Flight School Fee's

[cgartly]

I Just finished my PPL and wanted to share with all some of the fee's I had to pay to see if they are in line with other school's. I think they are high.

Authorized Person Fee for SPP - $50.00
Authorized Person Fee for PPL license - $150.00
Flight Test Fee - $175.00
Partial Flight Test Fee - $100.00
Practice Test Fee's - $30.00 each (had to due minimum of 2, I had to do 3 to get my recommend)
Written Test Fee - $175.00
Instructor Fee - $50.00 hr
Parking Fee's - $5.00 per day or $30.00 per month (to park in the flight school's parking lot)

The instructor fee was for the instructor to go through my pilot log book and ptr to ensure that everything matched exactly, go over my application form's etc to ensure that all the paperwork was done perfectly for the issuance of my PPL. The flight school said it was mandatory for an instructor to sign off (their policy not TC's) that everything was in order prior to them calling in an AP. My flight instructor was really nice and did it on her own time and didn't charge me. THANK YOU.

[AUGER9]

I have never heard of a fee for the SPP or Practice tests?
Instructor fee is average I think. You can/should avoid the partial flight test fee altogether.

[Lurch]

Authorized Person Fee for SPP - $50.00
Authorized Person Fee for PPL license - $150.00

These are dependant on the Authorized Person, I've never had to pay to get a SPP issued but have heard of some charging, I just go elsewhere. For the PPL sign off it's cheaper just to go to TC they'll do it for free, just charge you the licensing fee.

Flight Test Fee - $175.00

Sounds about right

Partial Flight Test Fee - $100.00

Don't fail don't have to pay this

Practice Test Fee's - $30.00 each (had to due minimum of 2, I had to do 3 to get my recommend)

What a load of BS I've never heard of this before.

Written Test Fee - $175.00

Not sure, I thought it was $75

Instructor Fee - $50.00 hr

This is a good hourly rate, for you not the instructor

Parking Fee's - $5.00 per day or $30.00 per month (to park in the flight school's parking lot)

Another new gem I've never seen before, I'd just park elsewhere and walk


The instructor fee was for the instructor to go through my pilot log book and ptr to ensure that everything matched exactly, go over my application form's etc to ensure that all the paperwork was done perfectly for the issuance of my PPL. The flight school said it was mandatory for an instructor to sign off (their policy not TC's) that everything was in order prior to them calling in an AP. My flight instructor was really nice and did it on her own time and didn't charge me. THANK YOU.

This should have been done throughout your training after every flight. To charge for this seems like another way to get your money.

How was the training?

Lurch

[trampbike]

I have never heard of a fee for the SPP or Practice tests?
Instructor fee is average I think. You can/should avoid the partial flight test fee altogether.

Where I did my PPL, we had to do 7 practice exams,all of them 100 questions, CPL level. 1 meteo, 1 nav, 1 general and 1 air law + 3 exams with all of the four subjects. It was 10$ each. At least 60 was required to get to do the others, at least 70 in all of the 3 global exams was required to get the recommendation.

I got good enough marks to be able to convince the CFI to give me my recommendation after "only" 5 exams. They did not charge for the letter thought. The exams fee kind of covered it up!

[Big Pistons Forever]

Sigh..... No wonder FTU's get such a bad reputation.

Mods can cgartly name the school in question ? They deserved to be outed as those fees are just a scam.

[metal]

Yea, some of those "fees" are a definite money grab.

[just curious]

Mods can cgartly name the school in question ? They deserved to be outed as those fees are just a scam.

Parking?

[cgartly]

Wow I didn't know I could just go to Transport Canada to have the license issued. All of my stuff is at the flight school waiting for the authorized person to come in (passport, ptr, log book, medical, spp + cash). I wonder if I should just go pick it all up tomorrow and run down to Transport Canada. The local TC office is only 9000' away (the other end of the airport). Will TC sign the back of my Student Pilot Permit? I wonder why the school uses an AP at all then.

The flight school is the only one in Kelowna, besides the one that does float training........

Parking was something they started charging for after I started my training, I protested a bit but obviously that didn't get me anywhere. I bought a parking pass for one month and have been parking elsewhere since. They claimed either they were going to start charging for parking or raise aircraft rental rates. Rates are $125 for a 152 and $140 for a 172. All aircraft are late 70's vintage with older radio's, marginal interior's (good seats in two of them now). None are IFR certified.

The training was good in my opinion, I used two different instructors each had their pro's and con's. The only part of my training that was disappointing and I blame myself mostly was learning to land. I spent an extra 10 hours doing circuits before I could go solo. In the end I think I was looking inside the cockpit too much instead of outside once over the "fence". I can't say I'm impressed with all of my landings still but hope that I get better as time goes on.

[Hawkeye4077]

Don't worry, we all have our share of hard/bad/long landings!!!

Except for me of course but we all know that

[Lurch]

Wow I didn't know I could just go to Transport Canada to have the license issued. All of my stuff is at the flight school waiting for the authorized person to come in (passport, ptr, log book, medical, spp + cash). I wonder if I should just go pick it all up tomorrow and run down to Transport Canada. The local TC office is only 9000' away (the other end of the airport). Will TC sign the back of my Student Pilot Permit? I wonder why the school uses an AP at all then.

TC can only collect the paperwork, they CANNOT sign your licence, unless a licencing officer is there of course (not likely). The point of the AP is so they check all of the paperwork and can sign off your SPP so you have your PPL right away. It could take weeks to get your licence in the mail, the most I've waited is 2 weeks but others have waited a lot longer.

Parking was something they started charging for after I started my training, I protested a bit but obviously that didn't get me anywhere. I bought a parking pass for one month and have been parking elsewhere since. They claimed either they were going to start charging for parking or raise aircraft rental rates. Rates are $125 for a 152 and $140 for a 172. All aircraft are late 70's vintage with older radio's, marginal interior's (good seats in two of them now). None are IFR certified.

This sounds like a bunch of BS, I've never heard of such a stupid reason before. $2/day parking isn't going to come close to just $1/hour raise on the aircraft, It just sounds fishy.

The training was good in my opinion, I used two different instructors each had their pro's and con's. The only part of my training that was disappointing and I blame myself mostly was learning to land. I spent an extra 10 hours doing circuits before I could go solo. In the end I think I was looking inside the cockpit too much instead of outside once over the "fence". I can't say I'm impressed with all of my landings still but hope that I get better as time goes on.

You think the problem was? didn't they tell/teach you? What was the instructor doing during these 10 hours of circuits, sleeping, sight seeing? Head in the cockpit is a one circuit fix, so what's that 4 minutes, nowhere near 10 hours.

I'm sorry but if you are having issues and the instructor can't give you the reason/solution they don't know how to do their job and need to be replaced.

Lurch

[cgartly]

The first instructor I had was approx a 500 hr pilot who while really good at being on my case to fly a proper circuit seemed to grab the controls at the first sign of trouble during the flare instead of allowing me to make any mistakes, I never bounced once with him, he always grabbed first. The second instructor was not on my case as much on the flying of the circuit, but allowed me to make some mistakes and bounce and balloon and taught me how to recover from those.

I honestly don't know why it took me so long to do consistent landings. I still beat myself up over it. I have a hard time blaming my instructors for not teaching me properly but I'm sure there were many factors.

BTW: Lurch what city do you work out of? I'm sure I could benefit from an hour or two flying with you......

[moocow]

Who is charging the parking fee? The airport or just the flight school? As for practice test, I never got charged "fees". If I had questions that require a briefing then I was charge for briefing. Practice flight test was I believe just dual hour charges.

[cgartly]

The school is charging the parking fee's for parking in their lot at the airport. The airport has a lot less than a minute walk away that is free parking up to 24 hours. For my pre-flight test I paid dual time, for my practice test's I had to pay $30.00 per test. I guess it is for the instructor to grade it and correct any incorrect answers. I'm not bitter about the fee's just wanted to post and see how they compared to other schools. The parking fee does irk me though.

[200hr Wonder]

First off if keeping you are head inside is an issue it is 100% your instructors fault. I mean it is as simple as gee... my student is having issues judging his flair. I will then look at him in the flair and determine where he is looking. Let him mess that one up at a point I am comfortable and then say hey, so um where you looking inside there? Lets try looking out side next time.... etc. etc. etc. Problem solved in about 6min.

Authorized Person Fee for SPP - $50.00
Authorized Person Fee for PPL license - $150.00

Total Cash Grab... SPP is a two minute pencil whip. The PPL is about 15min and should be 100% by the person submitting the paper work. Cost of doing business as an FTU

Flight Test Fee - $175.00
Partial Flight Test Fee - $100.00

Reasonable as you are taking some where in the neighborhood of 3hours+ up of someones time. The re-test fee well that is avoidable but still an hour of time I am sure at the end.

Practice Test Fee's - $30.00 each (had to due minimum of 2, I had to do 3 to get my recommend)

Written Practice? If so 100% Bogus and BS. Every practice test I have ever seen from a school is either just a compilation of questions from commercially published question archives plus a bank of questions that students provide after taking the exam. Most schools I know request students to ahem "Ask for input on questions that posed them difficulty during the written exam" after the fact. If you know what i mean. If it is to do a mock ride, then why are you paying for airtime/instructor for this again? Most schools want a mock flight test with a different from regular instructor with a reasonable length ground briefing covering ground topics. Plus the typical 1.5 -> 2.0 ride. Though I found personally with my mock flight tests they might get a little longer as if something need a little polish we might do an exercise twice

Written Test Fee - $175.00

Wow ATPLs are only $105 each. However since you can no longer take the PPL/CPL level exams at TC offices they schools are free to charge what ever they want. Seems a little high.

Instructor Fee - $50.00 hr

Fair or was that for you instructor to go through your paper work to file for you PPL? In which case BS. First off IDGARA what is in your personal logbook it is well personal. I will help you fill it out from the FAM flight and highly recommend you do it daily after. Should you have any questions feel free to ask me about them. The PTR is all as an instructor I care about and a little time and a quick numbers review before filling out an application that takes about 10min is all that is required. Total time about 15min. I sure hope that your instructor is getting the full $50 and then make your self feel better by calling it a tip

Parking Fee's - $5.00 per day or $30.00 per month (to park in the flight school's parking lot)

So I know of one school that chargers for parking in the entire country now. When I was training at YYC yes an international airport, parking was still free as flight schools tend to be off at the ends of the field away from things like terminals where land is cheap and plentiful. I would tell them where to stuff there parking fee and walk three blocks.

I would hate to say it but you seem to be getting nickle and dimed to death.

[B-rad]

Practice Test Fee's - $30.00 each (had to due minimum of 2, I had to do 3 to get my recommend)
Parking Fee's - $5.00 per day or $30.00 per month (to park in the flight school's parking lot)

I can't believe this!

[trampbike]

Sounds like an awfull school: poor instructing, money grab and 140$/h for a 172!

[costermonger]

Lotsa BS charges there, but apparently flight test fees in Ontario are inordinately high: $250-$300 for a PPL seems to be the norm. Partials range from free to full price, depending on the examiner and if they're coming to the school anyway.

Practice test fees are indefensible.

[shitdisturber]

I'd be embarassed to charge fees for practice tests and parking.

[canuck123]

There's one school in the Calgary area that I had a couple of thousand left on account with, and the owner wouldn't let me have it after i finished! Had to go and rent a plane to burn the money off! Plus they charge a $300 "administration" fee for the privilidge of joining! Haven't been in for a while but when I last checked it was around $170 an hour solo for a DA20.

[Hedley]

*** edited ***

[SkyWolfe]

Add Insert:

Sea Land Air doesn't charge hidden fees, just tax

[cgartly]

Just read another post that reminded me of something.

On every dual flight SIFC's policy is to charge 0.2 of ground briefing time whether there is any or not. They say it is a Transport Canada requirement. I believe they charge 0.4 to their commercial / college students.

[Lurch]

Just read another post that reminded me of something.

On every dual flight SIFC's policy is to charge 0.2 of ground briefing time whether there is any or not. They say it is a Transport Canada requirement. I believe they charge 0.4 to their commercial / college students.

Ok this has to be a troll, no school is this big of a crook/liar.

Lurch

[trampbike]

If it's a TC requirement to have briefings charged for each flight, my PPL and night rating are not valid. I've been charged briefing time 2 or 3 times, and one of these was my navigation for the dual XC.

[Lurch]

There's one school in the Calgary area that I had a couple of thousand left on account with, and the owner wouldn't let me have it after i finished! Had to go and rent a plane to burn the money off! Plus they charge a $300 "administration" fee for the privilidge of joining! Haven't been in for a while but when I last checked it was around $170 an hour solo for a DA20.

This has to be CFTC

P.S if you paid them landing fees for YYC, they never paid the airport authority and you should demand your money back.

Lurch