Despite popular belief, owning a plane can be very affordable. There are many taildraggers for sale between $15,000 - $30,000 which are easy on maintenance and will make you a better pilot than learning in a tricycle gear.
141 flight programs are charging students over $100,000 dollars to go from 0 time to an airline pilot. What they don't tell you is that $100,000 only gets you 250hrs to get up to your CFI rating at an "accelerated rate". The truth is, if you want to become an airline pilot, it may make more sense to buy a plane and then go at your own pace (fast or slow) and spend HALF the cost to do so, while also enjoying the process.
141 programs require you to get your certificates in the following order: Private, Instrument, Multi-Engine, Commercial, CFI.
This is a waste of time and money because 90% of pilots today will not use their Instrument or Multi-Engine rating until they have 1500 hrs to go to the airlines.
The cheapest way to get all your ratings, and not have to take out a $100,000 loan is simple. The Snoopy Air way suggests the following order: Buy a plane, get your Private, fly for fun with friends to build 250 hours, get your Commercial, continue to fly your plane for fun till you get a job (I got a job towing banners at 400 hours which payed for the rest of the ratings which I wouldn't need till I had 1500hrs to go to the airlines) Once you have over 1300 hours, get your Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings and then hired at an airline!
Step 1 (Getting your Commercial)
You can even find partners to lower the costs!!
Planes hold their value so you can sell at the end (if you dont get attached"
Instruction (40 hrs @ $100/hr)
Instruction (15 hrs @ $100/hr)
Plus Complex Aircraft Rental (15 hrs @ $200/hr)
5 gallons/hr @ $5.50/gal
Based on 1000 hr Engine needing a overhaul at 2,000 hrs
$1500 a year for 2 years
Based on 1000 hr Engine needing a overhaul at 2,000 hrs
Based on avg for 2 years @250/mo
Private - $1000
Commercial - $1000
Writtens - $250
You got Attached to your First Plane (So did I)
Didn't keep the airplane
250 hrs @ $170/hr for Plane
55 hrs instruction @ $100/hr
Step 2 (Building time and getting a flying job to pay for Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings)
5 gallons/hr @ $5.50/gal
This simulates my path of getting a job at 400 hrs
(You may get a job at 250 hrs)
Based on 1000 hr Engine needing a overhaul at 2,000 hrs
Pay of $40/hr (working 1000 hrs)
Instruction (25 hrs @ $100/hr)
Plus Instrument Capable Aircraft Rental (50 hrs @ $170/hr)
Instruction (10 hrs @ $100/hr)
Plus Multi-Engine Aircraft Rental (25 hrs @ $300/hr)
If you Follow Step 2, you will come out on top and your flying job paid for you to get your Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings.
Step 3 (Get hired at an Airline!)
Also includes another 2 year hanger / tie down costs / Insurance (-$9,000)
Selling the plane after 4 years (includes same costs as keeping It for 4 years)
Does not include bad instruction and being miserable "learning" how to fly
Getting trained by someone with 250 hours who barely knows what they're doing
Does not include interest on said loan
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