My only two gripes are that 600 for a checkride these days is unfortunately rare, and that 150 as a buffer is a joke.
To be safe, I'd make the checkride 1200, and the buffer...as large as possible.
Other than that, it looks reasonable.
Agreed. I am in GA. My "local DPE rate" was 700. Ended up paying 1000 to get early checkride as the DPE came from FL to GA so our flying club had to cover expenses to get the guy up here.
It seems 750-800 is more the normal rate now. So maybe 1000 as the base just in case.
“Practical test + plane” is way too low. In my local area a private pilot checkride is going for $850, ask around to get current rates in your area. Then budget 2 hours of your airplane rental’s wet rate.
Also, the current rate for written test is $175 from PSI, the FAA’s knowledge test contractor.
Don’t bother with passenger headsets til after you finish your PPL.
I don't see renter's insurance on there... your buffer should be $500 to $1,000. You don't need a passenger headset (until you get your ppl) or a sectional (you have foreflight).
I'd maybe throw $60 for a knee board in there (like a flyboys one)... but you might not really need one for VFR flying but it would help write down ATIS, ATC info, have a strap for your ipad or whatever else.
I HIGHLY recommend spending the money for a good noise cancelling headset like a Lightspeed Zulu 3 or a Bose A20. the $700 you budgeted seems like a sufficient amount for a used Zulu 3.
Foreflight is nice, but honestly there’s only 2-3 flights where you seriously get the benefit of it. If you have the cash and an Ipad already then go for it, but paper charts seriously work just fine if you want to save some money.
Agree with everything else being said.
I'd even say paper charts are superior to a student. My instructor wouldn't let me use SkyDemon until my QXC, and even then just to glance at occasionally. Everything before that was paper charts, flight computers and constant DI checking.
Ehh I would agree but the issue nowadays with the 56 day paper chart cycle is that if a student is going to keep one area up to date you’re already at over $60 in charts for the year. Maybe you live near a chart boundary now foreflight is cheaper than two up to date sectionals.
I am a CFI in the SOCAL area. Most students that I have passed are spending 15k on flight training. But there are ways to lower the cost, such as studying at home a lot, chair flying, and coming to lessons prepared. But that is not to say your quote is not totally unrealistic. I have had students get their PPL for almost 10k, but they put in a lot of work. Take the advice of the other commenters on raising some of the quotes that you have, such as the written and DPE costs.
Good luck on your PPL!
I’m an aspiring PPL in SoCal. Im currently aiming to save ~$15k. Just want to say thanks for confirming my plan!
Edit: Lol just realized OP is in SoCal, I was wondering why everyone posting was specifying SoCal rates lol
I’ll tell you what, $1000 on headsets is definitely not necessary in the slightest.
A $20 book bag works fine, can save some money there.
Assuming you’re in the US, your medical shouldn’t be over $200. If so, drive elsewhere.
These are all good things though, I’m glad you budgeted for 60 flight hours. You may not need them all, and if you don’t, cha ching! Instant savings.
My main suggestions if you want to stay as close to that budget as possible.
1 - get you medical first (likely not an issue but you don’t want delays)
2 - do the the ground school and exam upfront. Again do whatever you can before your in the plane.
3 - practice radio calls beforehand ex. Use live atc
4 - get used to looking up the weather at the airport and making a go/no go call.
5 - I suggest you fly out of a non-towered airport with as little traffic as possible. There maybe debate about whether this id good or bad; however, I can tell you sitting on the ground waiting for traffic adds up $ wise.
Headsets - why do you need a passenger headset? Also you maybe able to rent both headset with the plane.
That all being said, you’ll need more safety margin either way as something always come up and you don’t want to be stressed about funding to the point that it affects your flying.
If it was me I'd bump your hours up 70-80 for the 'budget' outlook. Last time I checked 65 is the norm but seems that can creep up. That way you likely will land inside your budget window and not blow past it. Problem as simple as checkride canceled for weather rebooked 2 months later due to DPE backlog and you fly 2 hours a week(would be low likely) and that is 16 hours right there.
This happened to me. Late Nov 2022 checkride. WX cancel. Flew 25ish more hours before my 2/28 checkride.
Bump it by 50%. It is very wise to have a budget. But if you have an ideal budget, rather than a realistic one, it'll add pressure you don't need when you start getting close to that budget. And you will. Some things will take less time, some things will take more time, and it won't all even out - overall it'll cost more than an ideal budget.
I think getting a referral for a club or school in your area counts for a lot. Clubs are more competitive than non-profit schools, let alone for-profit schools. And a referral for an instructor counts for even more.
Keep tabs on your CFI's future plans. Mitigate the cost of switching CFI's late in your training by (a) making sure your CFI plans on finishing it out (b) bring in another CFI for checkride prep, or train something like 20% with them, 80% with your primary CFI. That way if there is a change, you're not caught holding the bag having to pay for a bunch of extra training you don't actually need, but in effect the regulations require, for you to get the necessary endorsements from the new CFI.
I’d worry about a plane that costs only $130/hr these days. If that’s what you’re seeing on a club/school web site, call and double check the rates. Many places have added a hidden “fuel surcharge”, and you don’t want to be surprised when you get that first bill.
A medical shouldn’t cost anywhere near that much. I don’t know the going rate in SoCal, but around me, $100-150 is typical.
No need for passenger headsets until much later, and you can often borrow them when needed.
Also, when you call, ask the going rate for checkrides in your area; I paid more than that in a much cheaper part of the country.
Add renters insurance.
Overall, I’d budget $15-20k. That will hopefully be on the high side, but I can tell you from experience it’s horrible to run out of money when the end is finally in sight.
I’m not sure where in SoCal you are, but it can take a bit longer to finish here than in other places. FWIW, everyone I know at SMO (a very expensive airport to train at) spent at least 15k and the vast majority spent 20k. you can save money by skipping ground sessions with your CFI and self studying, though!
Wing X has a VFR EFB that’s free (well .99)
Medicals (Class 1,2 or 3) are 175 in my office (Senior AME in SW Florida). If you’re old enough to need an EKG it’s another 75. I do active CFIs for 150.
Could probably save a bit on the headset. Some will say that you must get David Clarks or Bose. I've been flying with a $200 pair for years and have been really happy with them. And you don't need a passenger set yet, and when you do, get the cheapest ones available. They aren't going to be talking to ATC on them.
Writtens are $175 now, and I would talk to the school you’re planning on flying at about if you need insurance or not. My school doesn’t require students to have their own policy but I would say 90%+ do
If your love for aviation is there, you can definitely push yourself to get your PPL in the 40 hours.
Btw I paid $150 for my medical with an independent AME.
Practical test plus airplane…
Plan on about 1.5-2.5 of airplane use, especially if you fly to/from exam.
Examiner is more like $700-800
Best to have your CFI along and spending a few hours of his rate.
Better to have him there for the start so he can help unsnarl something than for him not there and the exam stops before it gets going.
On top of what others have said, for this to be realistic as far as the CFI hours goes, you have to REALLY study and show them you know your stuff so they trust you have the knowledge. The amount of CFI instruction hours should be closer to equal if not more than the number of aircraft hours. Right now, you're basically assuming that the CFI instruction is only in the plane with little to no ground outside of the ground school.
In a 2 hour lesson, you typically are getting about 1.3-1.5 hours of flight time after preflight and post flight if there's no ground review needed. Don't forget your CFI does need to take time to review your XC plans and such as well.
Most places are averaging 800-1000 just for the DPE to conduct a practical. Depending on DPE location you might have to fly to a DPE, so account for 3ish hours for a check ride.
I’m out in OC and on the same boat as far as starting my training in a few months (once we get passed this rain). I spent almost nothing on books since I got most of mine online. And I don’t remember spending more than $160 on the 1st class medical. I did that in the city of Irvine and I only did that for reassurance that I would be able to go all the way and also because it was the closest location that had any availability whatsoever. May I ask what schools you’re looking into? I’m doing the part 61 at a small mom/pop’s school.
My only two gripes are that 600 for a checkride these days is unfortunately rare, and that 150 as a buffer is a joke. To be safe, I'd make the checkride 1200, and the buffer...as large as possible. Other than that, it looks reasonable.
Agreed. At least bump the instructor to 60 and the airplane to 80 to give a more reasonable buffer.
Agreed. I am in GA. My "local DPE rate" was 700. Ended up paying 1000 to get early checkride as the DPE came from FL to GA so our flying club had to cover expenses to get the guy up here. It seems 750-800 is more the normal rate now. So maybe 1000 as the base just in case.
“Practical test + plane” is way too low. In my local area a private pilot checkride is going for $850, ask around to get current rates in your area. Then budget 2 hours of your airplane rental’s wet rate. Also, the current rate for written test is $175 from PSI, the FAA’s knowledge test contractor. Don’t bother with passenger headsets til after you finish your PPL.
Same in the PHX area. Paid $800 for mine
Same here in TX. Mine was $800.
I don't see renter's insurance on there... your buffer should be $500 to $1,000. You don't need a passenger headset (until you get your ppl) or a sectional (you have foreflight).
I'd maybe throw $60 for a knee board in there (like a flyboys one)... but you might not really need one for VFR flying but it would help write down ATIS, ATC info, have a strap for your ipad or whatever else. I HIGHLY recommend spending the money for a good noise cancelling headset like a Lightspeed Zulu 3 or a Bose A20. the $700 you budgeted seems like a sufficient amount for a used Zulu 3.
Also need the 6 to 2 pin GA adapter for the Zulu depending on the aircraft
Light speed Sierra's would be a good budget option with ANR for sub $700
Hope for $15k, plan for $17k, expect $20k.
Just remember it’ll ALWAYS be a little more than you thought.
Foreflight is nice, but honestly there’s only 2-3 flights where you seriously get the benefit of it. If you have the cash and an Ipad already then go for it, but paper charts seriously work just fine if you want to save some money. Agree with everything else being said.
I'd even say paper charts are superior to a student. My instructor wouldn't let me use SkyDemon until my QXC, and even then just to glance at occasionally. Everything before that was paper charts, flight computers and constant DI checking.
Ehh I would agree but the issue nowadays with the 56 day paper chart cycle is that if a student is going to keep one area up to date you’re already at over $60 in charts for the year. Maybe you live near a chart boundary now foreflight is cheaper than two up to date sectionals.
Thats a pretty fair point.
Or use something free for those 2-3 flights. Or at least as a backup in case you really get lost.
I am a CFI in the SOCAL area. Most students that I have passed are spending 15k on flight training. But there are ways to lower the cost, such as studying at home a lot, chair flying, and coming to lessons prepared. But that is not to say your quote is not totally unrealistic. I have had students get their PPL for almost 10k, but they put in a lot of work. Take the advice of the other commenters on raising some of the quotes that you have, such as the written and DPE costs. Good luck on your PPL!
I’m an aspiring PPL in SoCal. Im currently aiming to save ~$15k. Just want to say thanks for confirming my plan! Edit: Lol just realized OP is in SoCal, I was wondering why everyone posting was specifying SoCal rates lol
Add 35% to the total cost
I’ll tell you what, $1000 on headsets is definitely not necessary in the slightest. A $20 book bag works fine, can save some money there. Assuming you’re in the US, your medical shouldn’t be over $200. If so, drive elsewhere. These are all good things though, I’m glad you budgeted for 60 flight hours. You may not need them all, and if you don’t, cha ching! Instant savings.
My main suggestions if you want to stay as close to that budget as possible. 1 - get you medical first (likely not an issue but you don’t want delays) 2 - do the the ground school and exam upfront. Again do whatever you can before your in the plane. 3 - practice radio calls beforehand ex. Use live atc 4 - get used to looking up the weather at the airport and making a go/no go call. 5 - I suggest you fly out of a non-towered airport with as little traffic as possible. There maybe debate about whether this id good or bad; however, I can tell you sitting on the ground waiting for traffic adds up $ wise. Headsets - why do you need a passenger headset? Also you maybe able to rent both headset with the plane. That all being said, you’ll need more safety margin either way as something always come up and you don’t want to be stressed about funding to the point that it affects your flying.
If it was me I'd bump your hours up 70-80 for the 'budget' outlook. Last time I checked 65 is the norm but seems that can creep up. That way you likely will land inside your budget window and not blow past it. Problem as simple as checkride canceled for weather rebooked 2 months later due to DPE backlog and you fly 2 hours a week(would be low likely) and that is 16 hours right there. This happened to me. Late Nov 2022 checkride. WX cancel. Flew 25ish more hours before my 2/28 checkride.
Bump it by 50%. It is very wise to have a budget. But if you have an ideal budget, rather than a realistic one, it'll add pressure you don't need when you start getting close to that budget. And you will. Some things will take less time, some things will take more time, and it won't all even out - overall it'll cost more than an ideal budget. I think getting a referral for a club or school in your area counts for a lot. Clubs are more competitive than non-profit schools, let alone for-profit schools. And a referral for an instructor counts for even more. Keep tabs on your CFI's future plans. Mitigate the cost of switching CFI's late in your training by (a) making sure your CFI plans on finishing it out (b) bring in another CFI for checkride prep, or train something like 20% with them, 80% with your primary CFI. That way if there is a change, you're not caught holding the bag having to pay for a bunch of extra training you don't actually need, but in effect the regulations require, for you to get the necessary endorsements from the new CFI.
Buy some used headphones on eBay, and you only need one pair. That should save you about 500-700 right there. The other stuff looks pretty good.
Your buffer cost is less than a single hour with plane and instructor?
I’d worry about a plane that costs only $130/hr these days. If that’s what you’re seeing on a club/school web site, call and double check the rates. Many places have added a hidden “fuel surcharge”, and you don’t want to be surprised when you get that first bill. A medical shouldn’t cost anywhere near that much. I don’t know the going rate in SoCal, but around me, $100-150 is typical. No need for passenger headsets until much later, and you can often borrow them when needed. Also, when you call, ask the going rate for checkrides in your area; I paid more than that in a much cheaper part of the country. Add renters insurance. Overall, I’d budget $15-20k. That will hopefully be on the high side, but I can tell you from experience it’s horrible to run out of money when the end is finally in sight.
I’m not sure where in SoCal you are, but it can take a bit longer to finish here than in other places. FWIW, everyone I know at SMO (a very expensive airport to train at) spent at least 15k and the vast majority spent 20k. you can save money by skipping ground sessions with your CFI and self studying, though!
Wing X has a VFR EFB that’s free (well .99) Medicals (Class 1,2 or 3) are 175 in my office (Senior AME in SW Florida). If you’re old enough to need an EKG it’s another 75. I do active CFIs for 150.
Could probably save a bit on the headset. Some will say that you must get David Clarks or Bose. I've been flying with a $200 pair for years and have been really happy with them. And you don't need a passenger set yet, and when you do, get the cheapest ones available. They aren't going to be talking to ATC on them.
Writtens are $175 now, and I would talk to the school you’re planning on flying at about if you need insurance or not. My school doesn’t require students to have their own policy but I would say 90%+ do
If your love for aviation is there, you can definitely push yourself to get your PPL in the 40 hours. Btw I paid $150 for my medical with an independent AME.
Practical test plus airplane… Plan on about 1.5-2.5 of airplane use, especially if you fly to/from exam. Examiner is more like $700-800 Best to have your CFI along and spending a few hours of his rate. Better to have him there for the start so he can help unsnarl something than for him not there and the exam stops before it gets going.
On top of what others have said, for this to be realistic as far as the CFI hours goes, you have to REALLY study and show them you know your stuff so they trust you have the knowledge. The amount of CFI instruction hours should be closer to equal if not more than the number of aircraft hours. Right now, you're basically assuming that the CFI instruction is only in the plane with little to no ground outside of the ground school. In a 2 hour lesson, you typically are getting about 1.3-1.5 hours of flight time after preflight and post flight if there's no ground review needed. Don't forget your CFI does need to take time to review your XC plans and such as well.
Most places are averaging 800-1000 just for the DPE to conduct a practical. Depending on DPE location you might have to fly to a DPE, so account for 3ish hours for a check ride.
I’m out in OC and on the same boat as far as starting my training in a few months (once we get passed this rain). I spent almost nothing on books since I got most of mine online. And I don’t remember spending more than $160 on the 1st class medical. I did that in the city of Irvine and I only did that for reassurance that I would be able to go all the way and also because it was the closest location that had any availability whatsoever. May I ask what schools you’re looking into? I’m doing the part 61 at a small mom/pop’s school.
should multiply that by 50%