Hobbies And Interests
Sport Pilot License
The new Federal Aviation Administration Sport Pilot rating gets you into the cockpit at half the cost of a full private pilot's license and a significantly lower investment of training time, as well. You are restricted to single-engine aircraft of a particular weight with no more than two seats, and you can't fly at night or above 10,000 feet. Many factory-built aircraft are on the approved list for the Sport Pilot, including Cessna's popular 162 Skycatcher. As this license class has already generated substantial public interest, other well-known manufacturers are bound to add models to the list as well. This is an excellent introduction to flying and most commercial schools that offer full Private Pilot licenses now also offer Sport Pilot instruction, as well.
Colleges and Universities
Many institutes of higher learning offer aviation courses. These often include a curriculum in private pilot training and provide one-semester ground-school instruction. Many universities also have a flying club that can provide students with cockpit instructors and solo time in a club aircraft at a reduced cost.
Join The Club
Non-profit flying clubs help students in two ways: First, many include among their membership FAA-approved instructors for private pilot training who will usually offer it to other members at a reduced price. This includes a break on the cost of renting a plane for cockpit training and logging solo flight time. Second, once you are licensed, you can rent the club's plane for less than what you'd pay at the local airport. Joining a club requires an initiation fee and yearly membership cost, but savings in training and aircraft rental will pay for the membership over time.
Civil Air Patrol
The Civil Air Patrol offers discount options for both cadets and senior members to become licensed private pilots. Cadets can attend one of the CAP's National/Regional Flight Academies. These summer training programs offer introductory flights, intensive ground school classes and cockpit instruction all the way to solo. Senior CAP members can get a deal, too. CAP rules allow members who are FAA Certified Flight Instructors to provide volunteer flight training at no cost to fellow CAP members. Cost to the student is limited to the price of renting a Civil Air Patrol training plane, which is usually considerably less than the cost of a commercial rental at an airport or flight school.