Commercial Pilot In Only 30 Weeks, and $30k - How He Did It

How long does it take to get a commercial pilot's license? And how much will it cost? Jack Ulrichs, a recent student at The Flight Academy at Van Nuys Airport in California, went from starting his flight training, to being an employed commercial pilot in only 30 weeks, with a total expense of approximately $30,000. In this interview, he shares how he did it. There's lots of great, practical tips in here for aspiring pilots!
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Пікірлер: 47

  • @ericlane3256
    @ericlane325628 күн бұрын

    This is absolutely the way. Love seeing someone who wants to go professional that didn’t get ripped off and is surrounded by a good group of people who helped him get here.

  • @danbuffington75
    @danbuffington752 ай бұрын

    Make sure you keep track of those +50nm legs because they count towards the 500xc needed for the ATP.

  • @flightacademy

    @flightacademy

    2 ай бұрын

    Great point!

  • @AlexM2299
    @AlexM22994 күн бұрын

    This is excellent content. Thanks for posting it!

  • @bigj259
    @bigj2592 ай бұрын

    I did my PPL IFR MEL CMEL CFI CFII in 8 months and did it 42k

  • @lolaco7919

    @lolaco7919

    2 ай бұрын

    whereee? most places i look at r 80k-130k

  • @eleflux6609

    @eleflux6609

    2 ай бұрын

    65-90k is pretty common today. Just a couple years ago, it could be pretty easy to do for 40-60k. Unfortunately, I had to put off my training during that time. Just got started this past month at a small airport with a 1961 Cessna 172. $120/hr rental and $50/hr instruction. I did my ground with Sporty's, and unfortunately have to retake my knowledge test for PPL because it will expire at the end of the month. Losing a free 95% because the first was paid for. In the phase where my ground hours are about 1-1.5x my flight hours, as I am still under 10 hours and he is still gauging where I am on knowledge going over the ACS. Fully expect, given my current quality of manuevers (had several years flying around with friends that got me practice time before I started formal training), 50 hrs flight time and 60 hrs with the instructor between dual and ground (briefings, review, checkride prep, mock orals, etc). So mininum of $9k just on training, medical was $125, checkride I am told will be around $800, and whatever the knowledge test is now since I have to retake it since it will most likely expire. Figuring $12k for some buffer. If I could maintain the low rental for the majority of my training, I MIGHT (longshot) be able to squeeze in under $50k, but even with that majority, I expect more like $70k total mininum before I can start flying as a job. This by no means is normal lately though. I almost never see rental costs like this anymore. The next two options within a reasonable distance, are $180 and $200 with $60 instruction. Both have been going up steadily, but also have nicer aircraft. The $200 also just repainted all 4 of theirs. We will see if there is a new bump coming there, lol.

  • @bigj259

    @bigj259

    2 ай бұрын

    Did it a few years ago when it was cheaper.

  • @whatta7793

    @whatta7793

    10 күн бұрын

    @@eleflux6609 how did you like Sportys? Would you use them again for your ground, or would you go a different route? About how much did Sportys cost from start to finish?

  • @orionstorm7
    @orionstorm72 ай бұрын

    Awesome guys, so happy for you Jack! Moe & Sam kick ass!!!

  • @HeavyMetalHorizons
    @HeavyMetalHorizons2 ай бұрын

    This is great info! I need to finish up my instrument rating...

  • @rtwg605
    @rtwg6053 күн бұрын

    Awesome and congratulations!

  • @nettion
    @nettion2 ай бұрын

    Amazing tip thanks for that

  • @BONSAIP51
    @BONSAIP512 ай бұрын

    Where’s your guitar, Homie? I’m super glad to see you over in the aviation world too.

  • @eggface17
    @eggface17Ай бұрын

    Great stuff! 👍🏻

  • @flightacademy

    @flightacademy

    Ай бұрын

    Thank you! Cheers!

  • @conorb7872
    @conorb78722 ай бұрын

    First time seeing this channel and dude you need to narrate stuff, if you don’t already. Great interview voice. Cool video, thanks for the insight, just passed ppl check ride, working on instrument now. In a full time program, it’s a 61 run like 141. I won’t save too much money but plan to get through quickly

  • @GreenBlueWalkthrough

    @GreenBlueWalkthrough

    10 күн бұрын

    Oh don't you worry he has atleast 2 other channels that he keeps on the down low from each of his audnces.

  • @whatta7793

    @whatta7793

    10 күн бұрын

    @@GreenBlueWalkthrough is something wrong with that?

  • @Tikitorch523
    @Tikitorch5232 ай бұрын

    It’s great that this is possible but be cautious of flight schools that advertise similar time frames to complete a career program (5.5-7 months). There will be delays and check ride scheduling seems to be the biggest bottleneck. I would recommend working at least part time until you are close to finished just so you aren’t cash poor at the end.

  • @johnamin7858
    @johnamin78582 ай бұрын

    PPL @60hrs and only $10-$12k is about $200/hr wet with instructor (or less). That’s pretty cheap!

  • @eleflux6609

    @eleflux6609

    2 ай бұрын

    60 hrs would be 12k just on rental alone.... instructor hours is substantial as well. Say $60/hr, expect up to 60 hrs instructor time with briefings, dual, ground lessons, review, checkride prep, etc. Now up to almost $16k with tax on the rental if your state taxes that. Tack on extra random expenses, knowledge test, checkride, medical, and it goes up from there. My buffer estimate is $12k, and I have $120 rental and $50 instruction. That is a $2k buffer on my estimate for me given my current quality of manuevers. (50 flight, 60 instruction between dual and ground)

  • @duanekauffman1818
    @duanekauffman181812 күн бұрын

    I think there needs to be clarification you said you could fly as safety pilot as a student pilot with another student pilot. I think you meant as private pilots you can be a safety pilot to build your instrument time.

  • @meowcats787
    @meowcats7872 ай бұрын

    You did your checkride with Dennis?

  • @BenjiBoo42
    @BenjiBoo422 ай бұрын

    I am a youtube/online taught pilot. Most 141 commercial pilots I fly with are super deficient and its insane.

  • @burnaxel

    @burnaxel

    2 ай бұрын

    Are you a commercial pilot already?

  • @BenjiBoo42

    @BenjiBoo42

    2 ай бұрын

    @@burnaxel checkride next week.

  • @burnaxel

    @burnaxel

    2 ай бұрын

    @@BenjiBoo42 good luck

  • @j700jam4
    @j700jam428 күн бұрын

    Can safety pilot hours be counted as total hours?

  • @marcvalliant8131
    @marcvalliant813116 күн бұрын

    What does it mean to "fly simulated?"

  • @whatta7793

    @whatta7793

    10 күн бұрын

    simulators/games like msfs, xplane, flightgear, some setups you can even log the hours

  • @topofthegreen
    @topofthegreen2 ай бұрын

    you would need a pile of cash, and live at the airport.

  • @dfender110
    @dfender1102 ай бұрын

    How are you both logging the time? who is PIC?

  • @ItsJustPreVR

    @ItsJustPreVR

    2 ай бұрын

    safety pilot

  • @kaptainkela

    @kaptainkela

    2 ай бұрын

    Both can log pic

  • @kaptainkela

    @kaptainkela

    2 ай бұрын

    They just have to split the xc time

  • @dfender110

    @dfender110

    2 ай бұрын

    @@kaptainkela Then its not Half price as he says in the video

  • @kaptainkela

    @kaptainkela

    2 ай бұрын

    @@dfender110 yea it’s not

  • @TrwUniversity
    @TrwUniversity2 ай бұрын

    There’s no way he knows everything in that short amount of time. I wouldn’t want to fly with the guy.

  • @eleflux6609

    @eleflux6609

    2 ай бұрын

    I wouldn't want to fly with anyone that thought they know everything either. 😂😂😂 First order of business when flying with someone new... if they even remotely act like they have everything figured out, no go for me. Always room to learn.

  • @TrwUniversity

    @TrwUniversity

    2 ай бұрын

    @@eleflux6609 yes sir, I fear for my life and I don’t think it’s worth to fly general aviation. I’d rather make hella money and rent private jets if you ask me.

  • @cheekcj
    @cheekcj2 ай бұрын

    50 hours for PPL and you only spent 10-12k? Thats not right at all in todays world.

  • @whatta7793

    @whatta7793

    10 күн бұрын

    How not? He said 60 hours I thought. However my local schools cheapest Cessna is $140/hr, idk the instructor cost but even at $60/hr that's still just $10k for 50 hours. Their cheapest plane overall is like $120/hr but I think it's a Piper?

  • @jppalm3944
    @jppalm3944Ай бұрын

    This guy not a pilot I would call experienced pilot