Many people are deterred with the high costs both flight schools and flight lessons can have. If you’ve been wishing to pursue a career or hobby in aviation, don’t let the numbers scare you, there are options out there to help you reduce these costs! Flying can be expensive, but if you look, you can find there are ways to save. Becoming a pilot can be rewarding in many ways and thankfully, some of the finest flight schools and instructors have made this obtainable for nearly anyone. Don’t stop yourself before you start, get yourself in the air without stressing about the costs!
This Deluxe Course Kit includes everything a student pilot could need, from video training to essential pilot supplies. This exclusive package includes a Flight Outfitters Waypoint Backpack that proudly displays the FLYING magazine logo and a one year FLYING subscription.
How Many Different Flight Certificates Are There?
There are seven main flight certificates available to earn and it should come as no surprise that the costs associated with each can vary greatly. Every pilot is different and thankfully, the wide range of pilot licenses available helps to ensure every pilot can get the license they require. Starting with the simple student pilot license and ending with the far more complex airline transport pilot license, you can take as little or as much time to earn your desired license if you have the right time and budget. We highlight the major points of each certificate below.
Flight Certificates: How Much Does Each Certificate Cost?
It’s hard to determine the exact cost of each flight certificate as location is a great determinant of cost. While it may cost more to climb the ladder of pilot licenses, the potential salaries often grow with this as well.
Student Pilot License
The Student Pilot License is where everyone who dreams of being a pilot starts. No matter if you’re wanting to advance with a career in aviation, or if you’re simply working to earn your Private Pilot License, this is where you’ll begin. With few requirements, this is the simplest pilot license to obtain, but it does come with many restrictions as you are a pilot in training.
Requirements:
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Must submit and have student pilot application approved
- Must read, speak, and understand English
- Complete medical examination with an approved Aviation Medical Examiner
What You’ll Learn: Obtaining your student pilot license will allow you to start logging flight hours with an instructor. This is the license you’ll need to start any career or hobby in aviation as a pilot.
How Long Does It Take to Complete?: With few requirements to obtain your student pilot license, the only time constraint varies on how long it takes to receive your license after your application has been approved.
Who Is This Certificate For?: This is the starter pilot license for anyone looking to learn how to fly a plane.
What Can You Fly With This Certificate?: Your student pilot license allows you to learn to fly many varying types of single-engine planes with your flight instructor.
Certificate Cost: There are minimal costs associated with the student pilot license. You may be required to pay for your medical examination depending on your location and insurance.
Learn to fly with an online ground school that you can trust. Get started for free on acing your private pilots license.
Private Pilot License
One of the most common licenses for pilots to earn, the private pilot license eases a lot of restrictions other pilot licenses may have. For both private pilots and those looking to become professional, the private pilot license has a lot to offer. From cross country flights to taking your family and friends in the air, the private pilot license could be where your aviation journey begins or ends!
Requirements:
- Must be at least 17 years old
- Must have a current 3rd-class medical certificate
- Must read, speak, and understand English
- Must have a minimum of 35-40 hours logged for flight time (minimum hour requirements depends on the flight school)
- Pass your FAA knowledge exam and check ride
What You’ll Learn: Many pilots earn more than the minimum requirements for the PPL. You can take varying ratings and courses to learn more or less depending on what type of pilot you are looking to end up as.
How Long Does It Take to Complete?: How long it takes to earn your PPL greatly depends on your budget and availability. You must have a minimum of 35-40 hours of flight training, but many pilots complete 60 to 75 hours for this license. This can often be completed in a few weeks, or can take several months depending on how often you are able to fly.
Who Is This Certificate For?: Many pilots start off earning their private pilot license no matter the end goal they have. The private pilot license is for pilots who want to fly in and out of local airports. This certificate also allows you to carry multiple passengers.
What Can You Fly With This Certificate?: Depending on your flight training and instrument ratings, you can fly nearly any aircraft with your private pilot license. Multi-engine ratings and others are available for you to complete in order to expand your available aircraft.
Certificate Cost: The cost to earn your private pilot license varies greatly. Where you learn to fly, what you learn to fly in, and how long it takes to earn your flight hours are all major factors that affect the total cost. The average cost to earn your PPL is $10,000.
Sport Pilot License
If you’ve been looking for a more affordable way to get yourself in the air on your time off, the sport pilot license could be for you! While the sport pilot license does have many restrictions, for some, it’s the answer they need to fly legally and safely. Flying lessons don’t take nearly as long with the 20 hour minimum. If you have a hangar or other private location to fly in and out of, look into obtaining your sport pilot license today!
Requirements:
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Must read, speak, and understand English
- Must hold valid U.S. driver’s license or medical certificate
- Must have a minimum of 20 hours logged for flight time
- Must complete FAA knowledge exam and check ride for appropriate aircraft
What You’ll Learn: Earning your sport pilot license will help you learn flying basics, procedures, and more about the aircraft you’ll be flying.
How Long Does It Take to Complete?: Completing your minimum of 20 hours flight training for the student pilot license varies for everyone. Depending on your schedule and budget, you can earn your sport pilot license in a few weeks.
Who Is This Certificate For?: The sport pilot license is a great option for those looking to fly smaller airplanes during daylight hours only. You are limited to carrying only one passenger when you hold your sport pilot license.
What Can You Fly With This Certificate?: This pilot license allows you to fly LSA or Light-Sport Aircraft only.
Certificate Cost: The average cost to earn your sport pilot license is around $5000. This cost varies greatly depending on your flight instruction, aircraft rental rates, training materials, and exam fees.
Flight Instructor License
While many pilots never think of being a flight instructor, it’s a path they often take to earn the required hours to further their careers. From taking flight lessons to teaching them, there’s a lot to be both learned and taught. The flight instructor license allows you to dive further into aviation, whether at a private location or flight schools. You can get paid to help teach others while gaining the experience you need as well!
Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must read, speak, and understand English
- Must hold current commercial pilot license or airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate
- Must pass all required FAA exams and check rides
- Must hold appropriate instrument ratings
What You’ll Learn: Becoming a Certified Flight Instructor allows you to learn how to help endorse and teach other pilots in training while building your own flight experience.
How Long Does It Take to Complete?: You must have a minimum of 250 hours of flight time for this license, this is what is required to hold a commercial pilot license. Your end goal will play a major role in how long this takes. Some pilots are content ending as a flight instructor while many use this as a stepping stone to earn additional hours required to become an airline transport pilot.
Who Is This Certificate For?: This is a widely used certificate for all types of pilots. Whether you need to earn additional flight hours or if you want to be a model for pilots in training, this is a great way to expand your knowledge.
What Can You Fly With This Certificate?: Certified Flight Instructors or CFI are limited to single-engine aircrafts. Certified Flight Instructors – Instrument or CFII can teach instrument ratings. Multi-engine Instructors or MEI can teach in multi-engine aircrafts.
Certificate Cost: You must hold at least your commercial pilot license to earn your flight instructor license. This cost varies, but is typically around $87,995.
Commercial Pilot License
If your dream is to make a living as a pilot, then a commercial pilot license is a necessity for you. Whether you want to fly a cargo plane, tow banners, or even continue on to become a pilot for a major airline, this license is a must have. While costly, this is a venture that can be more than worth it, especially if your dream is in aviation. Don’t scare yourself away before you look into your financial options!
Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must hold minimum of a current Private Pilot License
- Must read, speak, and understand English
- Must have minimum of 2nd-class medical certificate
- Must have at least 250 hours flight time
- Must pass FAA exams and check rides
What You’ll Learn: Varying instrument ratings allow you to further your experience as a commercial pilot. You can choose what you learn on your path to becoming a commercial pilot depending on the courses you take. Learn how to fly multi-engine aircrafts, how to fly in inclement weather, and more.
How Long Does It Take to Complete?: Earning your commercial pilot license requires a minimum of 250 flight hours. The time it takes to complete these depends on your budget and availability.
Who Is This Certificate For?: A commercial pilot license is for any pilot looking to fly for compensation. You are required to hold a commercial pilot license if you are hoping to make a living as a pilot.
What Can You Fly With This Certificate?: The types of aircraft you can fly with your commercial pilot license depends on the instrument ratings you have. With the right courses and ratings, a commercial pilot license can allow you to fly nearly any aircraft.
Certificate Cost: The average cost to earn your commercial pilot license is $87,995.
Airline Transport Pilot License
Commonly considered as the highest regard for pilot licenses, the airline transport pilot license or ATP is also the hardest and most expensive to obtain. Did you gaze into the cockpit when you were little dreaming of being a pilot like that one day? Then continue your journey and go on to earn your ATP! Flying for any major airline can be a breeze when you gain the experience and earn this license. While far more comprehensive, this is the license to have when you want to go all in as a career pilot.
Requirements:
- Must be at least 23 years old
- Must hold current commercial pilot license
- Must read, speak, and understand English
- Must have minimum of 1st-class medical certificate
- Must have at least 1500 hours flight time (250 of those must be as pilot-in-command)
- Must pass FAA exams and check rides, including instrument ratings and various aircrafts
What You’ll Learn: This is the most in-depth pilot license option and will teach you about many types of aircrafts, weather, procedures, and much more.
How Long Does It Take to Complete?: A minimum of 1500 flight hours is required to earn your ATP. Many pilots earn additional hours while providing flight instruction for others. The length of time it takes depends on your schedule and budget.
Who Is This Certificate For?: The ATP certificate is for any pilot looking to fly for a major airline .
What Can You Fly With This Certificate?: Multi-engine instrument ratings are required. Other ratings and courses will determine what aircraft you can fly with this license.
Certificate Cost: It typically costs around $90,000 to complete all requirements for the airline transport pilot license. One major bonus is you can get paid to earn additional flight hours as a Certified Flight Instructor!
Helicopter License
Earning your helicopter license can be more cost effective than earning certain pilot licenses, but your job options may be limited. Don’t let the challenge be too intimidating. Helicopters offer a unique and fun alternative to your traditional fixed-wing aircrafts. With plenty of flight schools to choose from, you can choose a program that fits your dreams perfectly!
Requirements:
- Must be at least 17 or 18 years old (depending on private vs commercial)
- Must read, speak, and understand English
- Must be able to meet criteria to hold 2nd-class medical certificate
- Must pass FAA exams and tests
What You’ll Learn: Earning your helicopter license will teach you how to fly a rotorcraft as well as the procedures, air laws, and other aspects of aviation.
How Long Does It Take to Complete?: You will need a minimum of 150 flight hours to earn your helicopter license. The time this takes depends on your availability and budget.
Who Is This Certificate For?: A helicopter license is necessary for anyone looking to fly helicopters, whether privately or commercially.
What Can You Fly With This Certificate?: Your helicopter license allows you to fly helicopters and similar rotorcraft.
Certificate Cost: Earning your helicopter license can cost around $14,000 – $30,000 depending on if you want to fly privately or commercially. Additional costs may arise for other instrument ratings and courses.
What is Flight School?
While all flight schools vary, they all have the same goals; to deliver safe, educated, and experienced pilots. Flight schools combine ground school and flight training to help you obtain the pilot license you require.
How Does Flight School Work?
Flight schools provide pilots in training with the education and experience they require. The flight schools have the instructors, aircraft, courses, and more that you need to reach the level you desire in your pilot and aviation journey. Whether for recreation or career, the best flight schools are out there for every pilot.
How To Reduce the Costs
Flight schools and flight lessons are often associated with high costs. The good news is, there are ways you can minimize these costs if you just look a little deeper.
Join a Club or Social Group
There are a good number of both airports and flight schools that offer flying clubs. Don’t overlook this simple solution! Oftentimes, the membership fees are far less than the total cost you’d shell out to rent the aircraft every single time you go in.
Flight Simulator Gaming
It’s no surprise that with how quickly technology continues to advance, the gaming world is doing so as well. Flight simulators have grown immensely and there are software programs available that can help you learn many aspects of flying before you even begin flight school. While simulators are just that and cannot be used to log flight hours, you can learn a great deal about navigation and other aviation areas with the right program helping you lessen the time you need to spend studying in ground school.
Scholarships
When choosing a flight school, doing a little research into those who offer scholarships can save you a great deal. Aviation specific scholarships are available at certain universities as well as flight schools and they can help alleviate the stress and hassle of paying for your flight school alone.
Look to the FAA for more information.
Study
Keeping up on your studies seems like a simple and obvious option, but it’s often looked right over as well. Your flight instructor has a plan every time you show up to fly and if you aren’t educated on your courses up to that point, it will put both yourself and them behind. This can be a major reason for wasted hours which leads to a higher cost. Consistency is always key and this goes with flying as well. The more often and consistently you fly, the more the information sticks with you.
Borrow or Buy Used Training Materials
As you advance in your pilot training, you’ll start to see the required gear can add up. Fortunately, to be the best pilot, you don’t always need the newest and most expensive items. From kneeboards to flight bags and everything in between, buying older models or used ones can help save you quite a bit! Ask your instructor and other experienced pilots what works for them and see what you can find.
Flight Lessons are How Much? Stress No More!
You can make it happen without the hassle. Becoming a pilot can be a rewarding journey, and it’s one that should be kept enjoyable along the way. It’s nothing new that flight lessons and flight schools can be expensive. However, more and more options continue to come about to make it doable. The costs and hassles can be kept to a minimum if you just do a little research before you decide.
When you’re ready to take the next step, let FLYING Magazine help you do it right! Subscribe today and have all the resources you want and need easily accessible.
FAQ
The average cost to become a pilot is $87,995. The exact costs and time it takes depends on your budget and availability, as well as what type of pilot you are looking to become.
How much you should expect to pay for flight schools or flight lessons will vary greatly depending on the area you are looking to complete these. The type of pilot license you are looking to earn also greatly affects the cost. The average cost for pilot training is $87,995.
The majority of flight schools offer an ATP course to earn your required 1500 flight hours. Many pilots will also become a Certified Flight Instructor to be able to get paid to earn these additional hours. The average cost to become a pilot is $87,995, required hours will affect this cost.
