Total Money Spent

[cptn2016]

I did a search on this board to see if I could find anything close to this topic, but I couldn't find anything (if I've missed it, sorry).
I've been trying to research my total training costs to get a PPL, CPL, Instructor (class 4 initially), Multi-IFR.
It seems to be in the realm of about $60,000-$80,000, depending on what part of the country, how long it takes you, if you went through a college program, etc.

I know everybody always cautions against trying to come up with a dollar figure because they feel you'll be misled, it'll cost you more than you thought, etc. I understand and appreciate that. What I'm looking for are just ballpark figures of what your own training cost to achieve the above. I understand a lot of you also did this in the somewhat-distant past when costs and hour requirements were different. If you are willing to share, an estimate adjusted for today's currency (roughly of course) will be more than enough. Like I said, just looking to see if I'm in the ballpark with my estimate. If I'm way off, I'd definitely like to know.

Thanks in advance!

[Adam Oke]

Here are my training expenses for a CPL + float rating after my bare bones PPL. I did credit a handful of glider hours towards my CPL, which saved a little bit.

I kept pretty close to a schedule of 0800-1000 ground school, 1000-1200 flying, 1300-2200 full time work. Monday-Friday with weekends off. That should give you an idea of how to budget at my pace. I think you can handle handle taking inflation and currency into consideration.

2006 Expense Report
2007 Expense Report

[AUGER9]

24K for ppl, cpl, float, mifr, instructor. Subsidized program for the ppl/cpl/float.

[cptn2016]

24K for ppl, cpl, float, mifr, instructor. Subsidized program for the ppl/cpl/float.

Wow. Subsidized by who? How do I get in on this?

[AUGER9]

Confed does ppl, cpl, floats in under 2 years.
Sault does mifr instead of floats, done in under 3 years.
College programs that are both subsidized.

[bverwegen]

For the 3 years in the Sault you end up paying about $20,000 (aroundt $2,400/semester) in tuition for PPL, CPL, MIFR. Some student's will get their float rating or instructor rating during the summer off from 2nd to 3rd year.

[cptn2016]

Thanks for the info, unfortunately I cannot leave my current full-time job, so I can't immerse myself in school full-time.

[ogc]

I managed to get 200 hours PPL CPL + MIFR for $38'415

I did this in about a year, in southern Ontario, I imagine an instructors rating would be in the 8-10 k range. I did not go that route however.

[C-GGGQ]

Southern New Brunswick. I figure 35,000-40,000 CPL, MIFR Instructor. (ballpark because not all were loans some was gift money/ saving that I don't have an official account of anymore)

[andy_mtl]

I did from 0 to CPL SMELS but no ifr with 45K in one year and a half working one full time job and a part time one as well!

I foudn that doing it my way was better then following the school set program, wich many times is meant for you to spend much more than you have to, just beccause, it is a busines.

Mind you 100 of my 212 when i finished school were on a c-182 and i also had PIC on a multi day and night.

Found a job with 212 Hours, and been working there for the summer!

Be original dont just go for what as planned for you, research and talk with some more senoir pilots they can give you good guidance, as it happened in my case!
best of luck!

[trey kule]

This is a bit off topic, but any new pilot that told me they worked an eight hour afternoon shift and took flying lessons every morning, or worked a full and part time job while learning to fly full time would almost be an instant hire.

Good for you guys..Your career will only get easier and better.

[SuperchargedRS]

Just shy of 60k, CPL, IFR, float, instructor and a Stinson.

Almost all of my hours were tail wheel, the remainder float and I ended up with my ticket plus a paid off plane.

[ogc]

This is a bit off topic, but any new pilot that told me they worked an eight hour afternoon shift and took flying lessons every morning, or worked a full and part time job while learning to fly full time would almost be an instant hire.

Good for you guys..Your career will only get easier and better.

Who do you hire for haha?

Working now is a breeze compared to how much effort I put in to getting all my training done.

I would work a 7 AM to 3PM shift, then head over to the FTU on the other side of town and get a couple hours in.

Once I got my night rating it was a lot easier, obviously because I could do most of my flying at night, I easily knocked out the 25 hour X country PIC in a couple months.

I never flew on weekends though unless someone wanted to go up for a pleasure flight.

It was all worth it.

[Big Pistons Forever]

I did a search on this board to see if I could find anything close to this topic, but I couldn't find anything (if I've missed it, sorry).
I've been trying to research my total training costs to get a PPL, CPL, Instructor (class 4 initially), Multi-IFR.
It seems to be in the realm of about $60,000-$80,000, depending on what part of the country, how long it takes you, if you went through a college program, etc.

I know everybody always cautions against trying to come up with a dollar figure because they feel you'll be misled, it'll cost you more than you thought, etc. I understand and appreciate that. What I'm looking for are just ballpark figures of what your own training cost to achieve the above. I understand a lot of you also did this in the somewhat-distant past when costs and hour requirements were different. If you are willing to share, an estimate adjusted for today's currency (roughly of course) will be more than enough. Like I said, just looking to see if I'm in the ballpark with my estimate. If I'm way off, I'd definitely like to know.

Thanks in advance!

My 02 cents

- 60 K is a reasonable ball park figure to use for personal financial planning. I also think it is important to note that your personal work ethic has a very large impact on the total cost. IMO most students could have done it for less if they had worked harder.

- If you want to start your aviation career by instructing then I would consider saving your MEIFR for later. I waited until I had about 300 hours of instructing and did the MEIFR in 9.0 hrs found the MEIFR rating pretty easy because I had good stick and rudder skills and a really solid understanding of VOR and ADF use because I had to teach it. There is no way I could have done the rating in the same time as PPL working towards the CPL.

[cptn2016]

BPF, that's a good idea regarding the MEIFR, makes sense.

So it sounds like an $80K total would be unnaturally high then? Although I suppose costs will continue to go up...

[iflyforpie]

Or you could do your MEIFR like I did, as part of the CPL training and build up.

The learning curve was very steep, to the point of after the first few rides 'how can anybody do this?'. But by the end of my IFR test I was laughing. My non-precision approach was NOTAMed off on the day of my flight test, so I did a different one and nailed it. The CPL flight test was almost boring after that.

But though a good choice for the light of wallet, it is not for the feint of heart. In addition to the hours required for the IFR, I also had to have 50 hours of PIC cross country. So I everything I could do--including my night--was done cross country. I would stop at every airport along he way and do performance landings to make up for lack of circuit time.

I used to have a figure, but I have forgotten and lost the paperwork. It came out to around $40,000 total eight years ago.

[Beefitarian]

In addition to the hours required for the IFR, I also had to have 50 hours of PIC cross country. So I everything I could do--including my night--was done cross country. I would stop at every airport along he way and do performance landings to make up for lack of circuit time.

Looking back I bet that sounds like a pretty solid way to go about it pie. At the end you know how to get where you're trying to go night or day and you're ready to do just that instead of trying to figure it out under stress on the job.

[gaamin]

PPL, CPL, MEIFR, Class 4 in about a year. $50 000 in 2008-2009. CPL & MEIFR in Manitoba, Class 4 in BC.

[Merov]

PPL, CPL, MEIFR in a year for 60k in a non-subsidized college program in Quebec.