"How Much Will It Cost for PPL?"
Ground School (King Schools)
Books & materials
FAA Knowledge Exam
3rd Class Medical
C-172 (50 hr @ $150 / hr)
CFI (30 hr flight instruction + 20 hr ground@ $50 / hr)
Non-Owners Insurance (before solo)
FAA Designated Examiner
Approximate Total Cost
$ 280 *
$ 150 **
$ 180
$ 200
$ 7500
$ 2500
$ 400
$ 1000
$ 12200
* A good CD / DVD / on-line course is typically $160-280. Internet based courses start around $75. One on one ground instruction is billed at $50 / hour.
**Includes plotter, flight computer, current charts and Airport Facilities Directory. Airplane Flying Handbook, Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, and FAR/AIM are free from faa.gov or ~$50 from Amazon.
Although the FAA minimums are 40 hours total with 20 hours instruction, the above numbers are more typical of a dedicated student’s times.