Expert: Jeff Davis - 5/12/2007

Question
Do you know how long it take's to obtain a pilot's license and where to go to get one ex: (school , or place's name)

Do you also know what the costs are for landing/taking off, and leaving your plane at the airport for several days or years  

Answer
Not knowing where you're located, I can't offer specific advice on where to go.  If you're in the USA, look in the telephone yellow pages under "Aircraft - Flight Schools," or go out to the nearest airport (preferably NOT one that has airline traffic) and ask them what they have in the way of flight training.  The FAA (again, if you're in the USA) requires 40 hours of flight time to qualify for a private license, but figure on 60 or 70, which is closer to the average for new pilots.  In terms of the calendar, it depends on how much time you have to devote to your training; if you can do it more or less full-time, you can get it done in a couple of months, but if you have to work around jobs, school, family, etc., it will likely take six months to a year.  Costs vary greatly by location; landing fees generally only apply at large airports that serve the airlines, and can be prohibitively expensive for anyone that isn't hauling around a hundred or so paying passengers.  At smaller airports, daily tiedown fees are usually in the $5 to $15 range, and some will waive the fee if you buy fuel while you're there.  Longer-term parking is usually charged on a monthly basis, and varies a great deal by location, and also depends on whether you want a hangar or an outdoor tiedown.  Typical monthly tiedown fees are $30-$40, while a hangar will usually run from $100-$200, but in some crowded areas, like Southern California, the fees can be much higher.