The cost of flying training is often one of the biggest hurdles in learning to fly.

By planning your flying training in the right way it is possible to make real savings which can bring the dream of learning to fly even closer.

Aircraft Type

Hourly training rates can vary significantly depending on the aircraft type. To reduce costs then select to train in a smaller aircraft whose rates are lower. This may involve training in a smaller and less powerful two seater aircraft. Space may be tight but you can always go onto bigger types once you have your licence.

Become A Club Member

Some flying schools offer discounts on training rates for club numbers. Such discounts can be significant compared to non-member rates. For example Old Sarum Flying School in Wiltshire offers a 20% flat discount on hourly rates for members of their pilot club. Considering membership only costs £160 per annum then there are clearly some major savings to be made.

Regular & Frequent Lessons

The most effective way to reduce costs is to gain your licence/rating in the minimum possible time. For example to gain a PPL one requires 45 hours of training. Many students require more than this time and at well over £100 a lesson this can significantly add to the overall cost.

The golden rule in keeping to the minumum training is to have regular lessons on a frequent basis. This will ensure what you have been taught will remain fresh for your next lesson. This will reduce the amount of revision time required on each lesson which will ensure your time is spent practising new manoeuvres.

Stick to one Instructor

There is nothing worse than learning to fly with multiple instructors meaning valuable time is wasted as your new instructor has to spend time evaluating your current skill level. Where possible stick to the same instructor throughout your training and make this clear to your flying school. Obviously change instructor if you feel your current one is not giving you the quality of training you expect, but once you are happy then stick with.

Having one instructor will ensure your lessons are planned precisely around your abilities and built upon your previous lessons. It is not uncommon, especially in larger schools, to turn up to a flying lesson fustrated because you find a different instructor to the one you had last week

Preparation

Always prepare for your lessons effectively to ensure you get the maximum from each valuable training hour. Revise and rehearse what your instructor has taught you in previous lessons. Using a flight simulator to go over taught manoeuvres and procedures can be a great way of keeping your mind fresh. Make sure you know all taught procedures and check lists from the top of your head.

Ground Exams

Get on top of your ground examinations, aim to have these studied for and passed as soon as possible. Failure to do this may hold up your progress and can end up costing you a lot of money.

PPL/NPPL Packages

Most flying schools offer PPL/NPPL training packages which include the required training hours plus ground examinations and equipment. This may involve having to pay for all of the training costs up front but it does usually work out slightly cheaper. Some schools also let you spread the cost in installments for those unable to pay all at once.

Training packages can save you money but it does mean committing yourself to a flying school so it is important to ensure you are happy with your chosen school before you do this. I recommend taking a trial flight at your chosen school before committing yourself in this way.

Travelling to your flying school

The most important aspect of your flying training is your school. The cost of your training doesn't just consist of hourly rates but the commuting costs to/from your chosen school should also be taken into consideration.

Add the cost of commuting to/from your school on top of the hourly training rate in order to determine the cheapest option for you. While one school may offer cheaper rates if it involves travelling an extra 20 miles each way then it may not be cost efficient.

AND FINALLY - Switch to Microlights

For those looking to fly for pleasure and have limited funds then microlighting is a very viable alternative and will save you tons of cash. Microlights come in two types, the weight-shift delta wing type and the 3-axis fixed wing type. The fixed wing types look just like a conventional light aircraft, they have enclosed cockpits and similar controls. In fact the only major difference is that the microlight version is less than 450kg.

The major advantage of microlighting is that only 25 hours of tuition is required to gain a NPPL. This is 20 hours less than the conventional PPL(A) and 7 hours less than the NPPL(A). Combined with lower training rates then a microlight license can cost half the price of a PPL(A) and can be up to a third cheaper than the NPPL(A).