Funding

No matter which way you cut it, becoming a pilot is an expensive endeavor.

  • For example, earning a Private Pilot Certificate requires:

    • A minimum of 35 hours (14 CFR Part 141) or 40 hours (14 CFR Part 61)
    • The cost to rent a single engine airplane starts around $150/hr, but it is not unusual for a single engine airplane with up-to-date avionics to cost around $300/hr
    • The hourly rate for a CFI ranges from around $15/hr to $30/hr
    • A checkride can cost upwards of $1000 while a retest, if you don't pass the first time, can cost around of $400

  • Therefore, the minimum to earn a Private Pilot Certificate is approximately $7,000 though most students can expect to spend about two or three times this amount due to using higher quality airplanes, requiring more hours than the minimum to be ready for the Private Pilot Certificate checkride, a higher CFI hourly rate and more expensive checkrides.

Full-time airline pilot programs – which typically include earning your Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Certificate with single-engine land and multi-engine land ratings, Certified Flight Instructor Certificate and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Certificate (six checkrides in total) – costs around $100,000 not including living expenses.

  • For part-time flight training, payment is paid out of pocket, while full-time programs are usually paid via a loan.

    • Some banks provide loans specific to certain full-time flight schools
    • For airline pilot programs, the banks/credit unions associated with the airline may have line of credit programs in place to pay for tuition if you are unable to pay for it out of pocket
    • FAFSA (federal funding) is typically only available for accredited, degree-seeking programs
    • Also, some flight schools and universities with a flight school accept payment via the GI Bill for veterans

There are also scholarships that you can apply for to alleviate some tuition cost. The FAA lists several organizations that offer them.

Besides tuition, there are a number of additional costs associated with flight training (ex. iPad, apps, headset, books, clothing) – please reference the Resources section.

  • Lastly, should you embark on a full-time training program, it is essential to budget out living expenses for the length of the program and then some. It is not uncommon for flight training to last longer than originally anticipated due to factors such as weather and a lack of DPEs to provide checkrides. Additionally, many students require more than the minimum number of flight hours to master a particular maneuver and many students  do not pass at least one checkride (which requires an additional out-of-pocket cost). Check out our Budget Calculator for a helpful way to financially plan for flight training.