Minimizing Flight Training Costs

Flying is expensive and one of the most often questions asked is how much it will cost. Here are a few things you can do that will help make your flight training take less time (and therefore cost less):

• Fly frequently. The longer time between flight lessons the harder it is to continue where you left off. Flying about 2-3 times per week with studying on your own between lessons usually works best. Only flying once a week is doable, but your flight training may take longer. If you fly only every few weeks you typically spend most of your time brushing up on what you've learned before instead of learning new material. This is especially true if you haven't put a thought into anything flying related since the last lesson either. Also, saving up enough money for flight training before you start is better than running out of funds part way through because of this reason as well.
• Take a ground school course (such as at a community college or if your flight school or instructor does group ground training classes). This is can be significantly cheaper and minimizes the more expensive one-on-one time with an instructor.
• Pass your written exam (FAA knowledge test) before hand or as soon as possible. The ground school should prepare you well for this test and with some self-study, you should be ready to take it. Knowing as much of this material beforehand allows you to spend less time with a Flight Instructor going over it.
• Ask questions, you may want to make a list of questions or items that aren't clear when you're studying on your own and take that with you the next time you meet with your instructor.
• Do your homework so that your instructor can follow a "plan of action" or syllabus for your upcoming lessons. Your instructor should have a plan for the next lesson and give you a homework assignment (ie: reading up on stalls before practicing them on the next lesson, or planning a cross country flight that will be flown on the next lesson, etc). If you don't, it can increases costs by not being prepared and unable to stick to a syllabus's schedule.
• Be ready to fly when your instructor arrives. Depending on the instructor, they may charge their hourly rate when they arrive. If your instructor is comfortable with your preflighting abilities, preflight the plane and have enough fuel to be ready to go so your instructor isn't waiting for you.
• Use the same plane or at least the same model of plane during your training. Switching to another model will usually slow down the learning process.
• Chair fly by visualizing the flying maneuvers and other procedures. After your instructor has demonstrated a new maneuver (ie: a soft field takeoff), practice that procedure at home. This can be something like "For a soft field takeoff I will set flaps (as recommended) and taxi onto the runway without stopping with the yoke/stick aft, align with the runway then smoothly apply takeoff power. As takeoff power is applied, release back pressure and keep the nosewheel in the air. When the airplane lifts off, gently lower the nose to stay in ground effect until 60 knots is achieved, then climb out at Vx or Vy as appropriate.
  
  Note that the Airplane Flying Handbook goes over these maneuvers and the Practical Test Standards explain what will be required for each maneuver on your practical flight test. You can use these as a template for your "chair flying".
• Airport choice can sometimes affect costs, usually if it's a busy airport with delays. You will want to experience busy towered airports with airline traffic to quiet small and short strips. If there is less traffic you will save money as you won't be waiting with the engine running.
• Don't buy unnecessary items such as large "learn to fly" kits or purchasing a lot of gadgets sold by pilot shops. You don't necessarily need expensive kneeboards, fuel testers (when your rental plane has one), etc. I would hold off and see what you really need as you fly.

- Kevin Morisette is a CFII providing flight instruction in the greater Sacramento area.

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