"EDR" wrote in message news:270420041143057024%

Private Pilot... $10,000 (instructor, $50/hr + aircraft, $85/hr, 75 hrs)

Community colleges might be able to reduce those costs, especially for
ground instruction. But check the rates regardless of what "discount" they
offer. The discounted rates at the local community college, partnered with
a major local FBO, are about what you describe above.

Meanwhile, across the runway, the FBO I fly out of charges $35/hr for
instruction and $56/hr for their C-152. I'm doing IFR training in a
180-horse Skyhawk with full IFR that rents for $77/hr in Oregon. Over time,
that amounts to an enormous amount of savings and, fortunately, the FBO
owner is a guy my family has known for decades.

Instrument Rating... $3,000 (instructor, $50/hr + aircraft, $85/hr, 22
hours)
Commercial Rating... $1,500 (instructor, $50/hr + aircraft, $85/hr, 15
hrs)

Wow. Well, now you've encouraged me, too I took out a $10,000 Key Bank
aviation loan at a fixed 3% rate that I don't have to start paying on until
6 months after I graduate. With luck, I'll have money to blow!

A couple of the local instructors have a deal going this summer where you
and the instructor fly for ten days to airfields all over the west in one
long IFR tour...hotel, food, flying time, instruction, the whole works for
$7,000. Seemed like a great deal. Maybe I'm glad I didn't do it!
-c