The Cost of Pilot Training
What does a pilot license really cost? The honest answer – and why the hourly rate alone tells you little.
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The Price That Does Not Exist
You want to know what your pilot training will cost. That is sensible – and that is exactly why we, as a premium flight school in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region, first tell you what no one can honestly give you: a fixed price.
The law prescribes minimum hours, not maximum hours. How many hours you actually need depends on you, on your calendar, on the weather – and to a considerable extent on your flight school as well. A “package price” therefore either covers only the minimum, or it contains a surcharge for all those who need longer. We consider both dishonest and instead bill transparently: by the time actually used, at fixed hourly rates from our price list.
What the Cost Really Depends On
The hourly rate is one side. The other is the number of hours you end up paying for. And your flight school determines that more than it may seem at first glance:
- Continuity. If you fly regularly, you repeat less. With us, aircraft are usually available when you have time – often at very short notice, and mostly on weekends as well. Long breaks because no aircraft is available would otherwise cost you hours.
- A dedicated instructor. As a rule, you fly with your own flight instructor, who knows where you stand. No starting over with every lesson.
- Instructors from the cockpit. Our flight instructors are predominantly airline or commercial pilots. Experience does not show in the hourly rate, but in the number of hours you need until your checkride.
- Simulator instead of repeat flights. You can also practice procedures and emergencies on simulators – independent of the weather and less expensive than in the aircraft.
- Wet rates instead of dry rates. Our charter rates are “wet rates”: fuel is billed through us; a temporary fuel surcharge is shown openly in our price list. Some operators bill fuel separately – the hourly rate then looks lower, the invoice does not.
- No hidden obligations. No work duties, no mandatory work hours, no membership fee. What club training saves on paper, you pay for there, among other things, with time.
In short: be skeptical of “package” or “fixed” prices, and do not compare hourly rates, but the total cost up to your license – and what you get for it.
What Makes Up the Cost of Your Training
- a one-time administration fee upon registration
- the theory package of your choice – hybrid face-to-face theory training, video-based theory coaching or distance learning
- the practical training: aircraft charter rate × actual block time, plus flight instructor × time actually spent
External costs such as landing, authority and examination fees are added – as everywhere; these are not collected by us. You will find all hourly rates in our Price List. Sample calculations for LAPL and PPL on Aquila, Cessna and Cirrus – calculated honestly, including instructor time for briefings – are included in our brochures, which we will gladly send you: Request a Brochure.
Payment: “Pay as You Fly”
No advance payment. You only ever pay for what you have already flown – in regular, small invoices.Or in three installments. Only if you wish, you pay the charter portion in three equal installments spread over the training; in return, you receive a 2% discount on the charter.Full flexibility. You set the pace and the breaks – and thus also when which costs arise.Financing. We do not grant loans (incidentally, other flight schools are not allowed to either …); that is reserved for banks. Our way of payment, however, works for you much like an installment plan – just without a loan agreement and without interest. We will also gladly put you in touch with specialized providers.
Book a ConsultationBecoming a Commercial Pilot: Modular Instead of Integrated
In commercial pilot training, the route determines the cost. Integrated courses are considerably more expensive and tie you to a continuous full-time course – if you drop out, you risk a bad investment. With modular training, you earn the same license step by step; each module is a qualification of its own that stays with you.
Non-binding estimate: from ab initio to the CPL with MEP IR, the flight-school-related costs at the legal minimum number of hours start at around EUR 83,500 – including ATPL theory, hour building on our aircraft and the time, not always openly addressed elsewhere, that the instructor spends with you beyond the flight time (e.g. for briefings and debriefings), but excluding external fees. You will find the breakdown by module in our Commercial Pilot Training brochure.
Questions About Cost
We look forward to answering all your questions in a personal meeting or phone call – of course entirely without obligation for you. In the meantime, here are answers to some of the questions we are asked most often.
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Do you offer a fixed price for the PPL?
No – out of conviction. A fixed price can only cover the legal minimum or must include a surcharge for longer training. We bill by the time actually used; that way you pay exactly for what you need.
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How many flight hours do I really need?
The law requires at least 45 flight hours for the PPL and at least 30 for the LAPL. Quite a few of our students were ready for their checkride before reaching these minimum hours – one customer even completed the LAPL on the Cirrus in exactly 30.0 hours. Others need longer, and that is perfectly normal. No promise can be derived from this; what matters most is how regularly you fly.
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Isn’t training at a flying club cheaper?
Often, on paper. In return, you pay with work duties, mandatory work hours and membership fees – and frequently with waiting time for aircraft and instructors. If you have little time, you are usually better off with a professional flight school.
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Do I have to pay in advance?
No. You pay for what you have flown. If you wish, you can pay the charter portion in three installments and receive a 2% discount on the charter.
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Can I finance my training?
We do not grant loans; that is reserved for banks. We will gladly put you in touch with specialized providers.
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What additional costs should I expect?
External fees, for example for landings, authorities, examinations, study material and the radiotelephony certificate. Landing fees account for the largest share.
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What does training to become a commercial or airline pilot cost?
From ab initio to the CPL with MEP IR, flight-school-related costs start at around EUR 83,500 at the legal minimum number of hours – a non-binding estimate, excluding external fees. Details by module in our brochure.
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Where can I find your prices?
In our price list (link at the bottom of every page). We will send you sample calculations for the entire training together with our brochure.
Testimonials
“Thanks to fantastic flight instructors and a great teaching concept, I got my PPL(A) in minimum time – on a Cirrus SR20! I am very grateful and now an enthusiastic charter customer :-)”
“Outstanding training with top flight instructors – on the best aircraft. It is incredibly instructive, really pleasant, and two things are always the focus: safety and fun. What more could you want – except more time to fly? I can only wish every private pilot an RMFC training!”
“From my own experience, I can recommend RheinMain Flightcenter without reservation, both as a flight school and as a charter company. Very professionally and service-oriented (owner-)managed, an excellently equipped fleet at competitive prices and flight instructors who are as competent as they are likeable. For me, clearly the first choice in the Rhine-Main region!”
“Best flight school in the world! 😍”
“The best flight instructors! Top aircraft! Family atmosphere!”
“I did my PPL(A) here and was very satisfied! Thanks to direct contact with the management, any concern can be resolved easily. I was especially pleased to have completed my training professionally and very quickly in a family environment. I can recommend RMFC without reservation!”
“Top flight school, super modern and well-kept aircraft and friendly, likeable flight instructors. Exactly the right place if you plan to fly or learn to fly in the Rhine-Main region.”
“Awesome aircraft rental! New modern aircraft and quick and professional staff. Everything step of the process is with safety in mind, ensuring you feel safe. The instructors for diff./fam. training are available with short notice. When renting, the time from landside, to cockpit is less than 5min. Highly recommended!”
Join us!
Let’s Talk About Your Training.
In a personal meeting, we plan the sequence, pace and cost of your training – honestly and without obligation, on site at Egelsbach or by video.
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Cirrus SR22 Turbo GTS G7 (D-EQML)
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