who's got a private pilot license

[LS21]

i want to be 1/250,000 certified private pilots in the us. good for single prop engine aircrafts.

i can wiki the formal requirements (xx flight hours, xx solo flight hours, etc), but in the most condensed summary: how much time & money would i need for training with 0 background experience?

and how much for renewals to keep the license active?

 

[Scouzer]

buttloads. getting a ppl isn't cheap

 

[JMapleton]

I do not mean to thread crap, but if you have to ask how much it costs to get trained I don't know how you're going to be able to afford to buy a rent an airplane.

 

[Farang]

pprune.org

edit: and use the search function don't make a new post there

 

[fatpat268]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
I do not mean to thread crap, but if you have to ask how much it costs to get trained I don't know how you're going to be able to afford to buy a rent an airplane.

Just because he's curious about it doesn't mean he can't afford it.

There's a lot of instances where that saying fits, but not here.

Also, to the OP: my local community college has a flight program that generally gears you towards a commercial license, but you can get a PPL as well. Dirt cheap too. Check to see if any local community colleges offer, or give your local airport a call, generally they have programs to get you started.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
I do not mean to thread crap, but if you have to ask how much it costs to get trained I don't know how you're going to be able to afford to buy a rent an airplane.

not planning to own a plane or actually lease/rent it for actual flying (tho a kit helicopter is realistic)

just the idea of owning a PPL... a fun life goal

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: fatpat268

Originally posted by: JMapleton
I do not mean to thread crap, but if you have to ask how much it costs to get trained I don't know how you're going to be able to afford to buy a rent an airplane.

Just because he's curious about it doesn't mean he can't afford it.

There's a lot of instances where that saying fits, but not here.

Also, to the OP: my local community college has a flight program that generally gears you towards a commercial license, but you can get a PPL as well. Dirt cheap too. Check to see if any local community colleges offer, or give your local airport a call, generally they have programs to get you started.

going through a college is usually a dumb idea. it just gives another party a slice of the pie.

you'll want to directly contact the flight schools at your local airport.

helicopter license is different entirely, ls21...

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: fatpat268

Originally posted by: JMapleton
I do not mean to thread crap, but if you have to ask how much it costs to get trained I don't know how you're going to be able to afford to buy a rent an airplane.

Just because he's curious about it doesn't mean he can't afford it.

There's a lot of instances where that saying fits, but not here.

Also, to the OP: my local community college has a flight program that generally gears you towards a commercial license, but you can get a PPL as well. Dirt cheap too. Check to see if any local community colleges offer, or give your local airport a call, generally they have programs to get you started.

going through a college is usually a dumb idea. it just gives another party a slice of the pie.

you'll want to directly contact the flight schools at your local airport.

helicopter license is different entirely, ls21...

If you have access to Canadian citizenship the gov't subsidizes at least one or two of the flight schools if not more. I know there is one out near the Wisconsin or maybe Michigan border that is like $10k for professional certification that would be upwards for $30k in the states.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: fatpat268

Originally posted by: JMapleton
I do not mean to thread crap, but if you have to ask how much it costs to get trained I don't know how you're going to be able to afford to buy a rent an airplane.

Just because he's curious about it doesn't mean he can't afford it.

There's a lot of instances where that saying fits, but not here.

Also, to the OP: my local community college has a flight program that generally gears you towards a commercial license, but you can get a PPL as well. Dirt cheap too. Check to see if any local community colleges offer, or give your local airport a call, generally they have programs to get you started.

going through a college is usually a dumb idea. it just gives another party a slice of the pie.

you'll want to directly contact the flight schools at your local airport.

helicopter license is different entirely, ls21...

If you have access to Canadian citizenship the gov't subsidizes at least one or two of the flight schools if not more. I know there is one out near the Wisconsin or maybe Michigan border that is like $10k for professional certification that would be upwards for $30k in the states.

wat

i'm canadian. ive never heard of these subsidized flight schools

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: fatpat268

Originally posted by: JMapleton
I do not mean to thread crap, but if you have to ask how much it costs to get trained I don't know how you're going to be able to afford to buy a rent an airplane.

Just because he's curious about it doesn't mean he can't afford it.

There's a lot of instances where that saying fits, but not here.

Also, to the OP: my local community college has a flight program that generally gears you towards a commercial license, but you can get a PPL as well. Dirt cheap too. Check to see if any local community colleges offer, or give your local airport a call, generally they have programs to get you started.

going through a college is usually a dumb idea. it just gives another party a slice of the pie.

you'll want to directly contact the flight schools at your local airport.

helicopter license is different entirely, ls21...

If you have access to Canadian citizenship the gov't subsidizes at least one or two of the flight schools if not more. I know there is one out near the Wisconsin or maybe Michigan border that is like $10k for professional certification that would be upwards for $30k in the states.

wat

i'm canadian. ive never heard of these subsidized flight schools

I might be mistaken and be quoting the per year price but I can't access the site right now. Confederation College in Ontario, it is mentioned here: http://answers.yahoo.com/quest...=20080609111629AAAFWPb

 

[Scouzer]

I am sure he's mistaken. There's no shortage of pilots in Canada and that degree of subsidization is insane. I sincerely doubt the government subsidizes $30,000 for every ATPL.

Anyway, OP, here in Canada you can expect about $10,000 to get your PPL.

 

[LS21]

does that mean i can expect to pay 5000 in the US? I would do that rolled over 2 years....

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I am sure he's mistaken. There's no shortage of pilots in Canada and that degree of subsidization is insane. I sincerely doubt the government subsidizes $30,000 for every ATPL.

Anyway, OP, here in Canada you can expect about $10,000 to get your PPL.

http://answers.yahoo.com/quest...=20081208141611AANnGie

It seems it does indeed exist, wish I could get citizenship I would do it. I looked a lot into this program but they jack up the price for foreigners naturally

 

[Descartes]

I've been flying for a while trying to get my license, but I've slacked quite a bit and it's set me back. Last I checked, it would probably cost me > $10k to complete my license.

It's a blast though. It's very therapeutic, but with a busy professional life it's hard to find the time to keep it up. So, if you go forward just make sure you can keep the commitment.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I am sure he's mistaken. There's no shortage of pilots in Canada and that degree of subsidization is insane. I sincerely doubt the government subsidizes $30,000 for every ATPL.

Anyway, OP, here in Canada you can expect about $10,000 to get your PPL.

http://answers.yahoo.com/quest...=20081208141611AANnGie

It seems it does indeed exist, wish I could get citizenship I would do it. I looked a lot into this program but they jack up the price for foreigners naturally

I looked into it, and you're right, it does exist. Or, it DID exist. With the weak economy and low demand for pilots atm, I would be shocked if it's still the case.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I am sure he's mistaken. There's no shortage of pilots in Canada and that degree of subsidization is insane. I sincerely doubt the government subsidizes $30,000 for every ATPL.

Anyway, OP, here in Canada you can expect about $10,000 to get your PPL.

http://answers.yahoo.com/quest...=20081208141611AANnGie

It seems it does indeed exist, wish I could get citizenship I would do it. I looked a lot into this program but they jack up the price for foreigners naturally

I looked into it, and you're right, it does exist. Or, it DID exist. With the weak economy and low demand for pilots atm, I would be shocked if it's still the case.

I think the only reason you could really come to that conclusion is based off of the fact that the site isn't accessible atm (at least for me it isn't), but from what I remember they offered more than just the flight school so I think the college would still be running even with a loss of subsidy. Plus those Yahoo responses are only a month old, chances the college shut down seem slim. Anyway if you don't believe me I'll trade you passports 😛

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I am sure he's mistaken. There's no shortage of pilots in Canada and that degree of subsidization is insane. I sincerely doubt the government subsidizes $30,000 for every ATPL.

Anyway, OP, here in Canada you can expect about $10,000 to get your PPL.

http://answers.yahoo.com/quest...=20081208141611AANnGie

It seems it does indeed exist, wish I could get citizenship I would do it. I looked a lot into this program but they jack up the price for foreigners naturally

I looked into it, and you're right, it does exist. Or, it DID exist. With the weak economy and low demand for pilots atm, I would be shocked if it's still the case.

I think the only reason you could really come to that conclusion is based off of the fact that the site isn't accessible atm (at least for me it isn't), but from what I remember they offered more than just the flight school so I think the college would still be running even with a loss of subsidy. Plus those Yahoo responses are only a month old, chances the college shut down seem slim. Anyway if you don't believe me I'll trade you passports 😛

I admit defeat. I'm shocked. Admittedly I'm not from Ontario, but I had assumed no way in hell they'd subsidize people. You can see the fees at two other subsidized colleges here:

http://www.confederationc.on.ca/flight-mgmt/general.asp

http://www.saultc.on.ca/Services/Registrar/

 

[zzuupp]

Originally posted by: LS21
does that mean i can expect to pay 5000 in the US? I would do that rolled over 2 years....

I *think* 5K is a bit high.

If you are just trying to get a basic simple airplane under visual flight rules license, then it is probably much less. I'd guess between 1 & 2K depending on where you live.

 

[Farang]

No it is shocking , another thing I have tried looking into is the Swedes/Finnish/Norwegians subsidize education, even for foreigners, so maybe that could be a ticket to free training too. So far no luck but only because I can't find info on colleges that might exist, I am sure one of these countries has some sort of pilot training program. All but Norway end free tuition for foreigners in 2010. If this applies to flight programs I am not sure, in the U.S. our gov't does not treat flight programs as college.

 

[JoeFahey]

Contact pilot schools in your area, but from what I have experienced the average seems to be around $8000-9000, with some schools possibly being cheaper or more expensive. You just have to spend so much time flying, and of course this costs so much. Now that the price of gas has come down relative to last year, try to buy lessons in bulk for a fixed price if possible. Sometimes you can do this and get lucky if gas prices rise.

 

[skyking]

Here's my take on it: ( Commercial single and multi-engine pilot, flight instructor)
Don't think of doing this over the course of two years. Get the money and time together to do it in one summer. It will take all your good weather weekends and many good weather evenings after work too.
It will take an average of 55 flight hours, combined solo and dual instruction. The absolute minimum is 40 hours. Few get it done that fast.
Nobody gets it done that fast if they spread it all out. So much of your time is spent reviewing and getting back up to speed.
Get ready for the checkride, get it done.
I would figure on $6000.
Once you have your license it is yours forever. To use that license you need:
1) A current medical certificate.
2) A current biennial flight review.

In practice, you will want to keep current and up to speed by flying at least every month or so. Any less than that and you won't feel comfortable and niether will the FBO. If you go 6 or 8 months without a flight, common sense would dictate a little refresher flight with your instructor.

 

[Flammable]

Originally posted by: zzuupp

Originally posted by: LS21
does that mean i can expect to pay 5000 in the US? I would do that rolled over 2 years....

I *think* 5K is a bit high.

If you are just trying to get a basic simple airplane under visual flight rules license, then it is probably much less. I'd guess between 1 & 2K depending on where you live.

LOL simple airplane as in a Cessna 152? that's going to cost you just below 10k for ones PPL here in the Northeast

 

[Flammable]

Also, it's not the airplanes rental cost that makes the price so high, it's the instructors.. :|🙁

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Flammable
Also, it's not the airplanes rental cost that makes the price so high, it's the instructors.. :|🙁

lol, the instructors who make $8/hr? sorry dude, its the airplane.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: skyking
Here's my take on it: ( Commercial single and multi-engine pilot, flight instructor)
Don't think of doing this over the course of two years. Get the money and time together to do it in one summer. It will take all your good weather weekends and many good weather evenings after work too.
It will take an average of 55 flight hours, combined solo and dual instruction. The absolute minimum is 40 hours. Few get it done that fast.
Nobody gets it done that fast if they spread it all out. So much of your time is spent reviewing and getting back up to speed.
Get ready for the checkride, get it done.
I would figure on $6000.
Once you have your license it is yours forever. To use that license you need:
1) A current medical certificate.
2) A current biennial flight review.

In practice, you will want to keep current and up to speed by flying at least every month or so. Any less than that and you won't feel comfortable and niether will the FBO. If you go 6 or 8 months without a flight, common sense would dictate a little refresher flight with your instructor.

i like this post. awesome info. money is in line with what i expected. the time requirement is realll difficult though.

what do you fly? what is the next step up from single engine prop? is it by weight or motor type or # of motors?