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Should You Buy Your Own Aircraft For Flight Training? 

Here's a rundown of what you should consider before buying an aircraft for flight training.

Learning to fly in your own aircraft comes with a list of added responsibilities, including maintenance and insurance costs. [Courtesy: Meg Godlewski]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Aspiring pilots should consult a certified flight instructor (CFI) before purchasing an airplane to avoid common pitfalls like unsuitable aircraft, lack of pre-buy inspections, or misunderstanding ownership costs beyond the initial price.
  • Owning an aircraft for flight training offers availability but involves substantial expenses (maintenance, insurance, hangar fees) and logistical considerations, including FBO policies, CFI qualifications, and specific insurance requirements for instructors and dual flight hours.
  • Aircraft ownership does not grant special privileges; student pilots must still adhere to all flight training regulations, such as solo endorsements and checkride completion, and CFIs will require time to familiarize themselves with a new-to-them aircraft before providing instruction.
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“If I buy an airplane can you teach me to fly it?”

Every certified flight instructor (CFI) hears this question at least once during their instructional career.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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