The Average Cost of Pilot School: Expenses of Learning to Fly

scott.fank • Sep 29, 2021

Share this article:

The average cost of pilot school can vary widely depending on the type of program you choose. Some schools offer more expensive programs than others, which are designed to be completed in less time and allow for a quicker return on investment. The cost is greatly affected depending on your goals, mainly whether you want to obtain a private certificate, become a professional pilot, or factor in additional schooling time to become a flight instructor. If you are considering flight school you may want to factor in the expenses of training, and what you can do to help bring down the cost as much as possible. 

Choosing Your Pilot S chool

Knowing your goals will be the best place to start when searching for the best school for you. Some schools may specialize in private/recreational, commercial flight programs, or some other type of curriculum. You can place priority on what you consider most important for your flight education, such as instructor experience, flexibility on flight vs. simulated training, or the number of enrolled students you will be competing with for scheduling flight rental times. Picking a flight program and sticking with it ultimately saves you money. Switching schools mid-way through training could result in losing time and money as you might have to double up on lessons depending on course requirements.

Flight Training Hours

A required minimum of 40 hours in the air is needed, where there are a few expenses involved. You will need to pay for the price of renting the plane to fly, the gas, and the instructor. These costs will change depending on the school, the experience of the instructor, and how many total hours you will end up needing to successfully earn your license. Flying frequently and in a timely matter will prevent having to spend more time studying or getting out of practice.

Written Test

Ground schooling will include a few more expenses. Just like any other school, you may need to purchase books or other supplement learning materials for your courses. Another small fee that can add up if not careful is the written test. The cost for taking the exam averages around $150 per test, so multiple attempts can end up being costly. Studying hard and passing the exam on the first try will avoid piling on additional costs.

Additiona l Costs

Other influences on your overall costs include the location of the school, specifically the flying location, and the type of aircraft used for training. Additionally, you will need to purchase equipment such as a headset and obtain flight insurance.

Praticing Simulated Flying

Spending time building proficiency on a flight simulator will reduce the amount of time spent renting an aircraft for lessons. Familiarizing yourself completely with controls and checklists before getting into a plane will put you at an advantage. This can be done both in your free time and at your flight school to sharpen your skills. To receive a pilot certificate, most people take much longer than the required minimum number of hours to learn to fly. By taking the time to tackle the basics in a simulator, you can aim for fewer hours spent training.

Finding the Right Instructor

Although the cost of an experienced flight instructor might amount to more initially, it could possibly end up saving you time and money as a good mentor could be your ultimate resource. Having the right person to back you up will be able to get you through your education successfully, reducing the amount of studying and training time. Regardless, time spent with an experienced teacher can be considered invaluable.

Scholarships and Financing

Your flight school may be able to assist you with securing financing for your chosen program. There are plenty of options available from scholarships, student loan financing, veteran benefits, or private lending if there is no scholarship or federal aid available to you. Ask your school to guide you through applying for financial assistance.

Average Cost of Pilot School

In the end, each student learns at a different rate and the cost will adjust accordingly. The average cost of a private license ranges around $13,000-$15,000 and a commercial license averages around $30,000 if you have no prior flight experience. Each student will have a different experience with their pilot school training where some hard work and studying can change the overall price.

JA Flight serves as an excellent, fairly priced flight school option whether you are just starting out learning to fly or continuing your education to make flying your career. Contact us to find out more and get started on the thrilling journey of flight.

Connect with Us:

a model airplane with stacks of coins in the background indicating an airline pilot salary
by scott.fank 16 Nov, 2023
Curious to know how much do pilots make? An airline pilot's salary depends on experience, airline, type of aircraft, flying routes, and more.
small aircraft flying in the air demonstrating roll pitch and yaw
02 Nov, 2023
Discover the vital role of yaw in aviation, its intricate connection with roll and pitch, and its importance in flight training.
an airplane console where a pilot uses their cessna 172rg aircraft checklist before takeoff
15 Aug, 2023
View or download our free Cessna 172RG aircraft checklist!
More posts
Share by: