Flying lessons, how much per hour?

[sloany]

Guys need some advise,

I have been looking at the prospect of doing a few hours flying before the FB at BA and was wondering what sort of price I should expect to pay for an hours lesson.
I have looked at several websites but I just want a rough idea from people who have been there and done it before.
Thx
Sloany

PS - Can anyone recommend a good school in the South East?

[Funkie]

Hi Sloany,

It really all depends on what you intend to fly, and where. Most flying clubs will dictate their own costs.

For example, I am training on a C152 at a fairly local flying club. The cost for a 1-hour lesson is £106.00. Generally speaking this includes a ground school lesson before the flight, and a de-brief after. The actual flight will last an hour.

Also, depending upon where you fly landing charges may apply, they don't where I'm flying from so can't give a budget figure. (Perhaps others can)

Apart from that, there are other costs involved, such as a logbook, checklist, club membership to ensure your covered for any accidents. Oh and not forgetting your medical.

I hope the above is of some help, if you have any other q's, just post em.

Fra

[Buggs]

In the South East...Shoreham (nr Brighton). Landing fees 13 quid and touch and goes 7 quid, so not the cheapest of places. There are a number of schools based there, and if you only want to get a few hours trial in then its a good a place as any. Try Premiair, flew with them today in a Warrier 2000. OK, so it was indulgence at £140ph!!! :eek: But an instructor can take you up for a short flight for about 20-30 quid.

[BozoUK]

Sloany,

At the flying school where I work at Exeter, our rates per hour are:

C150: £100 - £4 landing
C172: £112 - £5 landing

if you would like I can forward our info pack by email to your address - the information would be fairly standard wherever you go, so it may be helpful.

For what it's worth, I think you have gone for a good route before your BA FB - I reached that stage last November, but didn't pass - i believe because I only had one hour of flying experience two years previously.

However I can't be sure because BA didn't give me any feedback, saying they didn't have the resources...ummm.

[sloany]

Thanks FRA, BUGGS and BozoUK for your replies.
I had better start doing some overtime! :)

The points you all raised are interesting as I had overseen some of the costs, being honest pretty much all of the costs.
I have one further question, do schools mind if you only book up single lessons or do they try and push for a group of say 10?
BozoUK maybe you could shed some light on that one.

Thx
Sloany

[Funkie]

Hi Sloany,

I would not have thought that they would be too pushy, however I would suggest that you should fly at least twice a month.

I know this may seem not seem expensive to some, but to folk like us doing it of our own back it will keep the cost down (if that's possible) but also ensure that the practical side of things, like flying the plane, are not forgotten.

It may be an idea to suggest a block booking with a view to getting a reduced rate....

If you don’t ask, you wont get..

Good luck

Fra :) :)

[RVR800]

Up North - Excellent value
Daan sarf - F-expensive

[IanBowden]

yeah! here at newcatle areo club i pay £95 pound a lesson and haven't paid any extra charges such as ldg fees yet, not sure about tommorow though when i move on to ciruits!

Oh, and thats in a warrior!

Ian
:cool:

[kiwi_boy]

Geez - looking at those prices make me glad im at the bottom of the world. Prices start at about 30pounds h/r Tomahawk to 50pounds h/r C-172. Landing fees 6pounds max.

Other than that - Ive nothing to offer so all the best!!!

[Golden Monkey]

Kiwi Boy - can you recommend any flight schools in NZ? I'm in the UK but am licensed (and have done 90% of my PPL flying) in Canada, due to the huge cost differential (sounds similar to what you've posted per hour).

Flying locally (Bournemouth) I've had the delight of a £220 bill for 1.4 hours in a Warrior(!) hence have decided to stick with overseas flying for the moment.

Anyways, I was planning on a flying holiday in NZ next year but have no idea about the scene down there, any info appreciated (via Email?). Cheers!

[FlyFreeWbe]

Mine costs around £80 :D
That's at Marshall Aerodrome (Cambridge)
Didn't say nothing about groups..?
No landing fees either

[ 25 July 2001: Message edited by: FlyFreeWbe ]

[Tiger_ Moth]

YES! that means there wont be any extra landing fees for my moth flying at Cambridge. Just as well too because that would break me, especially when doing circuits. The Tiger Moth costs just under £100 p/h with instruction but it is a non profit organisation.

In my learn to fly magazine I see plenty of schools offering 152s at under £90/hr, even some at around £70, but that might not include hidden costs like landing fees.
For example Clacton Aero Club in Essex has 152s at £84/hr.
Herefordshire Aero Club has 152s at £76/hr brought down to £51.40 hr if you pay £15 a month.
( these figures are with instruction )

Infact I'd recommend you buy this magazine: Learn to Fly guide 2001/2002 by Flyer magazine, it has complete listings of all flying clubs in the UK with information on plane types, costs etc for each one. It costs £3.95.

[FlyFreeWbe]

Glad to have made some else in the big wide world happy!!
:D

[Bluebaron]

Another good point to note is what you are charged on ie:

Brakes to Brakes
Hobbs
Tach
T/O - Land

It can make a big difference. Do note that however you are charged you should log brakes off the brakes on. You could end up logging 1.7 and paying for 1.0 like my student this morning! (the hobbs got stuck).

good luck

[BEagle]

£70 per hour chock-to-chock on a Cherokee 140C or £80 per hour for a Warrior. Includes fuel, instructor, landings, headsets...everything - even coffee. Free exams, £135 for PPL Skill Test.

Those are the sort of prices which non-profit clubs with volunteer FIs could charge; work out the delta cost to establish what extra you might be paying if you're paying substantially more.

[kiwi_boy]

CZBB Is full - sorry for the late reply try www.ardmore.co.nz (http://www.ardmore.co.nz) - theres quite a few guys from overseas that come for the same reason. There is accomadation across the road - and varoius flats around the airport.

All the best!

[ 27 July 2001: Message edited by: kiwi_boy ]

[BozoUK]

Sorry for the delay in replying.

Our flying school and most that I know of don't have a set number of lessons per week that you have to fly.

Most of our students fly once a week, but we usually ask for payment per lesson - it solves a lot of bookeeping problems, and means we don't have to devote too much time on this side of the business - therefore trying to keep costs down - although it doesn't look like it from the hourly charge.

However, we wouldn't say now to someone wanting to pay say £2000 in advance - we don't give set prices for the course, it would be impractical.

[sloany]

Looks like newzealand is the place to go! I have just booked a lesson in Shoreham for £123, bit pricy by the sounds of things but I needed it quickly and they are a friendly bunch down there.

Thanks for all the posts as this gives me a better idea of what to expect.

Sloany :cool:

[kiwi_boy]

Tho in the land of the Pound I would have thought employment prospects may be a little greater?

[Golden Monkey]

Yeah, but we don't have all that great scenery and wide open airspace you have down there. :)

[JimNich]

Yeah ya do, its called Scotland!