Should You Buy an Airplane for Training and Time Building?

FLYING does the math for you to provide some answers to the question.

Sam Weigel

Friday, September 02, 2022 at 06:05 AM ET

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Different airports can be named for, in, or near the same city, and this can be confusing for pilots. [Credit: iStock]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft ownership for pilot training and time-building can be more cost-effective than renting, especially for high flight hours, but requires significant upfront capital and carries financial risks from unexpected expenses.
Ownership costs are divided into upfront (sunk), fixed monthly (e.g., financing, insurance, hangar), and variable hourly (e.g., fuel, maintenance fund), with the hourly cost decreasing substantially with increased usage.
Shared ownership is highlighted as the most sensible approach for many aspiring pilots, as it effectively splits upfront and fixed costs, lowering individual hourly rates and promoting higher aircraft utilization.
Beyond cost savings, ownership offers significant value through increased scheduling flexibility, intimate knowledge of the aircraft, and opportunities for unique, experience-rich time-building flights.

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Recently, I’ve seen several threads on Reddit’s “r/flying” forum regarding the feasibility of purchasing an aircraft for training and time-building purposes from the perspective of an aspiring professional pilot. It’s an interesting and somewhat complex question that deserves a closer look.

I was not an aircraft owner until I had more than 10,000 hours, but I know of a number of professional pilots who purchased and flew aircraft for training and/or time building. I think that ownership can make sense in certain circumstances, but definitely not all, and the choice requires a sober consideration of your needs, wants, and resources.