Pilot Training > Licence Costs

The following are approximate costs for passing pilot licence tests. Aircraft are charged by the engine hour, which means that you only pay while the engine is running. These costs include all fees and charges (CASA, Airservices etc) as well as required equipment (books, charts etc).

Student Pilot Licence (General Flying Progress Test – GFPT)
 

The General Flying Progress Test (GFPT) is the first stage of a Private or a Commercial pilots licence. The minimum hours of flight training required for the GFPT are 15 hours dual and 5 hours solo, however experience has shown that the average person takes a bit more time to gain the appropriate standard.

Costs are shown as a guide for the average student pilot. There are two aircraft options available for the course, either the 2-seat Cessna 152, or the larger 4-seat Cessna 172. Costs for either are shown below.

Item Flying Time C152 C172
Dual Flying 19.0 hrs $ 4579.00 $ 4959.00
Solo Flying 5.0 hrs $ 830.00 $ 930.00
Flight Simulator 1.0 hrs $ 100.00 $ 100.00
Flight Test + Fee 1.0 hrs $ 391.00 $ 411.00
Theory Books   $ 190.00 $ 190.00
 
CASA SPL Fee   $ 130.00 $ 130.00
Medical   $ 85.00 $ 85.00
CASA Medical Fee   $ 75.00 $ 75.00
Aviation Security Card   $ 145.00 $ 145.00
Landing & Airservice Fees   (approx) $ 250.00 (approx) $ 250.00
Total   $ 6,775.00 $ 7,275.00

The above cost for the GFPT is based on an average time to meet the minimum standards, some people will be able to achieve these with less hours where others may require little more training.

Should a student require additional training or need to re-sit a flight test, then additional costs will be charged at the current rate.
Unrestricted Private Pilot's Licence (PPL)
 

The PPL continues on from the GFPT and involves navigation training.
The costs include the GFPT and the average flight instruction time to achieve the PPL standards in all items of the navigation syllabus.

The CASA minimum experience required for the PPL is 40 hrs total time, including 10 hrs of total solo time. Experience has shown most people take a little longer to meet the requirements.

The following is a breakdown of the approximate costs involved in passing the Private Pilot Licence, including GFPT costs. All training for the PPL is conducted in the Cessna 172.

Item Flying Time Cost
GFPT Average Cost (C152) ~26 hrs $ 6775.00
PPL Navigation Average Cost (C172) ~25.5 hrs $ 6212.00
Navigation Charts & Equipment   $ 400.00
Theory Books   $ 220.00
PPL Theory Exam   $ 65.00
Landing & Airservice Fees   (approx) $ 150.00
CASA Licence Fee   $ 60.00
Total   $ 13,882.00

 
 

Commercial Pilot's Licence Certificate IV in Aviation
 

CPL incorporating Certificate IV (Aviation) from just $37,482*

The quoted price is based on a student with no prior experience and includes all licences up to and including CPL as well as a Night VFR Rating and a Basic Aerobatics Endorsment.

The course includes all theory books and courses, theory exam fees, flight test fees, licence fees, initial issue of CASA documents, basic navigational equipment, pilot headset, Class 1 Aviation Medical and administration fees.

*Extra costs will be incurred should a student require additional training or have to re-sit an exam or flight test. Additional costs will be charged at the current rate. Costs quoted may vary in accordance with changes to fuel and Airservices charges.