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The Cost of Flying
Not a Hobby for the Rich
Small airplanes are safe and comfortable, but few are luxurious "sky yachts" being driven around by cigar-smoking fat cats. Most small airplanes are rented or owned by ordinary people like school teachers, nurses, bankers, and electricians. These people have decided to enjoy flying as their hobby, just like many people enjoy other family activities like recreational boating or RVing.
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Most Pilots Rent Airplanes
 Two out of three pilots don't even own an airplane; they rent airplanes from their local community airports. Unlike a rental car, pilots are charged only for the time that they operate the engine.
Less Money Than a Ballgame or Theme Park
A daylong family trip will typically use only one to two hours of airplane rental time at about $75 to $115 per hour. So, a day of fun in an airplane could cost less than the price of taking your family to a major sporting event or theme park. |
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Reasonable Operating Costs
Real-world operating costs for the private pilot and the airplane typically run between $2,000 and $8,000 per year, depending upon the amount of flying done and the complexity of the aircraft.
These annual costs include fuel, oil, insurance, maintenance, repairs, inspections, tiedown fee (parking), up-to-date aeronautical maps, a couple of aviation magazine subscriptions, membership in one or two national aviation organizations, refresher training, and mandatory flight reviews with a flight instructor certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
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The Price of an SUV or Used Car
 Most small airplanes bought and sold in the United States today cost less than a typical SUV, and many two-seat airplanes cost as little as a used car. The reason?
Because of mandatory Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspections and strict maintenance standards, general aviation (GA) aircraft can provide safe transportation for many decades. So it's not unusual to see private airplanes that are 20 or even 30 years old that still look and fly like new. But, like everything else, their price is reduced as they get older, making them much more affordable.
For example, an average used four-passenger single-engine airplane might sell for $37,000 to $45,000 (depending upon its age and condition), but a brand new version of the same airplane might cost $150,000 or more. Many used two-seat airplanes sell for about $20,000.
View a side by side comparison of the typical minivan and the typical single engine aircraft.
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No Fee Charged to Fly or Park
 You can drive your car down any almost any road in America without paying anyone a separate fee to do so. You can park your car in most locations for free. That's because America's roads are paid for with a gasoline tax shared by all users.
The same is true of pilots and airplanes. Pilots are not charged a separate fee when they fly their airplanes, or in most cases when they park them while on a daytrip. That's because everything about our National Airspace System (NAS) is paid for with a simple tax on all aviation fuels that is shared by all users.
At some airports, overnight tiedown parking might be about $8, and overnight hangar parking about $25. A handful of coastal or island resort airports at vacation destination like Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard charge $5 to $10 to park for the day, but that usually includes the use of a nearby beach and showers. They'll often waive that small fee if you buy fuel or eat at the airport restaurant.
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