“So what is the true cost of flight school?” This is one of the first questions that all prospective pilots ask. Here at Aero-Sphere, we understand that these costs may be difficult to manage. For that reason, we are committed to helping you understand the full cost of our Colorado flight school, provide you with money planning tips, and offer a number of financing options.
In today’s blog, I will break down the general costs associated with obtaining a private pilot certificate. Use this information below as a starting point, but make sure you also do your homework. Research. Ask a lot of questions. Make a solid plan. And follow your training through to the end… did you know that pausing your flight training can cost you even more when you get started up again?
The Physical Checkup $125
One step along the way towards getting a student pilot certificate (which you will need), is to go in for a physical checkup. You’ll be assessed by an FAA-designated doctor to see if your vision, color perception, and hearing are up to par. They will take a look at which medications you’re currently prescribed to see if there are any potential risks with you piloting an aircraft. Physical checkup prices will vary depending on where you go, but you should expect to pay about $125 or higher.
Instructor’s Fees $3,000
Instructor fees are a highly valuable and necessary cost and are essentially equivalent to a teacher’s salary. When you are looking for an instructor, don’t judge by price. Look for an instructor that you vibe with, both in personality and teaching/learning styles. Also be on the lookout for somebody with a considerable amount of training hours under his/her belt — that way you know the instructor is really invested in teaching people to fly. It’s also important to select an instructor that has “real world” experience. Finding an instructor pilot with a wide set of skills can be difficult. Aero-Sphere Inc. only employs corporate pilots with CFI hours and “real world” flight experience. Instructors charge on an hourly basis or through a package rate. Flight time and ground time can be billed separately, but are often grouped into the same rate. Getting a package on your ground training will save you a lot. Depending on your abilities, instructor cost can be $2,500-$4,000 for your private pilot license. This isn’t small change, so make sure you choose the right instructor and the right Colorado flight school to get your money’s worth.
Aircraft Rental $6,000
The aircraft that you will learn to fly in could be an older or newer model, and there are benefits and drawbacks to both. Older aircraft may cost less on an hourly basis but may be a little more difficult to learn in. Newer aircraft are usually more fuel-efficient — meaning they could cost less, but the owner may then also have more invested in the aircraft and may need to re-capture some of those costs in the rental rate. Research which of these crafts you’d be more comfortable flying in. The Cessna 172 (like the N737JR at Aero-Sphere Inc.) and the Piper Cherokee have long been popular choices for pilots learning to fly. Expect to spend anywhere between $110 and $155 per hour depending on the equipment and capability of your training aircraft. In total, you should expect to pay somewhere around $5,500-$8,000 for 50 rental hours.
Supplies $650
As far as supplies go, many Colorado flight schools offer a kit that will come with everything you need, including a pilot’s operating hand book, a log book, a fuel tester, and (sometimes) a loaner headset. Prices for this kit will vary, but the average price could end up running around $265. If you’re serious about flying (and I would assume you are if you’re going to a flight school) you might look into investing in your own aviation headset. Other than the items in the intro kit, you could plan to purchase a couple of additional books, and an emergency kit if you’re flying in remote/rural areas. My recommendation would be to set aside $650 for supplies, depending on how fancy you’re looking to get.
CATS and FAA Check Ride $700
After you have completed all of your flying time, you will need to take the written private pilot test. A testing center run by CATS or Laser-Grade will generally administer the test, and charge approximately $150. Additionally, you’ll be required to take the FAA Check Ride, a.k.a. the “practical test”. The practical test consists of a one-hour oral test and about two hours of flying. The good news here is that if you do this with a FAA employee, it’s free. Otherwise, you can expect to spend about $550 to a FAA designated examiner.
Final Cost of Flight School
The final price that you’ll generally hear quoted is going to be between $8,000 and $13,000, depending on where you choose to complete your flight training. Aero-Sphere Inc.’s average paid price is $8,900 all-in. It’s hard to tack on a final and universal price, because of the variations between flight schools. I’ve seen other Colorado flight schools asking for fees as high as $18,000, so make sure you shop around and find the best deal for the best training.
In conclusion, make sure that you are smart about your flight training. Don’t be afraid to seek out deals, but remember never to skimp on your education. It’s just not worth it to pay a ton of money for a certificate and still not know how to fly a plane properly.
