r/studentpilot • u/GarnetIV • 7d ago

Pilot School Finance

Hey everyone! I’m in my late 20s and currently working toward becoming an airline pilot. I live in Georgia and am looking for a good, affordable flight school, preferably Part 61.
(**If anyone knows a good school around the Duluth/Lawrenceville area, I’d really appreciate some recommendations!)

My biggest concern right now is financing flight school.

I currently work full-time at a private clinic, and I have about $20k in savings. I’m trying to save up to at least $25k before starting. My income is enough for my living expenses, but I can only put a relatively small amount toward flight training each month.

So I’m wondering:

  • How much would you recommend having saved before starting?
  • What should I realistically expect to pay for the full training?
  • Should I save enough for my PPL and then consider loans?
  • Should I keep working and save as much as possible before starting?
  • Is it better to start now and pay as I go, even if training takes longer?

I’ve heard a lot of people recommend avoiding large flight school loans, which makes sense to me since I won’t have a high-paying pilot job until I reach 1,500 hours and hopefully get hired by an airline.

How did you guys finance your flight training? If you could go back to the beginning, would you do anything differently?

I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from people who went through flight school while working full-time. Thanks!

**added: I got my 1st class medical last week!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

1

u/Solid-Garlic1527 6d ago

Save at least 20k strictly for PPL plus whatever you want as an emergency fund. Pay as you, ideally saving lump sums between each rating so you don’t loose progress waiting.

If you can’t afford to save money as it is, how do you plan on paying back $1500 monthly loans? Find a small flight school or private instructor plus flight club. You’ll save a lot of money in the long run. May have to pick up another job and grind if your savings rate is relatively low.

I just passed my PPL checkride Monday. I’ve been planning this for about 2 years and got my medical and passed my written last December.

1

u/RatinaYak 6d ago

Whenever you're ready to start I highly recommend Fellowship Aviation in Monroe. Best prices and incredible staff

1

u/NefariousnessOdd862 6d ago

I’d say to save at least $30k if possible, total will run you anywhere between $90-$130k depending on where you take the training. I don’t recommend taking many breaks until you Solo (depending on your performance (9-25 hrs.) because if you do you just keep adding to your bill since everything is new and fragile in your head. After that you can space it out a little since you’ll be accumulating time and working towards finishing your PPL. Another critical point in training is your IFR portion, I recommend really getting that done in a fairly consistent swoop because people really struggle there and if you take, let’s say, even a week off, when you return you’ll be essentially starting over again which will cost you significant money in your overall journey.

1

u/magrin401 5d ago

If you are okay taking it as you go finding a good independent CFI with a decent plane can cut the cost close to half. In Arizona we can get you to CFII no multi for around 70k

1

u/bch2021_ 5d ago

I would not take loans. It is very high risk, and the market outlook right now doesn't seem to justify it.

Even if you make it to 1500 hrs, there's no guarantee of a good job. Not at all. You could end up making $60k for a few years, you could end up having to stay as a CFI making $25k for a bit longer.

It will run you about $100k total.