ANSWERS: 4
  • Had a friend that is in the process of doing this. He mentioned that he needs to have a certain amount of flying time before he can get a license, and each time he goes up he needs to go up with an instructor and that costs money. I think he mentioned at least $5,000 just for the flying air time.
  • You have to go through the different levels. Everyone starts as a private pilot. Depending on where you take lessons at this can cost anywhere from 6 to 10 thousand dollars. After that most go for an instrument rating, which can add another 6 to 8 thousand dollars. The next level after the private pilot is the commercial pilot. You will need to get additional ratings such as multi-engine and high performance also. Total cost from start to finish will greatly vary depending on the pilot. I would say about 30 thousand dollars is realistic to go from nothing to commercial pilot. Now if you want to fly for the airlines you will need to go to the highest level which is the airline transport pilot certificate(atp) which will cost you even more.
  • The cost for a commercial pilots certificate will depend on the skill of the pilot (costs more to repeat lessons over months or years) as well as the amount of previous flight experience in an airplane. If the pilot already has time in a complex(1) aircraft that will greatly reduce the cost for this certificate as there is a minimum flight experience required by the FAA to even apply for a commercial pilot certificate. That said, an already certificated Private Pilot who has logged close to the FAA minimum requirement of 250* flight hours for the Commercial certificate can expect to pay about $1000-$1,500 for training to get their commercial certification (which will include all flight time, instructor fees, ground school, misc. items, and the flight test). Of course, the hourly aircraft rental price affects total cost greatly. Rates can be twice as expensive in some areas than others. Also, the multi-engine and instrument ratings are not required before one can become a certificated commercial pilot. Only a Private Pilot and the required flight hours are necessary to take the commercial pilot certification exam. CALCULATING THE COST: The national average for pilots finishing their Private Pilot training is close to 80 hours of flight time (far beyond the FAA minimum of 40 due to stretching out & repeating lessons, work, bad weather ect). Instructors/"CFIs" are about $50/hr* (required solo hours are not flown with a CFI) and average aircraft rental is about $90/hr. So as a ballpark figure $140/hr for airplane plus CFI x 80 hours= $11,200. If you complete that in the FAA min of 40 hours, then it's about $5,600. Once a pilot has a Private, they must log whatever additional flight time they need to get to the 250 hours flight time required of commercial pilot applicants. If they finished Private training with 80 hours, then they will need an additional 170 hours (ballparked @ $90/hr) which will cost $15,300. Therefore, the total will run about $21,000 - $26,500 depending on the cost of their Private. Notes *There are special approved "Part 141" programs (runs by certain flight schools) that can get a pilot their commercial certification in 190 flight hours. (1) 10 hours of flight instruction in an airplane having a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller is required of commercial pilots. Complex aircraft average $130+/hr. BTW, a commercial pilots certificate is required by the FAA to get paid to fly- in any size aircraft, with or without passengers. Even banner tow pilots must have a commercial certificate. If you mean the certifications necessary to get hired by an airline to "fly commercially", then those would include a multi-engine and instrument rating in addition to the commercial certificate. The cost for that runs about $30,000-$45,000 depending on how quickly the pilot moves through the training curriculum and their aircraft rental rates. An example of a good deal for an all inclusive flight training program for $45,000 that helps aspiring pilots land an airline job is the Career Track Flight Training Program at ATP Flight School- http://www.atpflightschool.com/airline_training_programs/airline_career_pilot_program/index.html
  • There are several factors which decide the cost of the pilot training. These factors include air craft rental and flight instructor rates. These rates vary, and every flight schools charges differently. Although approx cost of the pilot training is $5,000. http://www.commercialpilottraining.net/

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