Flight training is expensive. More than only its technical challenges, flight school poses one of the most formidable financial burdens a person can take on. From aircraft rental fees to instruction costs and training materials, more than a few students have forgone lessons simply because the costs just run far too high. Here, we recommend a few tips to help save on the staggering costs of flight training as well as how to obtain initial funding to fuel your passion.

1. Set a Budget using a cost forecast model

Like most things in the world, it saves to plan ahead!  Flight training is no different! It’s an endeavor you can’t just approach willy-nilly. It requires much time, effort, and planning.  More than just studying, but preparing for how to anticipate the costs associated with flight school is immensely important. Learn as much as you can before embarking on the journey. Determine well ahead of time the resources you will need. Query multiple flight schools and learn about their fees and curriculum. The worst thing that can happen is starting your training only to learn that there is an overwhelming onslaught of hidden fees you didn’t expect to pay.  Get a hard quote from several schools. From there, open up your handy-dandy excel or “sheets” file (because everyone uses google now-a-days), and plan a weekly budget. Start with a model that works best for you. We recommend planning one lesson a week. That will typically include one ground lesson and a one-hour flight lesson. It can help to use a variety of approaches to your training such as doubling up on some weeks and/or doing only certain portions of the training on others. Get creative! More importantly, share your financial concerns with your instructor. Their expertise and “insider knowledge” can go a long way to advise you on cost saver tips! It will also help to prioritize specific lessons over others. At the end of the day the quality of your training and your financial wellbeing are in everyone’s best interest. Set some time aside and make this your first goal when planning out your flight training.

2. Use economic aircraft

Nothing is more unnecessary than flying a brand-new top of the line aircraft. Would you give a new driver a Lamborghini or a Bugatti to practice driving? Of course not!  The last thing you, your instructor, or the flight school need is a student destroying their new cirrus after a few too many hard landings. (Let’s face it, we all know student pilots don’t land all that well). Save yourself the headache and use aircraft that are affordable but that meet your essential training needs. The Cessna 172 or Piper Cherokee are perfect examples of economic training aircraft.  They handle well and most instructors are well experienced to teach in these platforms.

3. Fly consistently

Would you practice piano once per month and expect to play a well-attended concert after 3 months? I wouldn’t either. Flying is like playing piano. It takes consistency, study, and a decent amount of practice to become proficient.  You will not enjoy your flight lessons if all you are doing is throwing money away covering the same concepts you reviewed over and over in the last few flight lessons. It’s like running in circles! Nobody enjoys that… especially not to the tune of $150 per flight hour. Make valuable time on your lessons by trying to fly as much as possible. One lesson per week is perfect!

4. Use online study material

I can’t emphasize this enough. There are so many free online resources! Take full advantage and study. Study. Study!  Ground school can run just as expensive as flight training. Utilizing online study can save you and your instructor a great deal of time.  Concepts become much clearer and learning correlation takes place much sooner with students who already know what to expect. Paying an extra $300 for an online study course can also be hugely beneficial–saving thousands in the long run. We highly recommend using “Sportys Complete Learn To Fly Course”. It is the perfect course to merge your flight and ground training into a seamless and engaging learning experience. You might even teach your instructor a few things!

5. Find a study buddy, mentor, or flight partner

Studying alone gets boring. Moreover, flying gets expensive when building time solo. Consider networking with local pilots and see if anyone is looking for a flying partner. You will be amazed at how much you can garner by simply watching a pilot in action. This experience comes much cheaper than paying for lessons yourself, and most times contributing to aircraft costs is will worth the experience. You may not be able to log the flight time, but the air time will be an invaluable asset as you continue to progress your exposure to the flight deck.

6. Apply to scholarships

Scholarships are the most effective way to go to flight school. Take it from me, a flight student who paid for almost 30% of his flight training using scholarship funding!  There are tons of organizations and associations out there with scholarship programs. Consult your local flying community to learn of scholarships that may not be as well known. Great places to start are local flying clubs and organizational groups. Checkout some of these great resources: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Women in Aviation International (WAI), or the National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA). All are highly respected organizations with a huge industry presence, many with airline and corporate backed scholarship programs.

7. Take a ground school course before flight training.

Starting flight school doesn’t have to mean jumping into an aircraft straight-away. Ground school can be a meaningful—and affordable—step as you prepare for the cockpit.  Learning the fundamental airman knowledge critical to pilots, will set you far ahead of the crowd. It exposes you to a variety of interesting fields you will be lucky to have experienced before taking to the skies and sinking yourself into the financial obligations of training.

8. Use a college program or a 141 flight school.

Collegiate and professional flight schools often run very expensive; however, they have the unique benefit of often providing financial aid and government backed loan programs. Finding funding for flight training can be an endeavor in itself, but utilizing these schools can be a good way to get started if career minded training is more your focus.  Part 61 schools can be just as beneficial; however, it requires a keener eye and attention to detail when searching through schools. While 141 schools often provide an easier means to seek loan-based funding, it is very much a—sign on the dotted line type of experience. Once you commit to a particular school it can be tricky and expensive to “get-out” if you have a change of heart. Don’t get trigger happy. Do your research and talk to several students of different programs before reaching for that Sallie May loan application.

9. Wash planes or just get involved!

Many students find that simply being around the airport is a way to discover hidden opportunity. In my days wondering the sidewalk for flight training pennies, I found that even washing local owners’ planes was a great way to scavenge some flight training dollars. Granted this may be more geared towards the high school student desperate to get started, but never underestimate the power of networking alone. Meet new people! Attend local aviation seminars and pilot focused events. Behind every door is a hidden opportunity. Not every connection will lead to a flight lesson, but it will be exciting to meet interesting characters along the way! I met an Astronaut, a Tuskegee Airmen, a WWII B17 pilot, and even Sully Sullenberger (Captain of the “Miracle on the Hudson”) far before earning my license! You can’t even imagine the stories you will hear! Simply expressing your interest and eagerness to others can go a long way, and some of those interactions will translate into guidance and steps in the right direction towards your flight training.

There are so many ways to save and fund flight training—far to many to mention in this post. The biggest thing to remember is to inspire yourself! Keep your mind and options open.  Funding flight school is a struggle every pilot can relate to. Most have faced its challenge at some point in their career and it’s a badge of pride each airman wears when they finally succeed in their ambitions. I admonish you not to get discouraged. Explore your options, but more important, approach your training responsibly. Take these tips and approach your next instructor with direction and motivation. Most will meet you with the same respect.