The key to the entire process is planning and researching. From the other three articles here, I have put down all of the costs together to come up with a realistic cost estimate for you.This way you can understand what you are getting into before you start spending money.
Once again I will use an aircraft rate of $120 Per hour For a C-172 and $45 for the Instructor Since that is what I charge. Remember you will find many different rates in different areas of the country so just use my numbers as a guide for you. After you read this you can use the cost estimate workbook at the bottom of the page to plug in the rates for the aircraft and flight instructors in your area.
Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost. This is all the books and materials needed for your pilot training.
Private Pilot License Kit $200.00
Aviation Medical $100.00
Headsets $290.00
Total $590.00
Private Pilot License Pre Solo Cost. This is the Cost of your Pre Solo Flight Training.
Total Private Pilot License Cost. This is everything all added up. This will give you a realistic idea of what a priivate pilot license will cost you.
Now when we add all of this up we get the following cost Estimate:
Books and Materials $590.00
Pre Solo Flight Training $3030.00
Post Solo Flight Training $2543.00
Flight Test Preparation $2530.00
TOTAL $8693.00
So you can see this is probably more than most flight schools will lead you to believe. There are some honest one out there. You just need to research before you start flying. Remember you want to plan and then get your private pilot license in the most cost effective manner.
Hope to See You in the Sky
AIrfreddy
Private Pilot Flight Training
I personally move everyone forwards since the goal is to get you licensed on a budget without loosing quality of flight training.
Here are the Post Solo Requirements for your Private Pilot License Training. Once again they start off general and get more specific.
(a) General. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a student pilot must meet the requirements of this section before—
(i) Conducting a solo cross-country flight, or any flight greater than 25 nautical miles from the airport from where the flight originated.
(ii) Making a solo flight and landing at any location other than the airport of origination.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must:
(i) Have received flight training from an instructor authorized to provide flight training on the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought;
(ii) Have demonstrated cross-country proficiency on the appropriate maneuvers and procedures of this section to an authorized instructor;
(iii) Have satisfactorily accomplished the pre-solo flight maneuvers and procedures required by §61.87( The Pre Solo requirements ) of this part in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought; and
(iv) Comply with any limitations included in the authorized instructor's endorsement that are required by paragraph (c) of this section.
This is once again a general requirement for Student Pilot Solo Cross Countries. Now I will dig into them a little more and you find the following.
(3) A student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must have received ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on the cross-country maneuvers and procedures listed in this section that are appropriate to the aircraft to be flown.
There is a lot more in this regulation. But the important part for this discussion is what is required for you to be eligible for Solo Cross Countries: As you move down this regulation you find the following:
(e) Maneuvers and procedures for cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for cross-country flight in a single-engine airplane must receive and log flight training in the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage and dead reckoning with the aid of a magnetic compass;
(2) Use of aircraft performance charts pertaining to cross-country flight;
(3) Procurement and analysis of aeronautical weather reports and
forecasts, including recognition of critical weather situations and estimating visibility while in flight;
(4) Emergency procedures;
(5) Traffic pattern procedures that include area departure, area arrival, entry into the traffic pattern, and approach;
(6) Procedures and operating practices for collision avoidance, wake turbulence precautions, and windshear avoidance;
(7) Recognition, avoidance, and operational restrictions of hazardous terrain features in the geographical area where the cross-country flight will be flown;
(8) Procedures for operating the instruments and equipment installed in the aircraft to be flown, including recognition and use of the proper operational procedures and indications;
(9) Use of radios for VFR navigation and two-way communications;
(10) Takeoff, approach, and landing procedures, including short-field, soft-field, and crosswind takeoffs, approaches, and landings;
(11) Climbs at best angle and best rate; and
(12) Control and maneuvering solely by reference to flight instruments, including straight and level flight, turns, descents, climbs, use of radio aids, and ATC directives.
Notice there are no hour requirements in this regulation. All of these areas need to be in your logbook but the hour requirements only come into play in the general requirements.
Airfreddy has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education, Careers and Job Hunting and Education. Frederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy's. Airfreddy's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.
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