What It Costs

What it costs to get a pilot’s license involves three main factors that are billed at an hourly rate. These include:

• The hourly rental rate for the airplane (varies)
• The hourly rate for the flight instructor who will be sitting next to you in the cockpit. (approximately $45 per hour)
• The hourly rate for the ground instructor who will prepare you for the FAA written exam. (approximately $45 per hour)

Hourly rental rates for a single-engine aircraft depends on the type of plane you rent. For instance:

• Cessna 152 (older) - $80 to $90
• Cessna 172 (newer) - $125
• Grumman Tiger - $140
• Cessna C172 with glass-canopied cockpit (latest) - $150
• Cirrus SR20 - $150

Other expenses to consider:

• Student pilot kit - $300 (headset, manuals, plotter, logbook, flight planner, etc.)
• FAA medical exam - $90
• FAA written exam - $90
• FAA-Designated Examiners fee - $350 (Practical test or final flight test)

The average amount you can expect to pay for your license is between $6,300 and $11,800, which takes into account your instructor’s fee, the type of plane you rent, and the cost of the accessories and fees associated with the tests.