Private Pilot Licence How To Reduce The Cost Of Learning To Fly & Getting A Private Pilots Licence

MY COURSES

Private Pilot Licence How do reduce the cost of learning to fly

Learning to fly and obtaining a Private Pilots License (or Licence in the UK) 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.

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.

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.

Continued in the video...

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.

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Acknowledgements

This presentation may also include video clips licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license and/or video clips of our own.

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[barbaracresse]

Great advice, I'm very much in need of at this moment

[jwenting]

you forgot one: if you run out of money at a bad time you might end up having the validity of those exams you've already passed lapse and have to take them again. This is especially true for your theory exams.

[oofeeleelee]

thanks for the advice. Im 16 and just took my first solo flight. Hope to get my license soon.

[MrAlwaysBlue]

Sound advice. I learned on microlights last year. I now fly there on a share holding and enjoy it. There is one older instructor who lacks people skills but is a good pilot so students accept it.

[coreyjordan]

This is and was a very informed post and video on the cost of getting your private pilot license. Excellence. Thank you very much for your time. I'm good to go. - U.S. Everything in my school looks good to go!. Very excited in starting.

[tcfreeman]

Great to see someone else cover this topic and that the topic translates well outside of the US. ~TC Freeman, author/flight instructor, "How to Save Money on Flight Training."

[Amy-zbph]

There are several airstrips in Southern California that have nice flying weather most of the time with only a little air traffic. They might be good places to start. I went up with a friend who is a pilot a few years ago and he let me fly the plane around when we were way up in the air. It reminded me of driving a car with a flat tire but it was loads of fun!

[thejohnarnett]

Excellent advice and most fine presentation of the facts. Thank you!

[wireflight]

great advice delivered with the warmth of a close friend. kudos and accolades!

[roystheboy]

i have a school that uses ikarus c42 so nppl training and has a grass strip that shares with a parachute jumping and is only 10min from me but some times gets waterloged

[Capt_sal_b]

150% accurate, I was a victim of one last year ( they went bankrupted ), I lost money.. now I’m starting all over again, and paying the debts .

[algray]

If you're in the UK and pay up front for your training on your credit card then you're partially covered against bankruptcy, depending on how many hours/training you've had.

[bravopapa]

Great content. Thank you for these insightful suggestions. Please keep it coming!

[starallianceflyer]

I’m regret that I did not watch your video earlier! Should quit university earlier, but not too late, is my 3rd year and I decide to quit.

Currently 21, will definitely pay all my energy and passion into flying!

[thexmodz]

Great informative video, especially for people studying their ppl in the UK, most similar videos are targeted at US students

[danharrodian]

Picture @00:49 looks like Matt Wright (Balleka) RIP. Just wondered why you used a glider pilot when talking about PPL?

[All-aboutFlying]

Really nice to know everthing you seed. Tks alote

[irn]

How useful are flight simulators like X Plane 11 for realistic practicing ?

[ryanm.]

Great video, really applies to me right now!

[petetocrete]

I'm 75 & no health problems & I used to have PPL back when I was 24, but stopped due finances, & I would like to start again back in the UK. Any problems due my age ?