Ok, I'm looking again at costs, many thanks to all the posters so far. I've now come up with the following:
On a like for like basis I've worked out accurate costs for some scenarios which others my find helpful.
Standard items in addition to the actual flying time itself I've listed as
- Exams - estimated at £140
- Food - estimated at £200 pw
- Club Membership
- R/T Exam - approx £100
- Medical - approx £100
- Skills Test Examiner Fee - approx £150
- CAA Licence Fee - £146
- Return Lessons/Checkride - 3 to 5 hrs at ABZ added to non ABZ options
- Loss of Earnings - if I take unpaid leave for the US option (the others I may be able to work into my schedule - ie go into the office if the Wx is crap)
- Flights and Accomodation as necessary (UK based accomo priced circa £35 pn to get an idea, I'm sure there'll be cheaper)
With a like for like comparison and additional costs where necessary, for a PPL with Night rating (55 hours instruction - no sim), the scores on the doors come out at (obviously, this has a Scottish focus as I'm in Aberdeen):
Note these include Acommodation and travel so don't take them as the actual package costs! They're specific to me!
UK, Aberdeen - £8733
UK, Tayside - £7903
UK, Inverness - £7006
US, Florida - £6353
The US cost also assumes that I'd be down £1000 on loss of earnings if I had to take unpaid leave as I don't want to use all availiable hols. I can head to the office for scrubbed days for both Inv and Abz so thats not included.
Aberdeen are expensive due to the £16 landing fee and the lack of a publicised PPL package, I'll quiz them about that next time I'm there and see if I can cut a deal.
But if I used more of my holiday allowance to reduce the £1000, or remove it completely, for me to get the PPL and Night in the US would come out £3,380 - £2,380 cheaper, including 5 hours instruction back at ABZ when I get back.
That's a lot of cash. The Inverness option is more attractive at only £700 more than US assuming the £1000 loss of earnings.
However - Option 2 - is get the NPPL.
Realistically, Im going to be flying VFR only within the UK anyway (although given the winter up here I would like a Night rating). If I run the same exercise for NPPL at 32 hours and no medical costs, it comes out at:
Inverness - £5152
Aberdeen - £5989
Tayside - £6159
So ultimately, that may be my best option. Hope that's of use to some one aside from me - it's amazing how the exam, medical, licence and other costs add up beyond "Get your PPL for XXX"
