Training for a Recreational Pilot's Certificate requires around three to five months and is one of the least expensive to obtain. It also has many restrictions; the holder of a Recreational Pilot's Certificate may only carry one passenger and must remain within 50 miles of the departure airport ($5,000).
The Sport Pilot's Certificate is similar to Recreational Pilot's Certificate and is more popular. A significant difference between the two is that a sport pilot does have to take a medical exam ($5,000).
Private pilot training requires between four and seven months to complete. The Private Pilot's Certificate is more expensive because it requires more time with the instructor and in the airplane. It does, however, have more privileges than sport or recreational license ($8,500 to $11,000).
A private pilot who wishes to advance his or her training may consider taking six months to add an Instrument Rating to his or her license ($5,000 to $11,000). Other advanced training that pilots may consider is the Commercial Pilot's Certificate, which permits the pilot to fly for hire ($15,000 to $20,000).
If a pilot wants to fly an airplane with more than one engine, he or she must add a Multi-engine Rating to an existing private or commercial certificate. The Multi-engine add-on takes about a week and the price depends on the type of airplane used for the training ($5,000 to $8,000).
The cost of a pilot's license partially depends on the dedication of the student. Those who fly regularly and study hard will progress faster than students who do not. Dedicated students spend less time and money relearning forgotten maneuvers and regulations.
