How much a private pilot licence costs in Europe

Where the money goes when you train for a PPL(A): aircraft hire, instruction, exams, medical and the fees people forget.

The short answer

Most students in Europe spend somewhere between €10,000 and €20,000 on a PPL(A), depending on country, aircraft and how often they fly. The legal minimum is 45 hours, but most people need 55 to 70.

Where the money goes

• Aircraft rental, usually charged per hour and the biggest item
• Instructor time, sometimes included in the hourly rate
• Theory course and the nine theory exams
• The class 2 medical
• Landing fees and approach fees at other airfields
• The skill test and examiner fee
• Licence issue fee from your authority
• Headset, charts, books and a logbook

Keeping it down

Flying two or three times a week costs less overall than flying once a month, because you forget less between lessons. Club flying is often cheaper than commercial schools. A LAPL is cheaper still if you only fly in Europe with up to three passengers.