Ways to Pay for Flight Training

I Hart Flying Foundation offers several annual flight training scholarships. The founder of the organization, Rachelle, is pictured on the right.

Paying for flight training can be difficult due to the high price tag associated with flight training. This is a list of tips and tricks I have found useful to pay for flight lessons.

1. Scholarships

Applying for scholarships is the biggest tip I have for flight training. There are hundreds of aviation scholarships out there. I have a list of over 125 aviation scholarships. Stay tuned, maybe I will share that list on this blog eventually. Many scholarships you have to be a member in order to apply. I have found it worth while to pay for memberships. It helps you build your resume and it will pay for itself if you win a scholarship. The biggest secret to scholarship applications is making yours stand out. You want to let the scholarship committee know what makes YOU different from all of the other applicants.

2. Get a Job at a Fixed Based Operator (FBO)

Many FBOs will give a small discount off of rentals to their employees. Although it is not a huge discount, the savings can add up. If a FBO gives $10 off each hour of flight time, this can add up to a savings of over $500 for just a private pilot's license. You can save thousands with this discount throughout flight training.

3. Use Airline Sign On Bonuses to Pay Off Loans

Unfortunately, loans are one of the most common ways to pay for flight training. I would suggest using the first officer sign on bonus to pay off flight training loans. Airlines are giving pilot bonuses of over $15,000 for agreeing to fly for their company. Instead of burning this money on unnecessary purchases, I would strongly recommend using these bonuses to pay off the loans acquired throughout flight training. I have also heard of pilots taking a home equity loan to pay for flight training due to lower interest rates.

4. The Military

Certain flight schools accept the GI Bill to use for flight training. This is a great option for veterans who did not serve as a pilot. The military is also a great option for anyone looking to commission as an officer and serve as a pilot in the armed services.