Private Pilots Instruction Rates?

[mensa180]

Originally posted by TwentyFo

Cessna 150: $67/hour

Cessna 172: ranges from $73 to $106/hour (rates include the age of the aircraft, as well as the equipment in the aircraft i.e. gps, autopilot, etc.)

... So for an hour of instruction with airplane would cost around $110-$140...

It's the same around here.

[Golfer]

+1 on finding a good dry rental rate.  When I instructed in multiengine airplanes I had the option to do the block hours wet (fuel included) or dry.  Myself and only one other instructor were on the insurance for the airplane, which left us taking turns for a week or 2 at a time giving instruction.

I worked out a dry rental rate with the airplanes owner, paid for the fuel myself on my own credit card and billed the student a flat rate ($175/hr) which included my time and fuel.  My rate, which to the end user was "wet" was almost $50/hr cheaper than anyone else within 100miles.  I was able to save the money by setting up accounts at several airports and FBOs.  When we went on cross country trips for timebuilding or stopped for lunch/fuel during a day of lessons I would use those airports as fuel stops.  When I averaged out my first 250 hours of using that method I pocketed something along the lines of $48.50/hr+/- for flight time.  That's with me charging $50/hr less than any of the other flight schools...I had a good business going.  I was charging $30/hr for ground instruction using very lax timekeeping methods (which benefitted the student)

With fuel prices being what they are today (Fuel back then could still be had for around $2/gallon) finding a good deal on fuel and having a fair dry rate on an airplane sounds like the way to go.

[cpxxx]

Very entrepenurial Golfer. You guys may think flying there is expensive but it's nothing compared to here. There is a lof of tax on fuel not to mention other expenses. A 172 is the equivalent of $291 an hour dual. The Instructor gets about $44 an hour of that to stop him or her starving. Even a 150 is $260 an hour. To be fair that is the rate at one of the bigger schools. You can fly cheaper in a club.

You're lucky it's still relatively inexpensive there compared to the rest of the world.

[xbrit]

But having met Golfer who would get into a plane with him !!!

[Golfer]

Certainly nobody that knows me, xbrit!  If I get the students early enough they just think that my way is the way things are supposed to be done

[Gloves]

Originally posted by Gixer
Amazing how cheap fixed wing is. When I was doing my Helicopter PPL rates for H300 solo $300 and duel $360 (NZD) per hour. H500 was $650 (NZD) and I think the Jet Ranger was near $800 (NZD).

And that was back in the mid 90's hate to think what the rates are now. Anyway the price you pay to for the hotness.


...-Gixer

In Indianapolis, IN it's $300/hour for dual - including fuel - for a Robinson R-22.

Glove

[texace]

I'm going through Pro Aircraft here at Hicks Field (T67) in Fort Worth. They let their 152s go for about $100 an hour and their 172s go for about $130. Fully insured and fuel included. Tack on an additional $50 or so for duel instruction.

Most of the rates I've seen posted are reasonable.

Thankfully I'm past the need for duel instruction. That extra cash comes in handy sometimes.

[Gixer]

Originally posted by Gloves
In Indianapolis, IN it's $300/hour for dual - including fuel - for a Robinson R-22.

Glove

Does that include landing fees? Out of interest, I'll have to check out the local dual rate in Sydney see how it compares. US has always had the best helo rates though.

Never liked the R22, but the R44 was nice to fly.


...-Gixer

[RTR]

Yep Heli is expensive. In the mid 90's I was paying $300 / hr. Commercial licence cost me about $35K,.

Kid's nowadays are spending anywhere between $40-$50K and that first flying job is increasingly harder to find. It's a lottery ticket.

cheers,
RTR

[Golfer]

The US doesn't have the same landing fee system many places the rest of the world uses (Australia, New Zealand, Great Britan, etc.) so most mom and pop places don't charge an initial landing fee at small airports.

Using an FBO (Fixed Base Operator, gas station, airplane parking Lot and service provider all in one) at busier airports (and even some small ones) you will be charged a Handling or Ramp fee based usually on your airplanes weight.  This can be waived with a certain amount of fuel purchased or other factors.

Many small FBOs have self serve fuel, which is billed at a lower rate than having a line service worker fuel your airplane for you.  If an FBO does not have a ramp fee it's good practice to purchase "courtesy fuel" to help them stay in business.  Fuel is often the best source of revenue for these small businesses which are disappearing at a rather alarming rate.  This is usually what's practical.  For a small airplane (Cessna 172) you might purchase 10-20 gallons.  I did and try to.  Only one time in a piston airplane [Mooney] was I ever limited by weight (we were returning to home with one more pax than we started with) to not buy any fuel from an FBO that did the following free of charge:

-Hangared the airplane for the approaching thunderstorm and accompanying hail.
-Provided a car to take to lunch free of charge.
-Restocked my fancy cooler for the passengers with extra sodas and waters.  I had the beer covered

I asked them to bill me a hangar fee for the trip since I used their services and they refused.  This was Indy Executive (KTYQ) at Montgomery Aviation and I'd never had a bad experience there.  This was a regular stop for us and I showed up the next time with plenty of room in the tanks for gas

I'm shutting up now...

Be sure to tip your line guys

[Gixer]

Originally posted by RTR
Yep Heli is expensive. In the mid 90's I was paying $300 / hr. Commercial licence cost me about $35K,.

Kid's nowadays are spending anywhere between $40-$50K and that first flying job is increasingly harder to find. It's a lottery ticket.

cheers,
RTR

Actually I think it's easier now then the 90's for that first heli job. Of course after the normal CFI route. But pilot demand is picking up both fixed and rotary. There are more heli jobs advertised downunder at the moment then when I can remember. Of course all require the usual high amount of PnC turbine time.

But there are plenty of CFI job vacancies you just have to be willing to travel, which is always been the major requirement of commercial heli work.

Local good paying jobs are few and far between.


...-Gixer