AboutDottie Norkus Expertise I can address questions concerning: airline pilot employment & entry level airline careers in the Unites States, women pilots, flight training, pilot certification, flight scholarships (mostly for women), aviation & airline safety topics, aviation accident investigation, air carrier accidents and airline operations.
***Please note, I cannot address flight training or career queries from outside the United States. If you are not in the USA, please direct your question to the message boards at www.PPRUNE.org as you can surely find an answer there. For those in India try http://www.indianpilots.com
Also, I cannot address questions about aero engineering degree programs/careers or aviation management careers.
Experience U.S. Regional Airline Pilot. I have also had 15 years previous experience in airline ground operations, as well as a part 91 commercial skydive pilot and ferry pilot.
Organizations I belong to I am a charter member of Women In Aviation International as well as the International Organization of Women Pilots: the Ninety Nines. I keep a database of flight scholarships for women (mostly SW USA) and mentor student pilots.
Education/Credentials Embry Riddle Aeronautical University certificate in Aviation Safety/Accident investigation.
Question does it cost a lot of money to pay for the test and learn to become a pilot
Answer The cost of the Private Pilot can vary greatly depending on how you chose to go about it (schools or flying club, what is available in your area), the prices charged in your area and how quickly you progress through the course as a student pilot.
It will cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $9,000+ for the PPL depending on how you progress through the curriculum and what the rental and instruction rates are in your area. The longer you take, the more costly it will become- espcially if the rates are expensive.
Here are some estimates at a MINIMUM (most students take almost twice the 40 flight hours required by the FAA to finish) using some average rates:
Private Pilot-
At least 40 hours of flight time are required with a minimum of 10 being solo and 20 dual.
C172 40hr x $85/hr= $3,400
Flight instruction:
Inflight 25hr x $25/hr= $625
Ground 15hr x $15/hr $225*
Books & Supplies $100
Written Test Fees $75
Flight Test Fees $300
Medical Exam $50
Total $ 4,775
*Not all CFIs charge a lower rate for ground instruction.
If you apply yourself and fly 3-5 times a week you will finish for the cheapest and in the least amount of time (a month or two).
I met one pilot who paid a whopping $18,000 for their PPL as they were renting the schools most expensive aircraft and took almost 100 hours to finish the training! However that is very unusual (and also very unfortunate as the school knowingly ripped the student off as they were unaware of the much lower costs elsewhere and made no effort to assist or provide less expensive options.)
