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Flying lessons are expensive and time-consuming. You have to attend a ground school or take a computer-based training (CBT) course (my preference) to meet the knowledge requirements of flying, plus you have to take dual and solo flight lessons to earn the required number of hours for you to get your private pilot certificate.

The costs can really add up, see Breaking Down the Cost of Flight Schools, but there are ways to keep your costs down.

Here are some tips to help you save money while earning your private pilot certificate:

1. Have a Plan

Make sure you can devote time to the lessons and that you understand the kind of demands flying will require. Your goal should be to work as quickly as possible through both the ground and flight requirements of your flight training.

First, go to a local flight school and participate in a Discovery Flight. Then, interview pilots and flight instructors and find out how flying lessons are taught and what training aircraft will be used. Have them breakdown the costs and time-frame of getting your Private Pilot certificate.

Decide if you want to go Part 61 and Part 141. Part 61 is a little cheaper but less organized. Part 141 is an accredited course that the school teaches and it is more organized. Know what your commitment level will be and an instructor will help you plan the rest.

2. Study Ahead and Often

It pays to know what your next flight lessons are, so you can come to your lessons prepared.

A good flight instructor will give you a study schedule to follow.

Before each lesson, devote at least 20 minutes reading about your future flight lessons in advance. This helps you learn faster while shortening the time spent on your training.

Before you go to your lesson, sit in a chair and “arm chair” fly. “Arm chair” flying is the process of sitting in a chair like you are flying an airplane. Close your eyes and imagine ALL the things you are going to do. As an example, imagine what you are looking for when you walk around the airplane doing your pre-flight. Imagine and practice what you are going to say on the radio. Imagine and mentally practice your maneuvers and the outcome.

You will be amazed at how quickly you can progress by doing these small, mental practice sessions.

3. Go Small

Try to take your pilot training using a smaller aircraft. Rentals of these airplanes are cheaper by the hour compared to larger airplanes. For example, a Piper J-3 Cub will only cost you around $50 an hour while the latest, glass cockpit, GPS flight management system equipped Cessna 172 airplane can set you back by at least $140 an hour. (Prices vary from school to school and area to area.)

There has to be a balance though. A J-3 Cub will not have all the technology installed that you are going to need to fly in today’s flight environment. A Cessna 150/152 may be a better alternative.

You want to be comfortable though. Personally, I will not fly a Cessna 150/152. If you put me and another person in a Cessna 150, it will barely climb and that is a scary feeling. But you can split it up. Do your dual flight training in a Cessna 172 and your solo flight training in a Cessna 150/152, for example. Be creative and look for alternatives.

4. Be Loyal

Stick to just one aircraft if possible. This will help you get used to how the airplane performs and to the nuances of operating it. This will shorten the time before you can fly solo and obtain your private pilot certificate. Moving between a Cessna,a Piper Cherokee, or a Cirrus in the beginning, may be confusing.

Also, consider buying “block” time, which is less expensive than paying hour-per-hour. This is the practice of buying say 25 hours of flight time at once which is cheaper than buying it hour-per-hour. It has the side benefit that now that you’ve paid for it, you are more apt to actually fly because you are committed.

5. Aim For Quality

You must log at least 40 hours of flight time that includes at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized flight instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training to earn your private pilot certificate, so your pilot training better be good. What your flight instructor teaches you and how you learn will be major contributing factors to how long before you accumulate your hours and earn your private pilot certificate.

If you don’t learn well from your current flight instructor, consider finding a new one. There are a lot of high quality flight instructors out there. Find one that suits your way of learning and that you enjoy flying with.

6. Shorten your Learning Time

The frequency in which you fly is probably one of the most important factors in successfully getting your private pilot certificate. If you fly at least two times per week, preferably three, you will more quickly achieve a private pilot certificate.After every lesson, always schedule your next flight training lesson. The shorter the intervals between your lessons, the better you will retain what you’ve learned.

If you want the cheapest way to save money in obtaining your private pilot certificate, take a lesson everyday.

When I went through FlightSafety Academy, I flew five times per week and occasionally, I flew twice in one day. When the interval between lessons is this short, it’s easier for you to grasp the lessons and monitor your progress. That means you don’t have to repeat any lessons to refresh your memory and skills and you will develop an intuitive understanding of your aircraft more quickly.

As for ground school, never miss a class. Personally, I think CBT training is the best. During my ground school, I was a big fan of either Gleim or ASA products. But, if you do attend a class, attend them like your life depends on it. Don’t miss class! This will help you save money.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Also, if you sign up for my newsletter, you will be able to sign-up for my “Quicknotes Biennial Flight Review Study Guide” which is great if you want to just touch up on the basics and be ready for your next Flight Review.

To Your Flying Success…

Jeffrey

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