In this video I'm going to talk about flying lesson costs and how to manage your finances so that you fly more often
Learning to fly and obtaining a Private Pilot's Licence isn't cheap but you can avoid unnecessary
expense with a little forward planning. Flying lesson costs will vary but in the long run
the cheaper hourly rate may not be your best option.
In this video I discuss the cost of obtaining a fixed wing Pilot's Licence for flying light aircraft in the UK.
But the same principles apply wherever you learn to fly
In the UK there are two types available; PPL (Private Pilot's Licence)
and LAPL (Light Aircraft Pilot's Licence).
The LAPL gives the pilot fewer privileges than the PPL
so the requirements are less stringent. As a rough guide the cost of a PPL will start at £8,000 and the LAPL will
start at £6,000. Costs for other types of aircraft like microlights or helicopters for
example, will vary proportionally according to aircraft type.
Let's review the real costs involved in learning to fly.
As well as the lessons themselves you will need to add several other smaller sums:
Flying lessons (CAA minimums plus contingency) Student pilot kit (books, maps, navigational
computer etc) Headset (the school may lend them but for
several reasons it's best to have your own) Travel to and from the flight training club
or school Other training aids for example DVDs, apps
and software Ground school exam fees
Licence application fee
Minimum hours and actual hours logged
If you visit the CAA's website and read the requirements for a PPL(A) you will see that
you need minimum of 45 hours of training. This should include a minimum of 25 hours
of dual instruction and 10 hours of solo flight. I'll leave it to the CAA or your flying instructor
to explain the finer details. The keyword here though is minimum. Some people do manage
to complete all the requirements at or close to that figure. Will you be able to do so?
You will need to factor in a contingency into your budget for extra hours above the minimum
requirements. Continuity of Training
You will save yourself a lot of money if your budget organised and available at the start
of your training. If you run out of money the continuity is broken and when you return
to training you'll have to revise and repeat previous exercises.
So plan your finances in such a way that you won't run out of money at a critical stage.
Trust me, there's nothing more frustrating! As you empty your bank account or reach your
credit card limit you realise that you're about to shelve your logbook just when things
are getting interesting.
Flying schools are subject to the same economic forces as any other business, so your flying
lesson costs may increase over time due to inflation.
Choosing the right Flight Training School
Flight training costs vary around the UK. You'll pay more per hour at a club with a
shiny fleet of new aircraft and an immaculate club house with all the facilities than you
will at a small grass strip with a portakabin as an office.
Things to consider when choosing a flight school
Proximity - How long will it take you to get there?
Runways - If it's a grass airfield will it be out of use in very wet weather?
Facilities - Do the buildings look well maintained? Fleet - How many aircraft are there and how
old are they? Instructors - Talk to a few and ask to be
shown around. Reputation - Google the school name and read
what others are saying about it.
The school that is closest to you might not be the ideal choice. On the other hand you
don't want to travel for an hour more to reach your flight school at short notice if a weather
window opens.
Learning to fly abroad
The attractive prospect of learning to fly wherever there are near constant blues skies
and uncluttered airspace lures some to book flight training holidays in Florida, South
Africa, Australia, or perhaps just across the Channel. The attractions are obvious and
the additional cost of flights accommodation and subsistence may seem a price worth paying,
particularly if the hourly rate is favourable.
However, there is another cost that is sometimes overlooked. If you cover most of the syllabus
in areas where the weather is often predictably pleasant and the airspace is wide open and
free of restrictions how will you cope when you return to the UK? Will you have the necessary
skills and, just as importantly, confidence to make a decision when the weather is borderline?
Will your navigation skills keep you out of Controlled Airspace and Danger Areas?
Some students who return from flight training trips find themselves asking for additional
training with a UK flying instructor in order to bring their skills up to the standard required
in Britain's comparatively congested airspace. Perhaps your flying holiday would be better
spent hour building after you've obtained your PPL. On the other hand, learning to fly
in a quiet airstrip in predictable weather might give you the time to learn how to fly
the aircraft well and without other distractions.
Changing instructors
You are going to be spending thousands of pounds so it's worth remembering that you
are the customer. You may be in awe of the instructors and in particular the CFI (Chief
Flying Instructor) but they depend on students like you for their livelihood.
If you have any complaints or concerns don't let them fester. If you feel it's appropriate
go and see the CFI and ask for a quiet chat. Assuming he/she is professionally minded then
you will be met with an open mind.
For example, you may find that you don't get along with your instructor. This is unusual
but it does happen. We're all different personality types and just occasionally we don't gel with
the person sitting next to us for hours on end. So remembering that it's your money you're
spending go and address this with the CFI and he or she should offer an alternative.
This is likely to save you money because you will learn faster with an instructor who is
on your wavelength.
Conclusion and a warning
Like any other commercial establishment running on tight margins and reliant upon a strong
economy flight schools can go out of business if mismanaged or if they run out of students.
For this reason it's never a good idea to hand over large amounts of cash upfront. If
they tempt you with a discount for a large deposit then perhaps a few hundred pounds
might be worth the risk but I would suggest not handing over a thousand or more.
Perhaps things have improved greatly since I was a student pilot so feel free to ignore
all my advice! Just remember that you want to go from zero hours to Pilot In Command,
so managing the finances is your first lesson in being control.
I hope this video has given you some useful tips You can read more about flying & aviation
on my blog at BenLovegrove.com or subscribe to my YouTube channel
Please share this video with others who might be interested and leave comments, feedback
or requests for more videos like this - I would love
to hear from you!
Wishing you blue skies and calm winds :)