The end of the year is the right time to plan next year's hours. Start with your target (commercial minimums, R-ATP or 1,500), subtract your current total, and price the gap using package tiers. Add housing and a contingency for weather and maintenance days. A written budget keeps you flying instead of stopping halfway.
Four Steps
- Set your hour target
- Pick the matching tier on the pricing table
- Add housing and travel
- Add 10% contingency
Example
Need 200 hours? At $78/hr single engine that is $15,600. Two months of shared housing adds $1,800.
Frequently asked questions
How much contingency should I add?
About 10% for weather, maintenance and extra days is a sensible starting point.
Is a bigger package always cheaper?
Per hour, yes. But only buy the hours you will actually fly.
Can I finance time building?
Some pilots use aviation loans. See our financing page for options.