Training to become a commercial airline pilot is a pretty attractive career choice. Not
only do you get to be in charge of some of the biggest flying machines in the world,
you also get to travel the world, meet interesting people,
and all while being paid potentially six-figure sums for your time.
But entering this market is not always easy. The days of full scholarships for flight
training are largely behind us, and most student pilots must self-fund the process.
For those who have the right skills and can afford it or are willing to take
out a student loan, let’s see how much it costs to train as a pilot in 2022.
To most people, regardless of age or financial means,
$100,000 US Dollars is a significant amount of money. This specific amount is
often thrown about as the cost of pilot training. But is that figure accurate?
One of the biggest and most reputable flight schools is ATP. With 72 facilities across the US,
this training provider spits out around 117 commercial multi-engine pilot graduates every
month! ATP states that it costs $91,995 to become a pilot when starting with no previous experience,
or $71,995 when starting with a private pilot certificate already in place.
But that’s just for the ATP tuition to become a commercial pilot. They offer this as an up-front,
fixed cost price for training, based on realistic flight time requirements. However,
that’s not all the money that’s required to become certified.
The student will also need to find between $8,400 and $9,200 for FAA examiners fees and knowledge
test fees. Pilots usually require access to various third party apps on their journey
to certification, for which ATP recommends a budget of $200. Students will also need
access to an iPad, headset, flight bag and other pilot gear, for which ATP suggests around $1,600.
Checking other popular flight schools, and the figures seem to be very similar. L3Harris,
for example, notes that the cost for commercial pilot training starts at $83,995.
In India, resources say that the cost for Commercial Pilot Training
is equivalent to around $67,000. However, that does not include the Student Pilot
License (SPL) or Private Pilot License (PPL), which would add to the cost.
Students also need to think about where they will need to be located in order
to undertake their training. This may mean moving to a new area and renting
accommodation. Some universities offer degrees with pilot training incorporated,
which can be a way to access included or cheaper accommodation.
Financial support does exist though. In the USA,
there are a number of aviation scholarships available to support the cost of training.
Some airlines offer to defer course fees, with the funds later withdrawn from earnings. And some
flight schools have partnerships to offer low-interest loans to prospective pilots.
It all ultimately depends on who you train with and how quickly you wish to obtain your license.
Taking a modular course over several years while working in another industry
can be a more accessible way to cope with the high costs.
But, if you’re serious about becoming a pilot, talk to your local flight school
for advice on funding pathways and the best route for you to get qualified.
Have you ever considered becoming a pilot? Let us know in the comments.