Summary of Cost and Time for my PP training

[iWantWings]

I got a chance to look over the invoices for my PP flight training and also cross-reference them to the hours logged in my log book. I understand/am told that the cost and time vary for student. Below is a snashop of what it was for me.


What the most recent "bell curve" and standard deviation for PP training look like I don't know.


Cost Summary
Cost of aircraft rental = $6,888 (dual and solo)
Cost of instructor = $3,374 ($2,259 in flight + $1,115 ground)
Total Cost of Aircraft Rental and Instructor = $10,262

Aircraft Flight Time Summary
Aircraft Flight Time with Instructor = 46.1 hours
Aircraft Flight Time Solo = 11.9 hours
Total Aircraft Flight Time = 58 hours

Instructor Time Summary
Instructor Time in Flight = 46.1 hours
Instructor Time on ground = 22.8 hours
Total Instructor Time = 68.9 hours

- Aircraft rented: Cessna 172 N, "6 pack"; rental cost for "block rate" was generally $119/hr.
- Instructor Fee: $49/hr.

This summary does not include the costs related to checkride, written test, charts, books, etc. That would bring the total cost for me to + $11,000.

Yeah, I sure hope I'll never get to do this again! Although, in the future, diiiiistant future, I would like to get an instrument rating but am reluctant to think what that might cost as well.

EDIT 2012-10-16
A crude chart showing the training hours distributed per month. Not suprisingly, one of the best way to improve the learning experience is to fly at least a few hours per week. If I had to do it all over again, that's the first think I would try to change.

Vertical axis is number of hours flown in a month.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Getting you PPL, an experience of a lifetime = Priceless

Not for me. I was willing to pay the ~$9k over the course of 9 months it cost me, but I made that decision only after education, house, and autos had been paid for and my wife and I had established a comfortable beginning of a retirement fund. Basically after age of 50.

Unfortunately even if flying small single engine airplanes were free, they do not make very good sight-seeing platforms and can only take you from one airfield to another airfield. And most are cramped and noisy.

I'm afraid I have to say I wouldn't have been willing to shell out more than $25k to get a certificate to fly such aircraft.