Simviation Forums

How much does the whole package cost, school, flight time, and license?

I would imagine quite a bit....over here in the UK, it's about (quote my father)

It depends on what ratings you want to get.

Here in America, it depends on what you fly, how long it takes, and what gas prices are at the time.  When I did it three years ago, it cost me probably around $5,000 for ~42 hours in a Cessna 172.  So you could expect anywhere between $5,000 and $7,500 dollars, give or take a couple dollars.

EDIT:  That's for just a private pilot's license, if that's too much, you could go for a sport pilot's license, which costs a bit less, but you can't fly at night, or into controlled airspace, but I don't know all the details, so you might want to look into it.

Mobius' figures are about right for the average program.

over here in the uk it can cost between

at Winder-Barrow airport, its just $1700 for the whole private pilot package. If you just want basic stuff, its $35 an hour.
Dr.Goodfly

if you mean all the way to airline pilot. Probably 50 grand plus.

if you mean all the way to airline pilot. Probably 50 grand plus.

That's not including 4 years of college. Doesn't have to be an aviation-related degree, but without that sheepskin, you'll very likely be ppassed over by an airline.

at Winder-Barrow airport, its just $1700 for the whole private pilot package. If you just want basic stuff, its $35 an hour.
Dr.Goodfly

That must be minus the aircraft rental... there's no way that could be for everything. But... what's the name of the school? I want to do my IR; maybe that's only $1000 there...

Mine was about $6,000 in a 150 at $95/hr.  Any flight school you go to will definately have a list of cost estimates for the programs offered.  


If you work at the airport they sometimes offer good discounts.  I get 15% off all aircraft rentals (can't take that from the instructors or course) and an additional 2% for being an active member of WPA (Washington Pilots Association).  

That will very quickly add up to save you hundreds, and even thousands if you stick with the same school for all your ratings!  (I LOVE YOU Snohomish Flying Service!! lol)

The two best schools in my region of the US cost from $45000 to $64000 for nothing to CFII/MEII

I started my pilot career back in my country(Dominican Republic) over there the currency is pesos i used to pay $2,550 for 2 hours. But when i got to the US i Pay $250.00 for  3 hours  

2 . THE I.M.C RATING :- ( Instrument Meteorological Rating )- This is a course of a minimum of 15 hours instruction in the aircraft and 10 hours ground school followed by a flight test of approximately 2 hours and a ground exam. The aim of the course is to enable flight of an aircraft with reference to instruments only. "

I don't know a whole lot about the requirements to getting an instrument rating here in the US, but you have to go through a groundschool, and I think it's a minimum of 40 hours of flight time.

What an expensive hobby Aviation is...