FBO's Cheaper?

[badestdudeintown]

Hello all, i just joined this forum today, after reading quite a bit over the last few days. Thank you all, i've learned alot so far.

I've been looking at just about every flight school/local FBO available over the last few days. I've read several posts on this site that people are doing their flight training at FBO's and doing so for 1/2 the cost of something like ATP.

After looking at some of the prices at local FBO's, i'm not seeing that. ATP's new rates are around $60k for the complete program, with an opportunity to CFI there after. Most of the FBO's i've looked at are around $55K-$60K when you add it all up. Can someone help me understand how they're saving that much money?

Thanks!

[N1ksa]

The answer is....it depends. I'm much in the same boat you are right now in terms of looking at different intructional routes for getting my ratings. ATP PPL through CFI(I), MEI, etc is 70K as of June 1. I live in New England however, and have the option of a ton of local FBOs/flight schools to go to. Through my research, I have found one that I will go to that I can get all the same ratings at my time schedule for about 40K total. So if you take that number up front that's 30k.....and for those of us that need to take out loans....consider interest rates and the years it will take to pay back and you are talking well in excess of that difference. So do your homework as you are, use the search function here...hence why most post count is so low since I've found all the answers to most of my questions by searching, and do more homework. Visit all the prospective schools and you will find what works best for you.

Personally, I am going the local flight school route starting in August.

[badestdudeintown]

Thanks for your reply. I'm in Phoenix, so there is definitely no shortage of flight schools to choose from here, either. I think i may have decided on a local school here, they offer all the same certificates that ATP offers PLUS the PPL for $55,000, whereas ATP was $60k IF you already have your PPL. I think my plan so far is to pay for my PPL out of pocket to start, and then slowly pluck away at my insturment rating. I'm a student as well, so i might take out some "student loans" for "school" (wink wink) for around $20k for the rest of it. Going into debt $65k is absurd in my opinion, but i can handle $20k. I'm 31, and just getting started in this, so i think i'm going to set a goal for myself to get all my certificates by 35.

I'm going for a $59 intro flight on Sunday, wish me luck!