Aviation Calculators
Flight cost per hour.
The cost per flight hour is your fixed yearly costs divided by the hours you fly, plus what each hour costs in fuel and upkeep. Enter your own figures to get it, and the number of hours per year at which owning costs the same as renting. Runs in your browser; nothing is sent or stored.
Planning aid, not for flight operations
This tool is for study, trip planning and curiosity. It is not approved flight-planning or performance data. For an actual flight, use the aircraft's approved Pilot's Operating Handbook or Aircraft Flight Manual, current weather and charts, and your own judgement as pilot in command. Results can differ from your aircraft's real figures.
Inputs
Result
Fill the form and press Calculate.
Worked example
Example figures, not quotes: $12,000 of fixed costs a year, 100 hours flown, a burn of 9 gallons per hour at $7.50, and $35 an hour for other costs. Fixed cost is $12,000 ÷ 100 = $120.00 an hour, fuel is 9 × $7.50 = $67.50, so the variable cost is $102.50 and the total is $222.50 per flight hour ($22,250 a year). Against a $185 an hour rental, owning breaks even at $12,000 ÷ ($185 − $102.50) = 145.5 hours a year; at 100 hours, renting costs $18,500.
How it works
Fixed cost per hour = yearly fixed costs ÷ hours flown. Variable cost per hour = fuel burn × fuel price + other hourly costs. The cost per flight hour is their sum, and the yearly total is that figure times the hours flown.
For the rent-or-own comparison the break-even is yearly fixed costs ÷ (rental rate − variable cost per hour). Above that many hours a year, owning costs less per hour than renting at the rate you entered; below it, renting costs less. If the rental rate is not above your variable cost, owning never breaks even and the tool says so.
This is arithmetic on the numbers you enter: no prices, rates or costs are built in, and costs such as the value tied up in an aircraft or depreciation are not included unless you add them to the fixed costs.
Sources: none. This is arithmetic on the numbers you enter; no outside data is used.
FAQ
How do I calculate the cost per flight hour?
Divide your yearly fixed costs by the hours you fly, then add the cost of fuel and other costs that accrue with each hour flown.
What counts as a fixed cost?
Costs you pay whether you fly or not: hangar or tie-down, insurance, annual inspection, loan payments or interest, subscriptions and database updates. Add depreciation if you want it counted.
What are variable costs?
Costs that rise with each hour flown: fuel, oil, engine and propeller overhaul reserves, maintenance reserves and landing fees.
How is the rental break-even calculated?
Yearly fixed costs divided by the difference between the rental rate and your variable cost per hour. If you fly more hours than that, owning is cheaper per hour than renting at that rate.
Why does flying more lower the cost per hour?
The fixed costs are spread over more hours. The variable cost per hour stays the same.
Are the prefilled numbers real?
No. They are example figures only. Enter your own costs, fuel price and rental rate.