£ 7,000 For a PPL?

[rziola]

Good morning/afternoon chaps

Got the good new that a PPL will cost me £7,000 to do at a Flight school near reading, I originaly budgeted on £5-5,500. Can anyone recommend my option at a better price near Reading ?

[EGBKFLYER]

Did the school concerned give you a breakdown of that price?

Reason I ask is that that some schools will give you minimum costs (i.e. min hours in the cheapest trainer) and may forget to show you how other things like medicals, exams and licence fees can add up. In this case, it's possible the school was giving you a realistic budget figure - allowing for extra hours above minimum (which is common due to waiting for weather etc) and including the 'peripherals' like books, kit, medicals etc etc.

My initial feeling is that £5500 is a little tight for a PPL in southern UK - I would budget nearer the £6000- 6500 mark if you can - I'm basing that on doing around 50 hours for £120 per hour.

Best of luck - you won't regret learning to fly no matter how much you spend!

[rziola]

Thanks for the reply

The figure included all costs. Still seems a little high, but then again.

[High Wing Drifter]

Sounds like a price for a four seater (AA5, PA28, etc). Get a quote for a 152; why pay for four seats?

[What's a Girdler]

I also fly at an airfield near Reading. EGLK to be exact. Not sure if it was them you spoke to but, there is an organisation there whom i fly with who have Katana DV20s, a great pilot's aeroplane, and great fun to fly. They are cheaper than the 4 seaters mentioned by HWD, in fact the same price as the 152. However, they are low wing, sporty, have a stick control and also a constant RPM propeller (variable pitch) which makes them more efficient and gives them a terrific rate of climb. Worth investigation!!

[egbt]

Another key factor will be how frequently you fly, I think it would be difficult to get a PPL in 45 hours if that was spread over say 2 years but very possible if you could do it over a few months as I did. I understand that 65 hours is becoming the average (I had previously thought it was 55) and I suspect a lot of that is due to extended courses (and older trainees?)

Don't forget landing fees away from base and possibly at base also ground school if you need it.

Agree with the others try for a C152 or a PA38, hire for a PA38 at EGBT would be c £15 per hour cheaper than a PA28.

I suggest you stick with FTO's at licensed airfields, if its unlicensed you will have to touch down at a licensed field to validate the flight and that takes time and money.

Why not ask for a detailed breakdown of the proposed course?

Good luck

(I don't speak for EGBT or the flight School I just fly from there)

[TenAndie]

Go to the states and do it in 3 weeks for under £3000 !!

[B.L.G Bob]

I finished my PPL in 70 hrs. So it would be wise to allow for over spend. I was given a breakdown for the minimum of 45 hours, on a PA28. Looking for a cheaper type will help reduce costs. Shop around if you can. Have to agree with egbt, frequency of flying does play a part. As I worked away from home for long peroids, it was initiallly 3 steps forward and 2 back. Hey I got there in the end

Just incase you are wondering I done my first solo at 24 hours. An instructor will not let you up solo until he is happy. So don't worry if you feel you are going around in circles.


Enjoy the experience

[Farrell]

I wouldn't give a school on this side of the pond money to train. far to expensive. go to the states

[egbt]

If you have a job to hold down or for other reasons can't take 3 - 6 weeks away you don't have much choice but to do it in UK.

Just did the sums, I completed my PPL 2 years ago yesterday. It cost £5.6k, incl 47.75 Hrs PA38 (inc hire for skills test), books, exams, basic equipment, landing fees and the medical. It took just over 3 months and I flew on 24 days.

Champaign at the end extra:ok:

[Evil J]

I say what I always say on this subject when it comes up. It can be done in the UK quick and cheap- my brother did it in 12 days in Scotland ( full JAR PPL) for about £4500, Ok that didnt include ground school/medicals etc...just ask Mad-Jock about it

[rustle]

Can anyone recommend my option at a better price near Reading ?

I presume this means READING in BERKSHIRE in ENGLAND rather than any other "Readings" in the USA or Scotland ;)

There's two schools at Blackbushe, then there's White Waltham, Booker (High Wycombe), Oxford...

[egbt]

Reading, Berkshire County, PA, USA has a nice GA field, right outside our US office but with all the bureaucracy and security I never get to fly :(

[rednine]

I have got to agree with the US option - excellent teaching, continuity and half the price. Choose the school carfully and don't be put off by those who tell you otherwise. Having trained both in the UK and USA I wouldn't hesitate with the USA option - why pay through the nose here?

[Julian]

Its a while since I did my PPL but mate has just started at Manchester and he has been quoted £7000 for 45 hours >>Note minimum hours!<< but does also include all his books, briefing and the flight test.

Its best to budget for more than the 45 hours as you will inveriably bust it, especially if you are not flying regulary due to say work commitments or weather, you will have to revisit lessons to bring you back upto speed again.

As others have said, if you can get some time off work spend a month in the US and get your JAA and FAA licences over there in one hit.

Julian.

[QantasEagle]

A couple of months ago I started a forum about the costs of a PPL but not much interest then.

I looked at all the schools in Scotland and tried to work it out for a 45 hours period plus all the other exam, equipment costs and I had contacted all the schools.

The best value seemd to be Highland Flying club in Inverness who were about 4,000 and the worst was Aberdeen at about 7000+ (now Flight Academy Scotland)

I also think that Glenrothes was good at about 4,000. As i say it is a couple of months ago and the forum has gone but I think that these figures were about right.

Just shows the variability in costs across one of England's small counties! (oops, sorry!!)

[wet wet wet]

No disrespect to the Manchester School of Flying (who do a grand job in supporting GA at Manchester), but Manchester must be about the most expensive airfield to do a PPL. The costs of long holds, both on the ground and in the air and positioning to other fields to do circuit work all add up. 'Club' airfields should be cheaper than the larger commercial ones.

With regard to training in the USA, it's certainly cheaper BUT I suggest that you will need to add on the cost of some dual time once you arrive back in the UK with your new PPL. Air law, circuit procedures and especially the weather are all different here!

[charliegolf]

Cliff Day at Haverfordwest will fly you for £90 per hour- rent a mobile home for 2 weeks at a go!

CG

[flybyday]

To date I've clocked up 69 hours and spent £7797.09 (give or take a few thousand) on my PPL journey.

I started learning with Avon Flying School @ Wellesbourne back in Aug '02 flying Robin HR200s. After they went bust (and took £1000 of my money - thanks Mr Royce) I became a bit disillusioned and gave up for a year.

You then realise money spent so far is down the drain if you don't carry on so I transferred to a reputable flying group in Coventry learning on a PA28.

I've still got the skills test and radio practical to complete so I expect to part with around £8200-£8500 for the privilege of that license certificate.

If you don't know anyone in this sport when starting out you're totally naive about how things work. You soon learn after being ripped off though. So don't pay full course fees up front and pay as you go by credit card.

Oh well - that's aviation.

[egbt]

or pay for blocks by credit card (NOT debit or Charge card), you should then be able to claim against the credit card company if the service is not delivered.

Looks like I had a lucky escape, I had a trial leason with Avon early in 93 but switched to Turweston as they were closer and the instructor was more professional - I did not take to the hour building FI at Avon.

[glidehigh]

I know it's not near Reading, but it might be worth having a wander up to Cranfield. There are so many flying schools there and its worth having a walk around and looking for the best deal. I did my JAR PPL in 45hours over about 4 months on the C150/172 and it came to just over £5000 inc books, tests, medical, landing fees etc. Very good value and excellent training at www.billinsair.freeserve.co.uk . All the best

[justsomepilot]

I don't think £9000 is unusual, given that the average time to complete is well over 45 hours. I took about 70 hours, plenty of people (mostly "old" ones) take 90-100. Changing schools or instructors makes things more expensive but is unavoidable if the original choice was less than great.

[Whirlybird]

Don't just look at the obvious costs. There are a lot of other factors involved.

Go to the school, see if you like the atmosphere, see if you'd feel happy there. Who are the instructors; are they experienced career instructors, or low hours hour-builders who can't wait to get an airline job? Don't get me wrong, some hourbuilders are fine. But some aren't...and can add hours and hours to your training by their bad attitude.

Also, how does the school charge - engine on to engine off, brakes off to brakes on, or tacho hours? It can make a difference of 5-10 minutes in every hour. Does the school charge home landing fees? If it's a busy airfield, how long will you have to wair for departure; that too can eat into the costs.

I'm sure there are more things to be considered which I haven't thought of; someone help me out here.

But do some visits, ask some questions, and look at the whole picture.

[englishal]

BUT I suggest that you will need to add on the cost of some dual time once you arrive back in the UK with your new PPL. Air law, circuit procedures and especially the weather are all different here!

Some = an hour or two, which at £150 per hour *may* be £300. When you're talking of $6000 as opposed to £6000 then £300 may not make much of a dent.

The weather is NOT that different here. It may be cooler here, but believe me you can get sh*te weather here, there, in the middle of the desert, in LA, in Miami, in France, in Norway, in Greenland....where ever.

In fact you can get nice weather here too, believe it or not.

If anything, the only difference weather will make is that you will end up paying more in a crappy climate due to cancellations, currency or whatever.

There, glad I got that off my chest. ;)