PPL pricing
Posted by 3jV1k34@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 31 comments
Hello all,
Are they days of 8-10k PPLs a thing of the past? A bit new to all of this. I am in Florida and everyone I’ve talked to recently is averaging 25-35k for a PPL😭😭😭
12-7@reddit
This, and plenty more, is covered in our FAQ: https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/wiki/index
AlexJamesFitz@reddit
$8-10k is long gone, but $25-35k seems nuts. I think $15-20k is a decent estimate these days depending on location, how much training you need, etc.
Gghhjffggh@reddit
Absolutely it's still possible. Don't go to a commercial flight school, go to a club. Takes longer but it's much cheaper
KandidKonfessions@reddit
When I tallied up my costs at a 141 school last year, it came up to just around $16k. I'm doing IR training at a club now, and if I were doing PPL training at said club it would probably land closer to 12-13k given the difference in plane rates.
Severe_Elderberry769@reddit
15-20. as a flight instructor, I’ve gotten people through in 10 and people through in 25.
Sharp_Experience_104@reddit
SoCal current pricing: DA40 wet rate $240-270 per hour. G1000 Cessna 172 is maybe a bit less. You could fly steam gauges for less. Or Cirrus for much, much more.
CFI $85/hour. Stage checks with chief pilot, $120/hr.
Ground school: up to $300 online (Rod Machado is excellent). Take the exam before starting to fly. You’ll still need some ground lessons with your CFI. And 0.3 for debrief after flights.
Headset, iPad, Sentry, books, charts, etc. etc. A couple grand.
Around here, 80-100 hours is typical due to complex airspace and congestion. Could be less, or a lot more. But hey, hours are hours. You’ll pay one way or the other.
Part 61 is flexible. Part 141, not so much. Stay far away from ATP and their ilk. Read the threads here. 😱 I give them a wide berth in the practice area.
Unless you are a prodigy or living in the boonies, be prepared to spend way more than the historical “average.” YMMV and good luck.
downvoted_pilot@reddit
ATP trained pilots are trash. With that said, the higher costs are usually attributable to a few factors. The first is lack of motivation and/or preparation by the student. I had many students that were natural flyers but never studied for the written test. Training came to a grinding halt and then it would cost them extra to get them proficient on maneuvers again.
Another factor is weather. If you are in South Florida (anywhere south of Orlando), the weather in the afternoon is usually limiting. You'd be in a good position if you start mid-late September as the chance of afternoon T-storms will decrease. This will make accomplishing solo XCs easier.
Aircraft maintenance is an another factor. Make sure the school you go to has a plenty of aircraft of the same type so you will not have to wait if goes down.
CFIs can and will pad their logbooks at your expense. Some intentionally because they are unethical and others unwittingly because they have no business being a CFI or even a pilot. Blaming students for lack of progress is common.
A $10-15K PPL is doable but you need to prepare, be motivated, find a good school, have the availability to fly when the weather is most favorable and critically, find a good and honest instructor.
Imperial_Citizen_00@reddit
I’ve paid $23k at my school, I’m at about 80 hours and should Checkride by the end of September
StormKingSkies@reddit
Yes I think those days you mentioned are over. If it’s helpful to you, I wrote about my experience here: https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/s/6LywAzeyR7
I saved up a good bit for it and definitely didn’t go with the cheapest options, so you could probably shave a few thousand off what I spent.
mcfuzzum@reddit
I am working on my PPL in the CA Bay Area, average price is about $210/wet with CFI and I estimate I would get my PPL at around 70 hours - so that's roughly $15k not including checkride and supplemental equipment.
didsomebodysaywander@reddit
70h is the low end for SF Bay area, 80 is closer to average and 100+ isn't uncommon.
PPL checkride this week cost me $1500
TxAggieMike@reddit
I share a budget target of about $18,000.
And then describe to the prospective client the ways to keep from going that much. Mainly putting in the preparation work to keep the required flight time in the 50’s.
Mega-Eclipse@reddit
The total cost is a (relatively) simple math problem:
(numbers of hours with a CFI * hourly rate with a CFI) + (Solo hours * solo rate) + (ground hours * ground rate, if applicable) + other expenses (headset, ipad, exam fee, checkride fee, flight bag, etc).
AKStacker@reddit
Depends where you live and how many hours you take. Got mine last November for about $13k at 55 hours. This included Sportys, headset, iPad
BluProfessor@reddit
I spent $10k in 2023 for my PPL. I'm on the low end and made specific actions to reduce cost.
Spiritual-Fig6996@reddit
What were those actions to lower cost?
Appropriate-Rub9464@reddit
I was about all in 10k for my PPL. Got my license this year. 25 seems insane
Person-man-guy-dude@reddit
And where did this happen
Appropriate-Rub9464@reddit
Austin, Texas
Person-man-guy-dude@reddit
Guess I gotta move then
Appropriate-Rub9464@reddit
I took my check ride at 47 hours though
Spiritual-Fig6996@reddit
What were your rates tho? I’m in South Texas and I’m looking at around $20k average
Person-man-guy-dude@reddit
I’ve got mine in a week and I’ll be around that as well, but it’s costed me around 15-17k for it maybe I’ll come do IFR in Texas
agent_steve@reddit
I also got my PPL this year and it cost me a little over 9k. Granted I did so with only 45 hours. I do believe I was able to do it in 45 hours because I came in with my written already completed. I know there are differing opinions on this approach but I felt like it gave me a great knowledge base before even my first hour of dual instruction. I used Rod Machado’s ground school supplemented by the free Sporty’s practice tests and King’s practice tests. Everyone is different but I feel like it allowed me to finish in fewer hours and lower cost.
Appropriate-Rub9464@reddit
I took my written a week before my check ride 😂
External_Upstairs572@reddit
Guys told me they pay 600+ AN HOUR wet w/ a CFI w/ a 172
Insane
SkinnyWheel1357@reddit
I found an article here where a DPE looks at his data and the average hours to get a PPL are 76.
(https://flighttrainingcentral.com/2024/12/how-many-hours-is-average/)
Multiply that times a $250/hr wet rate with instructor and you get $19K.
Maybe you can get it done in 45 hours and fly a 152 for $130/hr wet (RMFS) with instructor and you're looking at $6K.
Of course, that's not counting examination and gear.
airsuck1@reddit
I did mine in Jacksonville for about 16k
AlbiMappaMundi@reddit
If you're at a commercial flight school + you take a high number of hours to get proficient, then yes -- $20K+ is probably the rate.
In my flying club context, I tell students to expect $15-18k. There's still a significant amount of variability, based on hours required, maintaining proficiency if checkride takes a long time to get scheduled, etc.
lil_layne@reddit
It’s entirely dependent on how many hours it takes to get your PPL. If you can get it at 50 hours then yes that is possible at a lot of flying clubs around the country.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hello all,
Are they days of 8-10k PPLs a thing of the past? A bit new to all of this. I am in Florida and everyone I’ve talked to recently is averaging 25-35k for a PPL😭😭😭
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