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At Nightline Air, you are not required to pay in advance, or maintain a minimum balance. You can "pay as you go." You are asked to pay at the end of every lesson. A typical lesson lasts between 1.5 - 2.0 hours of flight with .5 of pre/post-flight ground-briefing. Some lessons will be longer or shorter. Some will have more ground instruction or no flight at all. Some will be solo flights with no instructor. The training session vary in types of training.
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There is no simple answer to the question, “What is the cost of flight training?” The cost of flight training will vary greatly upon the student and their ability to train frequently. Knowing how to make the most efficient use of your time and money while going through flight training can substantially lower the overall cost of flight training.
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Here are some great ways to reduce the cost of flight training:
1. At least half the cost of flight training is the airplane rental, so it only makes sense that you should focus your money saving efforts on the airplane. Generally speaking, aircraft with traditional analog gauges will be less expensive than those with newer “glass cockpits”. If saving money is a priority, learn to fly with analog gauges, and then make the easy transition to glass after you’ve earned your pilot’s license.
2. Find a compatible instructor. An ideal instructor loves to teach, and the right one for you will teach each lesson in a manner that you best learn. Finding an instructor with compatible scheduling availability is also very important. Take the time to interview prospective instructors and if you don’t feel comfortable after a lesson or two, find another instructor that better suits you. It is your money and your time. If you are being taught in a manner that doesn’t work for you, it will cost you more time and consequently, money.
3. STUDY! It is amazing how much you can reduce the cost of flight training if you study and show up to each lesson prepared. Study the suggested material and go over the maneuvers that you will be accomplishing in your head prior to arrival at the airport.
4. Fly frequently. In an ideal world, you would fly, at a minimum, 2 to 3 times per week throughout your flight training. Realizing that none of us live in an ideal world, you should try your best to fly as often as possible, at least once per week.
5. Find a mentor. Someone that has already obtained their certificate; look for one at your flight school or flying club. Find one that is not necessarily a CFI but a pilot that is doing what you want to do in aviation and has the ratings and certificates that you aspire to obtain. Mentors are invaluable, and their experience and guidance will help you greatly.
6. Come up with a plan. Sit down with your instructor and develop a training plan tailored exactly to your needs and learning abilities. Set goals on your calendar and stick with them. Review about once per month. This will help you keep on target and assess your progress.
7. Join AOPA for free as a student pilot, active military member, or AV8RS Youth (anyone between the ages of 13 to 18 is free). The free trial includes: Six issues of AOPA’s flight TRAINING magazine – digital or print edition, Exclusive Flight Training Helpline with Veteran CFIs for one-on-one answers, and personal training support. Additionally you get flight planning tools, training and safety information, education resources such as flight schools, instructors, and aviation colleges, and AOPA’s award-winning training videos. If used properly, these free resources should reduce your overall cost learning to become a private pilot. Once you join AOPA, remain a member and take advantage of all their other free services.
8. Ride along programs. Obtain permission from other students and CFI’s to sit in the back seat and learn by observing. Listen to the lesson and interaction between the student and CFI and observe and learn without the stress and responsibility of controlling the aircraft.
