Flight Training costs

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Pilot-To-Be

Pre-Flight
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Costs for aircraft at the school I teach at just went up another $5hr. The cost for a PPL is around $12,500-$15,000, Instrument another $10,000-$12,000 etc etc., how can people continue this with costs continuing to rise?

For our sake, I hope new students continue to populate, but with the industry slowing and costs increasing, how much longer can this reasonably go on before people begin to back off? Back when I did my PPL, a 152 was $88hr and the CFI was $35hr, now it’s over double that. I suppose as long as people see a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow they’ll continue, but at some point you’ve really gotta ask yourself, how high do training costs have to get to make people begin to rethink, and at that point will costs go down due to lower demand?

I feel for this kids coming out of ATP or blue line with $120k+ in loans and a 12% interest rate with hardly any opportunities. :(
 
Flying is expensive. Going away to a 4 year college is akin to going atp. Fortunately there's cheaper ways to do both if youre concerned about the cost to value ratio.

The flight school is charging more because something else happened. Insurance rates went up. Demand is still too high. Or maintenance is more expensive. Rates don't always raise just because. They usually raise out of necessity to keep people employed.
 
Racerx said:
Rates don't always raise just because. They usually raise out of necessity to keep people employed.
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Spot on. Rates raise because of Costs, Demand, and Supply. If there are people willing and able to pay higher rates, then rates will go up. The floor of the prices are the costs (as noted, insurance, labor rates, etc.).

Hate to see anyone taking $120k in loans for school; IMHO a very bad financial decision. Especially for a field as narrow as flight training. Doesn't swing over to non flying jobs, doesn't give career options. And it is in an inherently unstable industry. OK, getting off my "Dad" soap box. (BTW - What exactly is a Soap Box?)
 
Too many people chasing a dream willing to pay,amount of people that want a hobby not so much. Light sport was supposed to be the answer. And inflation definitely plays a role
 
It's about to get cheaper in 2026 (YoY), so you got that going for ya. Cheap enough to be worth it? That's a qualitative question that's much more subjective.

Unsolicited young man turned old man advice: Have other people pay for training. If you can't, don't do it until the other guy blinks first. Life ain't fair, life is arbitrage.
 
Don't forget about grants and scholarships. One of my students, about to take her private pilot checkride, has not had to pay anything because she is adept at applying for scholarships. She even got $1,500 from the Grumman Owners and Pilots Association and there are no Grumman airplanes at our airport. Many scholarships go unused because no one applies for them. Put it in the Google.
 
A former student of mine used her genitals (the existence of, not the sexual use of them, syntax matters lol) to have SWA pay for her ATP rating, as a full fledged military pilot mind you. Zero intention to fly for them, ended up with AA. Most attendees to WIA are male, happy to collect the attendance fees. Ka ching.

As I said, life is arbitrage. Suckers pay full fare, especially when the economics of the pricing model are obviously inverted to anyone who pays attention to median outcomes.
 
I have always said do not take these loans for flight training. One things goes wrong, lose, medical, fail a sim eval, etc. unemployment is right aro7 d the corner and you ah e that loan over your head.
 
Pilot-To-Be said:
Costs for aircraft at the school I teach at just went up another $5hr. The cost for a PPL is around $12,500-$15,000, Instrument another $10,000-$12,000 etc etc., how can people continue this with costs continuing to rise?

For our sake, I hope new students continue to populate, but with the industry slowing and costs increasing, how much longer can this reasonably go on before people begin to back off? Back when I did my PPL, a 152 was $88hr and the CFI was $35hr, now it’s over double that. I suppose as long as people see a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow they’ll continue, but at some point you’ve really gotta ask yourself, how high do training costs have to get to make people begin to rethink, and at that point will costs go down due to lower demand?

I feel for this kids coming out of ATP or blue line with $120k+ in loans and a 12% interest rate with hardly any opportunities. :(
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I don’t think ATP makes any sense, it’s too expensive. But that’s my opinion.

As far as flight training, you’re talking about one school, there’s always the chance to find another school or a private instructor as well. It isn’t cheap, but it isn’t that bad either and you can pay as you go.
 
mandm said:
I don’t think ATP makes any sense, it’s too expensive. But that’s my opinion.
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Oh, that's rather elementary behavioral economics. Pylets are like nurses: easy come easy go. Contrary to popular lore, LOW barriers to entry. Grey/pink collar work often is. The inflection point behind "zero to hero", is market timing. Any neutral observer can pick out a mile away the lazyness, self-interest and optimism bias inherent to such gambling choice. But that's just saying 'human' in cursive.

When it comes to these industries, who are we to deny Nature its due....

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First up, I have two great parents without whom my journey could not have been possible. Growing up in Wisconsin, we have been to Oshkosh more than once. After a Discovery Flight (my 14th birthday present), we discussed this as an investment in the future. They have pretty much split the costs with me, and provided plenty of support, over the past four years.

Joining a local Soaring club, I soloed that first year and obtained a Certificate two years later. At 17, I obtained an ASEL, and a year later a Commercial. I figure that I have spent about $24,000 over four years to get to this point. Half that came from my pocket. A teenager earning $3,000 a year while going to school really isn't any form of a hardship.

Beats the heck out of high school sports or extracurriculars.
 
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