The short answer
For the airplane and instructor alone, 65 hours of training at the schools that post both rates comes to $12,025 to $30,925 (median $13,975, 15 schools). At the FAA minimum of 40 hours it is $7,350 to $18,850. Most students take more than the minimum. [source] [source] [source]
How it is computed
Computed These are not quotes. For each school that posts both an hourly rate for a Cessna 172 or Piper PA-28 trainer and a flight instructor rate:
- Aircraft: hours flown × the school’s lowest posted 172 or PA-28 rate (not block or prepaid rates).
- Instructor: hours flown with an instructor × the school’s lowest posted flight instructor rate.
- FAA minimum scenario: 40 aircraft hours, the Part 61 minimum, which must include at least 20 hours with an instructor and 10 solo. [source] We bill 30 with an instructor and 10 solo.
- Typical scenario: 65 aircraft hours, 50 with an instructor and 15 solo. 65 sits inside the national averages three listed schools state (50 to 60, about 65, about 70).
- Not included: one-on-one ground instruction, ground school or books, the FAA medical exam, the FAA knowledge test, the examiner’s fee for the checkride, a headset, renter’s insurance, and any school fees or fuel surcharges. Ask each school for these.
Where a school doesn’t say whether its rate includes fuel, the table says so; a dry rate makes the total look lower than it is.
By school
| School | Rates used | 40 hr (FAA min.) | 65 hr (typical) | School’s own figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ Flight Training Phoenix | $135/hr (wet/dry not stated) + $65/hr instructor | $7,350 | $12,025 | $8,900 |
| Dallas Flight Center Dallas | $155/hr (wet/dry not stated) + $50/hr instructor | $7,700 | $12,575 | $10,000 to $15,000 |
| Fly Glendale Phoenix | $145/hr wet + $65/hr instructor | $7,750 | $12,675 | $11,500 |
| Fort Worth Flight School Dallas | $155/hr (wet/dry not stated) + $55/hr instructor | $7,850 | $12,825 | $11,000 to $20,000 |
| All2Fly Aviation Academy Atlanta | $155/hr wet + $60/hr instructor | $8,000 | $13,075 | $11,000 to $13,000 |
| Yellow Jacket Flying Club Atlanta | $155/hr wet + $68/hr instructor | $8,240 | $13,475 | Not posted |
| Angel Aviation Phoenix | $160/hr wet + $70/hr instructor | $8,500 | $13,900 | Not posted |
| Mesquite Aviation Dallas | $165/hr (wet/dry not stated) + $65/hr instructor | $8,550 | $13,975 | Not posted |
| Colorado's BEST Flight School Denver | $170/hr (wet/dry not stated) + $65/hr instructor | $8,750 | $14,300 | $18,000 |
| FLY Goodyear Phoenix | $165/hr wet + $78/hr instructor | $8,940 | $14,625 | $12,000 to $13,000 |
| Grayhawk Flight Training LLC Dallas | $180/hr wet + $75/hr instructor | $9,450 | $15,450 | $14,250 |
| Nationwide Aviation Dallas | $185/hr wet + $70/hr instructor | $9,500 | $15,525 | $15,800 |
| Simply Aviation Denver | $230/hr wet + $70/hr instructor | $11,300 | $18,450 | Not posted |
| Centennial Aviation Academy Atlanta | $239/hr wet + $99/hr instructor | $12,530 | $20,485 | Not posted |
| American Air Flight Training Atlanta | $295/hr wet + $235/hr instructor | $18,850 | $30,925 | Not posted |
What schools say it costs
18 schools post their own private pilot figure. They mean different things: an average, an itemized minimum, or a course fee.
- All2Fly Aviation Academy: $11,000 to $13,000, “The average private pilots license can be obtained in approximately 4 to 5 months and cost between $11,000 and $13,000” all2flyaviation.com
- Magnolia Aviation Academy: $22,000, “Private Pilot Training Typical Pace: 3 - 6 Months ~$22,000” magnoliaaviation.com
- Airplanes and Attitude Flight School: $13,502, “Total starting price: $13,502” airplanesandattitude.com
- Dallas Flight Center: $10,000 to $15,000, “Private Pilot Training ~$10k – $15k Realistic cost with about 65 hours in a Cessna 150.” dallasflightcenter.com
- Fort Worth Flight School: $11,000 to $20,000, “Private Pilot $11,000 - $20,000 45-70 hours” fortworthflightschool.com
- Grayhawk Flight Training LLC: $14,250, “Checkride Fee One Time $1,500 Estimated Total $14,250” grayhawkflighttraining.com
- Instinct Aviation Academy: $9,600, “40 hours flight time $7,400 Flight and ground training with instructor $1,800 Books, training material, online apps, etc. $400 Total $9,600” instinctaviationacademy.com
- Marcus Air: $17,325, “Private Pilot Takes on average 2~3 Months $ 17,325 Quoted Price includes: 55 Hours Flight Training 10 Hours Solo” marcusair.com
- Nationwide Aviation: $15,800, “Private Pilot License Costs Estimated Cost: $15,800 Estimated Hours: 30 lessons, 40 hours of flight time” flynationwide.net
- Rudy's Aviation Service of Rockwall: From $8,595, “Starting from $8,595” rudysaviationservices.com
- Thrust Flight: $24,000, “Private Pilot $24,000 30 40” go.thrustflight.com
- Colorado's BEST Flight School: $18,000, “Instructor: $65/hr Average: $18,000” coloradosbestflightschool.com
- AZ Flight Training: $8,900, “Private Pilot License Cost Breakdown Example: Cessna 172 ... Total Cost $8900 (not including tax)” azflighttraining.com
- Desert Wings Flight School: $20,000, “PPL Private Pilot ~$20,000 60–70 hours typical” desertwingsflightschool.com
- Fly Eagle Sport: $14,468, “Estimated Total $14,468 This is an estimate, not a quote.” flyeaglesport.com
- Fly Glendale: $11,500, “Private Pilot estimated average $11,500” flyglendale.com
- FLY Goodyear: $12,000 to $13,000, “The average Cost of Training for a Private Pilot Certificate is $ 12-13,000.00 from zero time to completion.” flygoodyear.com
- Fly Whiskey Tango: $24,070, “Total Estimated Investment $24,070*” flywhiskeytango.com
Why hours matter most
The FAA sets minimums, not averages: 40 hours of flight time under Part 61 [source] and 35 hours of flight training in an approved Part 141 course. [source] Every extra hour costs the aircraft rate plus, when flown with an instructor, the instructor rate. At the median posted rates on this site ($164.5 aircraft, $70 instructor), one more hour with an instructor costs about $234.5.
Questions people ask
How much does a private pilot license cost?
Computed from 15 schools’ posted aircraft and instructor rates, 65 hours of training comes to $12,025 to $30,925 (median $13,975) for the airplane and instructor alone. At the FAA minimum of 40 hours it is $7,350 to $18,850. Ground school, exams, the medical and the examiner fee are extra.
How many hours does a private pilot license take?
The FAA minimum is 40 hours of flight time under Part 61 (14 CFR 61.109) and 35 hours of flight training in a Part 141 course. Three schools on this site state national averages of 50 to 60, about 65, and about 70 hours.
Why do schools quote such different totals?
Some quote the FAA minimum, some an average, and some a package. Aircraft rates also differ by airplane and by whether fuel is included (wet) or extra (dry).