FEES & TIPS

The cost of flight training varies widely depending on where you train and how effectively you train. Matt offers instruction out Oakland International (KOAK) with Oakland Flyers and out of Livermore (KLVK) with Flying Particles flying club. (Note* Flying Particles has limited the number of student pilot spots available and has become hard to join) There are benefits of both locations, see below for rates. Flight training is expensive, mostly because of the fees for renting an airplane + fuel. Most students learn in a Cessna 172 which rents for about $180/hr. Many people lose their enthusiasm for flying when they see the costs add up. However, you can find a variety of different ways to make the pursuit of a pilot's license more affordable. Have questions? Reach out to Matt for more information!

PRO TIPS

Study more than you think you need to.

Flight training has a half life: your skills start to degrade if you don’t exercise them regularly, and it’s true. You can generally reduce the cost of flight training when you train more frequently. The cost of flight training can also depend on your learning style and commitment to Ground School work when not flying.

Pro tip: Dedicate time to your homework! Committing time to ground lessons leads to more effective training in the sky!

Few students take full opportunity of all the ways they can prepare themselves for a flying exam. You can find many online programs and books to help you learn all the most-important flying concepts faster. With the right study resources, you can spend less time in a classroom and save a good amount of money. Extra studying can also make your cockpit lessons go much easier as well so you can learn more from your instructor in less time.

After you read the instructions for basic flight maneuvers and see them in videos, take some time to sit alone and visualize doing them yourself. Sit somewhere quietly, close your eyes and imagine yourself in the cockpit doing each step carefully. Imagine how the plane will respond in detail.

Visualization techniques are a powerful learning shortcut. Neuroscientist Dr. Richard Restak found that "Positron-emission tomography, or "PET" scans, reveal that the mental rehearsal of an action activates the pre-frontal areas of the brain responsible for the formulation of the appropriate motor programs."

Like with all your resources though, be sure to study using the latest materials.

Source: 2020 Flying Lessons Costs

Fly regularly.

Flying an airplane requires you to build new skills that you can't get from memorization alone. You need as much hands-on practice as you can get. Even more importantly, you need to practice flying regularly.

Do not take long breaks in between your flight lessons because you're likely to start forgetting all of the good habits you can only learn while in the cockpit. The fastest and best way to learn how to fly is to schedule your lessons as closely together as possible. Plan ahead to make sure you have enough time in your schedule for completing all your flight lessons in one training season.

If you stop your flight training and then resume it months later, then you'll probably have to spend more money relearning all the little things you've forgotten.

Source: 2020 Flying Lessons Costs