Approximate cost of training

[cforst513]

Ok, this may be purely subjective, just due to where I train, what aircraft I use, etc., but if I was to do my training at a local FBO, starting from scratch and working my way up to ATP (I know that I will be able to be an instructor after a while and offset some costs) roughly how much will it cost? Actually, a better question would be this:

1) How much did YOUR training cost at a local FBO (If I may be so nosy)
2) Where was it located
3) How many hours did you log
4) What type of aircraft did you fly
5) What was the highest rating you got
6) How did you finance it (loans, work/train together, daddy's checkbook, etc)

Thank you all for any help you can give. I apologize if I appear to be incringing on your private life by asking about finances and the like, but this is the next step in my life, and if I am going to be spending some money to train, I'd like to know just how much begging I have to do on the streetcorner! Everyone fly safely!

~Chad

PS I am located in Mansfield, OH (KMFD - Mansfield Lahm Airport)

 

[bobbysamd]

Training cost

I learned to fly twenty years ago, so I will be using 1980s dollars. I probably spent about $25K in all, including my ATP and Citation type. I trained under Part 61 with two instructors who each owned their own airplanes, and paid out-of-pocket, primarily from my hard-earned dayjob paycheck. I earned all my initial ratings in Oklahoma City, took the ATP at Sheble Aviation when they were in Blythe, California, and my Citation type with Mike Pappas in Carlsbad, California. I trained for my single-engine ratings in a 172, PA-28R-200, a C-177R Cardinal and a B55 Baron.

I would not know exactly how $25K translates into 2004 dollars. I can tell you that in 1982 my 172 cost $35/hour plus $10/hour for instructor. To give you some idea, these days in Denver a 172 costs at least $65/hour plus at least $30/hour for instruction. You might do better at a flying club or with an instructor who owns his/her airplane.

Hope that helps.

 

[cforst513]

Great, thanks! Anyone else?

I appreciate your input, bobby. Is there anyone else out there who might be willing to help me out and answer the questions I asked in my original post?

 

[English]

My training, including flight time, instructor, private ownership of an airplane, and all aviation accessories (written tests, magazine subscriptions, headsets, charts, AOPA conventions, WIA conferences, you name it) until the day I hit 2500 hours was 61k. This is in current (1997-2001) money, in SoCal. Don't ask me how I know, but I have every penny documented. 1004 hours was working at a regional, so I didn't pay for that. About 600 was as flight instructor, so I didn't pay for that, either. Approximately 500 hours was in my private aircraft. Other flight time was in Senecas, C310s, C421s, BE58s.

This was for private in a 152, instrument in a C172, commercial SE in a t-tail Archer, commercial ME in a Seminole, CFI in an Archer, CFII in a R172K, MEI in a Duchess and ATP in a Seminole.

I "financed" it by working concurrently in a fulltime job. I was making 50K a year at the time.

 

[mozzer]

Private through commercial about 20K. Got a bit ripped off at a large "academy".

$3,995 CFI
$300 CFII ( had a friend of mine just sign me off and took the checkride)
$0 MEI from the school I worked for, FREE!!

 

[huncowboy]

0 to CFII w/o MEI $40k (+/- 1k) at a large academy... I have seen others doing it for a bit less and some doing it for 2x at the very same place.

 

[Clyde]

Ok, this may be purely subjective, just due to where I train, what aircraft I use, etc., but if I was to do my training at a local FBO, starting from scratch and working my way up to ATP (I know that I will be able to be an instructor after a while and offset some costs) roughly how much will it cost? Actually, a better question would be this:

1) How much did YOUR training cost at a local FBO (If I may be so nosy)
2) Where was it located
3) How many hours did you log
4) What type of aircraft did you fly
5) What was the highest rating you got
6) How did you finance it (loans, work/train together, daddy's checkbook, etc)

Thank you all for any help you can give. I apologize if I appear to be incringing on your private life by asking about finances and the like, but this is the next step in my life, and if I am going to be spending some money to train, I'd like to know just how much begging I have to do on the streetcorner! Everyone fly safely!

~Chad

PS I am located in Mansfield, OH (KMFD - Mansfield Lahm Airport)

Not including my degree, about $20K. With degree, about $45K. What you should be looking at in addition to the cost of training, is the realistic return on investement you will potentially receive in this industry.

In other words, taking a realistic look at which jobs are going to be available, what the compensation and benefits are going to be, and will you be able to retire from any of them. Also, factor in quality of life as well. Then, compare it to the financial and personal sacrifices you are going to have to endure to begin your career. If you think it is worth it, then pursue it.

I say this, because the industry has changed so much in the past few years. One can no longer count on making it big and witnessing a payoff in the same way one could have looked at it say, 10-15 years ago starting out. If you are going to have to borrow money to pay, plan on taking a very long time to pay back what you owe.

My advice: go to school for something other than flying, something that will provide you with steady employment and a liveable wage, possibly a good skill that is in high demand. Then, take CASH and pay for your flight training. Fly. Then, if the market dictates some job opportunities, go ahead and seize it. If it doesen't, you won't be out there starving because you will be able to market yourself some other way. Remember, it doesen't take an aviation degree to get a flying job.

Just my $0.02, best of luck to you.

 

[cforst513]

Not including my degree, about $20K. With degree, about $45K. What you should be looking at in addition to the cost of training, is the realistic return on investement you will potentially receive in this industry.

In other words, taking a realistic look at which jobs are going to be available, what the compensation and benefits are going to be, and will you be able to retire from any of them. Also, factor in quality of life as well. Then, compare it to the financial and personal sacrifices you are going to have to endure to begin your career. If you think it is worth it, then pursue it.

I say this, because the industry has changed so much in the past few years. One can no longer count on making it big and witnessing a payoff in the same way one could have looked at it say, 10-15 years ago starting out. If you are going to have to borrow money to pay, plan on taking a very long time to pay back what you owe.

My advice: go to school for something other than flying, something that will provide you with steady employment and a liveable wage, possibly a good skill that is in high demand. Then, take CASH and pay for your flight training. Fly. Then, if the market dictates some job opportunities, go ahead and seize it. If it doesen't, you won't be out there starving because you will be able to market yourself some other way. Remember, it doesen't take an aviation degree to get a flying job.

Just my $0.02, best of luck to you.

Well, Clyde, I am actually getting my degree as we speak. I will graduate in May/2005 (where did the time go?!) with a B.S. in Biology and minor in Chemistry from Denison University. I have that much covered. And if I go to a local FBO, I will work (hopefully nights like I did 2 summers ago) at the post office to offset a few of my expenses. That's what I was asking, though. I wasn't planning on using my degree in my job field, just using it for a back-up plan, so to speak. I need to know how much others spent up to like CFI, where they could then get paid and train at the same time. I want to go to the airlines, but I might consider staying in a regional due to family concerns, chiefly that I want a big one and I want to be there for my kids. Start flying single, move my way up in the airline, start a family, and hopefully be able to bid day-trips. It's a long-shot, I know. I know how bleak and challenging the industry is, both in moving up the ranks and on families. But hey, if I wanted an easy job, I'd be a college Physics professor! I am doing this b/c I love flying. THanks for your help, though, Clyde. What was your degree in, and what ratings do you have? Everyone else, keep the replies coming!! Thanks all!

 

[flyf15]

I trained at a local part 61 school, using 172N for private, instrument, and CFII; 172RG for commercial and CFI; and duchess for multi and MEI.When all was done, I had about 300TT and 65 Multi, CFI/CFII/MEI. Right around $40,000, plus or minus a few thousand.

 

[Aeronca]

I think I spent around $16,000 for my Instrument, Commercial and CFI. This was done at a local FBO and it was about 4 years ago. I started with a private license and about 100 hours and ended with about 250 hours.


Hope this helps.