Chasing the Dream: How to Fly on the Cheap!

September 21, 2023
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airlines, aviation, career, cockpit, flight instructing, flight training, pilot

Chasing the Dream: How to Fly on the Cheap!

Chasing the Dream:

How to Fly on the Cheap!

The Problem:

All your life, you’ve dreamed of flying.

You look skyward at every airplane sound. You scour YouTube in search of more flying videos. You can tell a Pilatus from a Gulfstream from a Boeing from 5 miles below.

You live, breathe, eat aviation.

There’s just one catch: In your country, one hour of flight training costs more than your monthly rent. Or, worse, your draconian government simply bans flying.

What’s a wannabe aviator to do?

The Solution:

Come to America!

Yes! The good ol’ US of A, the Land of the Free skies and the Home of the Brave aviation adventurists!

From around the world, aviation buffs flock to the United States in search of a dream: the coveted Private Pilot’s license.

Indeed, for many around the world, it is actually less expensive to fly out to, and live and train, in the US than it is to fly in their home country—If their home country even allows such “follies” as flight training!

Chasing the Dream:

How to Fly on the Cheap!

Dante: One Blog Buddy's Dream

Recently, I had the great honor of meeting up with good Blog Buddy Dante. You may remember him from our Hong Kong Adventure series, where he was a very generous and gracious host!

Several years ago, he flew out to LA for an introductory flight. I was able to fly out and meet him for the day as well!

Flash Forward to today, and guess what? Dante flew all the way back from Hong Kong—where general aviation is prohibited—and lived for several months while flight training!

Let’s hear about it firsthand!

Direct video link: https://vimeo.com/867733762

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Dante and his pal Jeff on jobs well done!

Chasing the Dream: How to Fly on the Cheap!

Dante and Jeff took the time to visit other aviation locations as well, such as air museums and even the Space Shuttle itself.

Chasing the Dream:

How to Fly on the Cheap!

The Cost of Chasing Your Dream

Do Your Homework!

So, is flying in the States truly as “dirt cheap” as it seems?

Well, no.

It will still cost you a pretty penny.

“At my school, the rates are some of the cheapest in (Phoenix, Arizona, a popular flight training area),” says John Keith, CFI (Certified Flight Instructor).

“I’ve seen anywhere from $145.00 per hour wet rate (including gas and oil) all the way to $385.00 Dry rate (w/o gas & oil).”

Both of those prices, he says, are without the instructor, and
that price varies as well.

“Pricing for the CFI is from 60-139$ per hour, ” he says.

"It's a culmination of several choices and areas, and the biggest hurdle for all student pilots is the price. I work for a Flight school, both parts 61 and 141. Less than 20NM away is another similar-sized school, but the cost is almost triple."

John Keith, Flight Instructor

Mr. Keith went on to say that, on average, most students get the Private Pilot License in his area in about 55-65 hrs.

But, he cautions, prices vary wildly by school and location. Further, even the cost of the check-ride can vary between 600-1500 per check ride.

So, a lot of research ahead of time is crucial.

Adding it All Up

So, based on his lowest rates, for a flight student needing 55-65 hours of flying time (40 is the FAA minimum), that would equate to…well, you can do the math in your own currency!

A word to the wise: The best travel advice I ever got came from Daddy Aux.

He said, When you travel, put everything you want to take with you out on the bed. Then, put away half the clothes and take twice the money!

Whatever number you came up for the cost of your flight training is a lower estimate (in 2023 dollars). Don’t forget to add the cost of airfare over and back, hotel/apartment rental, car rental, food, and incidentals you need.

Then…

Save up gobs more than that, so that you can chase your dream smartly!!!

Chasing the Dream:

How to Fly on the Cheap!

Glitches

Why save up “gobs more” money?

In a word, “Glitches.”

One should always factor in “glitches;” I can guarantee you it won’t go as smoothly as you’d like!

There will be weather delays, mechanical delays, scheduling delays…the bobblehead other students will do dumb things that break your precious airplane!

So, in short, hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Plan to stay a month longer at least, to cover for said delays.

Dante, for example, was stuck out in the cold when his flight instructor suddenly quit to go fly for the airlines. Getting scheduled and up to speed with a new instructor, along with confusion as to what training was covered and what was not, nearly cost him his opportunity to schedule his checkride before he had to return to Hong Kong.

In Summary

If you dream of flying but are restricted where you live, perhaps there’s options. But, no options come cheap.

It will take some serious, thorough planning on your part…just like a pilot plans for a flight!

Chasing the Dream:

How to Fly on the Cheap!

Hemisphere Dancing Report

RIP Jimmy Buffett!!!

Sadly, this month we lost one of my favorite singers, a true cultural icon.

Jimmy Buffett succumbed to skin cancer at the age of 76.

He was a singer and songwriter of such hits as Margaritaville, It’s 5 o’Clock Somewhere, Son of a Son of a Sailor, A Pirate Looks at 40 and Fins.

He was also a guitarist, an author, and a pilot.

Indeed, Buffett’s beloved Grumman Albatross airplane, which he christened, “Hemisphere Dancer,” is the original inspiration for this section of the blog.

Below: A beautiful Tribute Tweet by Paul McCartney.