Expert: Malcolm Dickinson - 1/14/2005

Question
Hello Mr. Dickinson! I am Travis and I am a student in Michigan and I am very interested in aviation. I have a few questions for you about flight lessons and flying itself. On average how much does it cost to get your private pilots lesson after all the training? Also, in your opinion what is the best part about flying? I can't wait to hear your answers! You can email me at lvolz@casscity.k12.mi.us. Thanks a lot for reading my message to you.

Answer
Travis,

The training for the private pilot certificate involves about 55 hours of "dual instruction" (working with the instructor in the airplane), about 10 hours of solo flight, about 15 hours of ground instruction, and the cost of a headset, pilot study books, a knowledge test, and a practical test.

The cost for these differs from place to place. I think it is around $6,000 altogether. You can find out more specifically by contacting the flight training center and your local airport and asking them how much they charge for an hour of dual instruction, an hour of ground instruction, and an hour of solo flight.

The best thing about having a private pilot certificate is being able to directly from one airport to another, at 120 miles per hour or more, not having to drive!

good luck,
Malcolm Dickinson

P.S. If you are interested in learning to fly without spending as much money, I suggest you join your local Civil Air Patrol squadron. After you have been a member for a year, they have a program where you go away for 10 days and learn how to fly an airplane. They call it "national flight academy" or "solo flight school"  It costs only $800. It doesn't get you your license, but it gets you about halfway there!