How to Pay for Pilot School: A Guide To Understanding the True Cost of Flight Training and Avoiding Flight School Loan Pitfalls
Check the video out for the full flight cost training overview: https://youtu.be/UDtaU1ivNlY?si=05L4rCSkU6G6DlQ0
By Trevor Dobbs
For aspiring pilots, the dream of flying can feel exhilarating—until it collides with financial reality. At Dobbs Flight Service, we believe that every student deserves clear, honest guidance when it comes to the true cost of flight training. Unfortunately, one of the top reasons student pilots never earn their wings is because of one issue: money.
Too many students begin flight training without a full understanding of what it really costs. This industry can be confusing, with varying regulations, misleading quotes, and surprise fees. Many flight schools advertise the bare minimum required by the FAA—just 40 hours for a private pilot under Part 61. But here’s the truth: hardly anyone finishes at that number. In fact, AOPA reports that the national average for private pilot certification falls between 70 and 80 hours.
That’s nearly double the minimum—and double the cost many students expect.
The Problem with Minimum Quotes
Some flight schools quote you based on 20 hours with an instructor and 10 solo, then multiply those by aircraft and instructor hourly rates. Sounds affordable, right? But it’s also unrealistic. These quotes often exclude critical components like:
Pre- and post-flight briefings
Checkride fees
Ground instruction
Learning Plateaus
This gap between quote and reality can leave students stuck—three-quarters through their training and suddenly out of funds. And once they pause? It’s incredibly hard to restart. Many never return.
What Makes Dobbs Different?
We’ve seen this too many times—and we decided to do something about it.
At Dobbs Flight Service, we provide comprehensive, realistic quotes based on real student data, not minimum legal requirements. On average, our students complete their training around 65 hours. That’s why we quote:
55 hours of dual flight instruction, not the bare minimum
Pre- and post-briefing time (15 minutes before and after each flight)
Checkride costs
We believe in conservative budgeting—so that you’re not caught off guard. Our quotes reflect what most students actually need, not what looks cheapest on paper. Then we encourage students to budget an additional 15% for unplanned interruptions in you gaining proficiency due to delays like weather, maintenance, or schedule changes.
What to Watch for When Shopping Flight Schools
Before choosing a flight school, ask these questions:
What is your aircraft hourly rate and instructor hourly rate?
Is instruction time based on Hobbs time or total instructor time?
How many hours of dual instruction are included in your quote?
Do you include pre- and post-flight briefing time in pricing?
Are checkride fees included or separate?
What happens if I decide to leave the program early? Are there penalties or refund restrictions?
If a school bases quotes on 20 hours of instruction, be cautious. Multiply at least 55 hours by the instructor rate and 65 hours by the aircraft rate to get closer to reality.
Beware of Upfront, All-Inclusive Programs
Many accelerated flight training programs require full payment upfront, often in the range of $90,000–$110,000. These programs can seem convenient, but if things don’t work out—if you’re unsatisfied or need to leave—some contracts carry penalties of up to $20,000. Worse, if the school underquoted your needs, you may run out of funds before finishing.
Remember: most flight training loans are unsecured personal loans with high interest rates—sometimes up to 16%. We’ve seen students stuck paying $1,500 per month in loan payments while working as flight instructors earning just $33,000 a year.
This is a major life investment. It’s essential that you protect your financial future by asking the right questions and planning ahead.
Our Commitment to You
At Dobbs Flight Service, we don’t just train pilots—we prepare them for the journey ahead. Financial preparedness is a huge part of that. We want every student who walks through our doors to finish strong, on budget, and on their way to a professional aviation career.
Flight training is a skill-based journey—the more consistently you train, the more proficient and cost-effective you become. By aligning expectations with reality from day one, we help ensure that your investment in flight training takes you all the way to your goals.
If you're ready to take off with clarity and confidence, visit our website for our full pricing breakdown and let’s start building your path to the sky—one informed step at a time.
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🗓️ Schedule a Free Consultation to walk through your goals, timeline, and personalized path to becoming a pilot.
