Flight Training - Costs
The prices for Clyde's Air are current as of 1 January 2012.
For questions about how we calculate our costs, see the Some Background On Our Pricing Model section at the bottom of this page.
Private Pilot
|
FAA Minimums
|
Cost
|
|
Historical Average
|
Cost
|
|
30-Hours Dual Flight Instruction at $242/hour
|
$7,260
|
45-Hours Dual Flight Instruction at $242/hour
|
$10,890
|
|
|
10-Hours Solo Flight at $210/hour
|
$2,100
|
10-Hours Solo Flight at $210/hour
|
$2,100
|
|
|
10-Hours Ground Instruction at $45/hour
|
$450
|
20-Hours Ground Instruction at $45/hour
|
$900
|
|
|
Books & Supplies
|
$500
|
Books & Supplies
|
$500
|
|
|
Medical Certificate
|
$85
|
Medical Certificate
|
$85
|
|
|
Written Exam
|
$150
|
Written Exam
|
$150
|
|
|
Examiner Fee
|
$550
|
Examiner Fee
|
$550
|
|
|
Approximately One-Hour Final Exam Flight Rental at $210/hour
|
$210
|
Approximately One-Hour Final Exam Flight Rental at $210/hour
|
$210
|
|
|
Total
|
$11,305
|
|
Total
|
$15,385
|
Instrument Rating
|
FAA Minimums
|
Cost
|
|
Historical Average
|
Cost
|
|
40-Hours Dual Flight Instruction at $270/hour
|
$10,800
|
45-Hours Dual Flight Instruction at $270/hour
|
$10,890
|
|
|
15-Hours Ground Instruction at $60/hour
|
$900
|
20-Hours Ground Instruction at $60/hour
|
$1,200
|
|
|
Books & Supplies
|
$100
|
Books & Supplies
|
$100
|
|
|
Written Exam
|
$150
|
Written Exam
|
$150
|
|
|
Examiner Fee
|
$550
|
Examiner Fee
|
$550
|
|
|
Approximately One-Hour Final Exam Flight Rental at $210/hour
|
$210
|
Approximately One-Hour Final Exam Flight Rental at $210/hour
|
$210
|
|
|
Total
|
$12,710
|
|
Total
|
$14,360
|
Commercial Pilot
| FAA Minimums | Cost | Historical Average | Cost | |
| 50-Hours Dual Flight Instruction at $242/hour | $12,100 | 50-Hours Dual Flight Instruction at $242/hour | $12,100 | |
| 20-Hours Solo Flight at $210/hour | $4,200 | 10-Hours Solo Flight at $210/hour | $2,100 | |
| 10-Hours Ground Instruction at $45/hour | $450 | 15-Hours Ground Instruction at $45/hour | $675 | |
| Books & Supplies | $80 | Books & Supplies | $80 | |
| Written Exam | $150 | Written Exam | $150 | |
| Examiner Fee | $550 | Examiner Fee | $550 | |
| Approximately One-Hour Final Exam Flight Rental at $210/hour | $210 | Approximately One-Hour Final Exam Flight Rental at $210/hour | $210 | |
| Total | $17,740 | Total | $15,865 |
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
|
FAA Minimums
|
Cost
|
|
Historical Average
|
Cost
|
|
10-Hours Dual Flight Instruction at $242/hour
|
$2,420
|
15-Hours Dual Flight Instruction at $242/hour
|
$3,630
|
|
|
15-Hours Ground Instruction at $45/hour
|
$675
|
20-Hours Ground Instruction at $45/hour
|
$900
|
|
|
Books & Supplies
|
$150
|
Books & Supplies
|
$150
|
|
|
Written Exam
|
$160
|
Written Exam
|
$160
|
|
|
Examiner Fee
|
$550
|
Examiner Fee
|
$550
|
|
|
Approximately One-Hour Final Exam Flight Rental at $210/hour
|
$210
|
Approximately One-Hour Final Exam Flight Rental at $210/hour
|
$210
|
|
|
Total
|
$4,115
|
|
Total
|
$7,440
|
Add-On (Private)
Pricing for add-on ratings other than private is tailored to meet the needs and levels of experience of each individual applicant. Please contact Clyde's Air to discuss your specific requirements based upon your aviation experience.
This pricing is for Rated Fixed Wing Pilots looking to add a Private Helicopter Rating. Please see the private-pilot add-on page for details.
Some Background On Our Pricing Model:
Pricing is based on flight in the Robinson R22 Helicopter.
The BLOCK rates shown apply to $2000 prepaid deposit for the helicopter, and flight or ground training.
Pricing does not reflect temporary fuel surcharges.
Clyde’s Air reserves the right to adjust pricing when necessary.
Course Duration and Cost:
Actual course duration and the total cost will vary upon a student’s proficiency with flight training and ground school. No flight school, including Clyde’s Air, guarantees a student a license; you must be able to pass an FAA exam. Due to changing weather conditions and individual student proficiency, Clyde’s Air cannot guarantee any of the course's duration. There are many factors involved during training that can slow down your completion of a course. Clyde’s Air will advise each student prior to enrollment reasonable goals for completion times of the different courses.
The FAA Minimums are calculated based upon the minimum requirements published by the Federal Aviation Administration. Most industry experts agree that, while it is possible to achieve ratings at the minimums, this is usually quite rare, although not impossible. Still we feel it's our duty to provide a baseline comparison and a realistic cost number to you for planning your training.
The Historical Average cost is a more realistic average cost that a student will spend while building the necessary proficiency to pass the flight exam. Our average is based on the experiences of over two-dozen flight instructors training nearly 300-students from various backgrounds over the last five-years out of Gillespie Field. At Clyde’s Air, we believe that proper budgeting is one way we can help you plan for success. To discuss your individual training costs or any particular questions, please give us a call.
We are also often asked, "Why in your pricing is it that the Historical Average for a Commercial Rating less than the FAA Minimums, when all of the other averages are higher than minimums?"
In order to achieve a Commercial Helicopter Rating, you MUST have at least 150 hours of flight time as a pilot in an aircraft, and 100 hours of Pilot in Command Time in a helicopter. Since most of our students will spend more time than the minimum in achieving each rating on the way to a Commercial Certificate, by the time they enter the Commercial program, they already have more hours towards Commercial under their belts, leaving less remaining hours until they reach the required time. If you complete your prior ratings in less than the average times, then you can expect the Commercial rating to be the place where you will make up the difference.