Extra costs when training (CAA fees)

[nagsta]

I'm currently looking at starting a commercial licence so naturally, I'm trying to work out all the costs involved so I can best estimate how much it's going to cost me in the long run. It's easy to get a quote from a school but unfortunately, that's only half the story as most schools don't account for test fees, aircraft hire for check rides, fuel surcharges, medicals, licence issue fees etc etc.

So I'd like to find out what are the various fees you'll incur throughout your training. For a start, I know the ATPLs are charged at £66 per exam so that's £924 for all fourteen; the class 1 medical is £330 but what about CPL and IR test fees? What about licence issue fees? Anything else I'm leaving out?

[potkettleblack]

All CAA fees are published on their website. Each time you apply for a licence or rating you have to cough up. I seem to remember our school advising us to apply at the end of all of the training for the ME CPL/IR which saved a bit of cash.

To add to your list - landing fees, approach fees, away landing fees, VFR, IFR charts, protractors, pens, torch, kneeboards, headset rental/purchase, credit card surcharges, accommodation, food, insurance, uniforms? Add on extra flying hours as few will go through in the minimums.

[v6g]

Bribes....

[nagsta]

Thanks for the input potkettleblack. A lot of those smaller items could just be included under "misc. items" and probably wouldn't come to more than £500 depending on quality/brand and who you buy them from.

I've tried the CAA's website but that thing is a maze to me and I wasn't able to find the information. I was hoping someone here might know off the top of their head or had a link to the information.

One other thing you touched on, landing/approach fees. Roughly how many landings would you carry out during your training? I know it differs from student to student but a rough estimate would do me.

[MIKECR]

Current CAA scheme of charges in respect of proffessional licensing -

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/175/srg_fc...of_Doc1v10.pdf

Theres a seperate scheme for private licensing.

Dont fall off the back of your chair when you see the Instrument Rating Skill test fee A very expensive day!!!

Dont worry too much about landing fee's. Most schools block pay the relevant airfield operator so you'll find the landing fee's are all included in the school's hourly training cost.

[nagsta]

Thanks MIKECR.

So, correct me if I'm wrong but as a PPL holder, I'll need to have a night rating added to my licence -

Addition of an aircraft type/class rating to an existing licence.
£116

I'll need a CPL issued to me -

For the grant of a Commercial Pilot licence (Aeroplane), Commercial Pilot licence (Helicopter), Airline Transport Pilot licence (Aeroplane), Airline Transport Pilot licence (Helicopter) including an initial type rating and instrument rating where these are included in the application valid for 5 years.
£231

I'll need an MEP rating added to my licence -

Addition of an aircraft type/class rating to an existing licence.
£116

And an IR -

Inclusion or addition of an instrument rating (aeroplane) or instrument rating (helicopter).
£116

But it sound like you can combine some of these costs by applying for multiple additions to your licence in one go?

And wow, I didn't realise the IR skill test was so much! Is it the same for the CPL skill test? I don't see anything on there about it.

[MIKECR]

Its over 3 years now since I went through the process but I would imagine you can still get away with applying for licence/ratings etc together and thus only pay one fee. If memory serves me correctly then an application for licence fee includes either one or two ratings thrown in as part of the fee. That may have changed of course but perhaps someone who has went through the process recently may be able to better advise. The IR test fee still stands though. You also need to add your multi engine aircraft hire on top of that for the test day. All in all, test fee + 2 hours hire cost me the best part of £1500 for my test. By the looks of the scheme of charges the CPL test is also £762. I believe the wording is - "skill test for professional licence and instrument rating skill test". How they can justify that fee beggars belief but I suppose thats another topic in itself.....including £509 for sitting a partial pass....what the f**k!!??

[flyboy1818]

welcome to rip off land! I can understand the actual flight training being expensive as Aircraft and flight schools are not cheap to run, but the CAA are really taking the piss here!

[Brian304]

Well the CAA do need to pay to clean all that glass in there... I guess thats probably where all our fee's go to lol... I still wonder how many pieces of glass they've got inside that building?...

[potkettleblack]

Dont worry too much about landing fee's. Most schools block pay the relevant airfield operator so you'll find the landing fee's are all included in the school's hourly training cost.

That covers home base but there are the land away fees as well which my school didn't cover. Probably fair to say that there are more during the CPL with all of the cross country flights and lots of landing practice. Some are only a fiver or tenner but bigger airfields can charge a fortune. It may also depend if you are going to be paired up and for the course (a good thing) and back seat. You will need to swap around during the day and of course can only do this back on terra firma. Of course if you are repeating parts of the course then this will all add up.

As an aside where you do your training and the number of available CAA test routes can play a big part in the cost of all of these "add ons". Some airfields will have a very small number of test routes. Down at Bournemouth I seem to remember there were loads of places the CAA could take us. That gave us a fair amount of variety in the training but also added up after a while.

[MIKECR]

Pkb,

Interesting. My local CPL FTO's dont do land away's at all. All nav excersises etc are all out and returns..absolutely no need for a land aways at all. Im not suggesting your wrong in any way, im just surprised that you say there are "more" during the CPL. And if theyre deliberately taking people to 'bigger' airfields where the landing and handling fee's are high then theyre taking the micky. No reason at all why the CPL training, including nav excersies/air work/test etc cant be conducted from the same airfield...i.e. FTO home base. No need to be landing away at expensive airfields.

[MartinCh]

Yeah. It's a racket.
I had to do the UK FRTOL, all in all cost me 150 quid the cheapest way incl travel and RM SD. I know it'd be cheaper during training here, but I needed any RT for flying gliders solo in Czech Rep and didn't have time to do the RT saga there.

If I'm doing more than PPL/NPPL in Europe later, I'd give UK CAA wide berth with flight crew licencing fees.I'd rather spend more time flying for such money. They're not the only 'JAA' country in Europe..

[madlandrover]

My local CPL FTO's dont do land away's at all

Not necessarily actually landing, but joining the circuit elsewhere for a low approach and go around is a good thing to have on the course, since it'll be part of the test.

[flyboy1818]

Well the CAA do need to pay to clean all that glass in there... I guess thats probably where all our fee's go to lol... I still wonder how many pieces of glass they've got inside that building?

I applied for job in that building last year! Same job as what I do now, but without nasty night shifts, working weekends, bank holidays etc..... £18,000 pay rise! Thats where all the cash is going, this lot are overpaid! oh and its so nice to see that they have a subsidised canteen and then charge you full wack when you turn up for your £66 exam, I'm surprised the parking is free!