50 Hour Deal Details

This page is intended to help understand the deal and what is required in obtaining your Private Pilots License.

First of all, I wish this deal was around when I got my license. Most people spend between $8000 and $11,000 to get their license. Even with the additional costs of fuel and supplies, this deal gives you the opportunity to get a Private Pilots license for under $6000. ** This deal is for just 50 hours of aircraft time and does not include instruction or fuel. Currently, the cost for instruction is $47.50 per hour. You can pay at the end of each flight or we can work out a deal for the instruction.**The other costs are items A.T.C. does not provide and are paid to other companies or vendors by all students. Here is a list of additional costs you can expect:

• Jeppesen part 141 deluxe kit: $275-380 (Other books and supplies $100-$200)
• FAA Medical exam: $150-$400 (Depends on doctor) (3^rdclass)
• Renters Insurance: $380-??
• Fuel- (About $40 per flight hour)
• FAA written Exam: $100
• FAA Check-ride: $350-$450

A.T.C. does not run a formal ground school program. All ground instruction is CFI directed self study. The CFI will tell you what to read before your next flight and during the next flight you will do those things you read about. This is not unusual. Formal ground school for a private license end up being a waste of time since it's a matter of reading the books. Your CFI will help you understand what you read but we have found there is no advantage to sitting in a classroom having the CFI basically read to you. With everyone’s busy schedule in the DC area, ground school dropout rates are above 60%.

Other information you need to know:

• Must be a US citizen. Foreign Nationals will have to go to www.flightschoolcandidates.gov to obtain permission to train. The process takes about 3 weeks and there is a cost involved ($300 I believe). All flight schools in the US must comply with the TSA rules concerning non US citizens.

• All students who are US citizen must provide proof (Divers license and either a current Passport or birth certificate. Military ID’s are OK as well).

• Students will have to obtain an FAA medical. Information on FAA medicals can be found at http://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator. Here is a link to some info about what conditions may disqualify you. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/standards/ Many times even if you have a condition, you can get a waiver so don't give up right away. We can help point you to the right AME and if a waiver can be obtained they will help you.

• All students will have to obtain an airspace clearance while setting up their fuel card. This is a special process because we are located so close to Washington DC. The cost is around $35. The process includes fingerprinting at Reagan National Airport and a visit to the FAA Flight Standards District Office.

• The deal is for 50 hours in the aircraft. Students will have to pay for the flight instructors time currently at $47.50 per hour. Student will have to obtain a fuel card from Potomac airfield and refuel the aircraft after each flight. Potomac airfield charges $18 per month for the fuel card and hen you pay $0.05 to $0.10 above the airports cost per gallon. Currently that is $4.98 per gallon. For planning the aircraft burn an average of 8 gallons per hours so at the end of each hour of flight time refueling the aircraft will cost around $40. In the beginning you will fly with the instructor for at least 10-15 hours. When they feel you are ready you will go on a stage check with a CFI you haven't flown with and if all is OK you will solo on your next flight. Then it will be a mix of solo flights and dual flights.

• A.T.C. Flight Training Center uses the Jeppesen Part 141 deluxe Private Pilot kit. Those can be obtained online. The Jeppesen part number is JS302009

• If the 50 hours has not been used by the expiration of the voucher or the student needs more flight time, additional costs will be paid by student. A.T.C. will offer discounted flight time packages and work with the student to keep additional costs to a minimum.

• A.T.C. cannot guarantee any student can complete their private pilots training in 50 hours. The FAA minimum is 40 hours. A.T.C. will do everything possible to help a student complete their training in the 50 hours allotted but due to the differences in learning some student may need additional hours. Safety is our highest priority and a student’s ability to safely operate an aircraft will determine whether a student needs more hours. When a student is deemed to be ready to take their check ride they will contact an FAA Designated Examiner (DE) for the final oral exam and flight test. The DE’s charge around $450 for the check ride and that cost will have to be paid by the student.

• Scheduling of flight time will be handled within A.T.C.’s policies. This is not an offer for an accelerated program. Students should expect to take 4-6 months to complete training. Students should attempt to fly 2-3 times per week at a minimum. A.T.C. cannot be held accountable for weather issues or aircraft being unavailable due to maintenance needs.