Being a pilot is a significant investment. One that shouldn’t be taken lightly. That’s why a lot of aspiring pilots in their youth realize that the path to being a pilot isn’t an easy one and end up ditching their dream for more practical career paths. At the end of the day, many people want to be pilots but because of financial constraints, few people get to turn that dream into reality.
But who doesn’t want to be a pilot? Not only do you get to travel the world and meet the most interesting people but you also get paid a HUGE salary and enjoy the luxury of having a prestigious career. Remember – people clap for their pilots! Who doesn’t want to have that kind of welcome? And yet, you have to accept the fact that you might be self-funding your education. You have to pay for strict-entry exams, flight sessions, and theoretical classes. Unfortunately, gone are the days when you could sign up for full scholarships. Its just something you have to think about before fully committing into!
So before you tell your parents that you want to be a pilot and end up stressing them along the way, you should do some research first. Ask yourself the question: how much does it take to become a pilot? Lucky for you, we’ve got the answer right here!
And the answer is $100,000!
That’s a significant investment in your career. Regardless of your financial standing, $100,000 is going to hurt your pockets. And it can be life-changing. For many people, this is their entire year’s worth of salary. For some, this could be a downpayment for a house. It’s definitely not something you can just cough up on any given day.
So is flight school worth it?
If it’s your dream, then of course it is! If it’s your passion, then go for it! Here at Stratus, we want you to be happy with the career you’ve chosen for yourself. And even though it’s not an amount that can easily be achieved, there are ways to get help with the funds.
But why is it $100,000? That number is based on ATP, one of the most reputable and biggest flight schools in the country. According to ATP, the standard amount to become a pilot without any previous experience is $91,995. But if you already have a private pilot certificate, then it would be around $71,995. However, that’s just the tuition. You have to consider other factors such as training costs, flight requirements, the books you have to purchase, etc.
So to be safe, maybe we should expand the range from $100,000 to $150,000 if you also want to include medical tests and certification requirements. Aspiring pilots have to pay around $8,400 and $9,200 for FAA examiners fees, $200 for third-party certification, and $1,600 for pilot gear. The amount is painful to think about, especially because not all of us are blessed with generational wealth. However, as we’ve mentioned before, there are ways you can get help! Some schools already incorporate their degrees with pilot training, which can help cheapen the overall expenses. Other aspiring pilots also turn to grants or funding streams in the hopes that they can reach their dreams without necessarily breaking the bank. Here in Stratus, we also offer loans that will help you get started on flight school. However, the expenses that you face will rely on the school you choose, the kind of program you sign up and the time you’re willing to spend on getting that license. At the end of the day, if you want to become a pilot, you have to find a way to get your hands on $100,000 to $150,000!