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 offers potential cost savings over renting, especially for high-volume flying, but demands significant upfront capital and introduces financial risks.
The cost-effectiveness of ownership is highly dependent on usage; more flight hours drastically reduce the per-hour cost, making it less viable for pilots needing fewer hours.
Shared ownership is highlighted as an optimal strategy, splitting costs and maximizing aircraft utilization to further reduce individual expenses and increase efficiency.
Beyond finances, ownership provides valuable non-monetary benefits, including scheduling flexibility, richer training experiences through extensive flying, and a deeper understanding of aircraft systems.

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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.