In a recent blog, Lightspeed Aviation shared insights on the state of general aviation (GA) from our conversations with pilots in the industry. They told us that GA isn’t dying and why they are optimistic about the future. Then our conversations turned to how aspiring pilots can maximize their time and minimize their costs to get into GA.
Make the Most of Your Own Time
According to all the pilots we spoke with, cost is often the biggest barrier for new pilots. They agreed that the best way for a student pilot to keep costs down is to make the most of their own time. Ty Stender, who was studying for the flight portion of his CFI checkride, had this advice: “Prepare yourself before a lesson, do some studying, know what you’re going to do when you get there.” And Pedro Fonseca Giafferis, a current CFI near Vancouver, BC, echoed that, saying “Do a lot of chair flying, just like F1 drivers, fighter pilots, or people that do airshows. Close your eyes and go over the procedure.”
Jeff York, Chief Pilot at the Aero Club at the United States Air Force Air Academy, pointed out that, at $200 an hour for flight time with an instructor, “If we have to do the maneuver over or I have to explain it while we’re in the air, it’s going to take them longer and cost them more.” The minimum flight time requirement for a private pilot certification is 40 hours but the average is approximately 75, per the FAA. So, going into lessons prepared can translate directly to savings when it gets you closer to completing your certification in 40 hours.
The First Rule of Flight Club is You DO Talk about Flight Club
Flight clubs can be an excellent way for a newly certified pilot to fly for less than they might pay to own or directly rent a plane. They can also offer opportunities to get seat time in different planes, learn from pilots with a wide variety of experience, and get involved in your local aviation community. Ty Stender told us about his flight club experience, “Joining the flying club opened the door for week-long trips or weekend trips. It almost feels like ownership, yet you don’t have to own the airplane.” Compared to his experience renting from a flight school, the club gave him the chance to fly more and to take more interesting trips. Carl Hancock, host of the Fly with the Guys YouTube series, also said flight clubs can be great opportunities, and he recommended reviewing initial costs and dues as well as the cost for flight time to make sure it works for your situation. He added “People who fly recreationally sometimes fall away from it because it’s too expensive . . . budgeting your flight time is a big deal. I think a lot of people forget to do that.” Carl said he started adding flight time to his monthly budget after he got his certificate, to make sure he could fly the hours he wanted to.
Additional Resources
Would-be pilots can also find direct financial support through aviation scholarships. Jeff York told us that there are lots of aviation scholarships for new pilots that often aren’t awarded because nobody applies. Tyler Koonce, a CFI and pilot with a corporate flight department, agreed and added “I tell any aspiring pilot, it’s going to take time, you’re going to have to do your research, you’re going to have to apply your time to fill out the application.” But those aviation scholarships are out there and can help aspiring pilots pay for their certifications.
Another resource available for prospective pilots is the AOPA You Can Fly program. We spoke with Dan Justman, the AOPA Vice President for the program, and we’ll share what he had to say in an upcoming blog.
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