A Comprehensive Guide on Advanced Microsoft Excel for Data Analysis

 

Overview

Data analysis provides insights from raw data which is used to support decision-making. Microsoft Excel is a simple, powerful, and one of the top tools for data analysis. This comprehensive guide will introduce you to the concepts of data analysis and present practical examples using Microsoft Excel.

Introduction

Data analysis has emerged as an important field because it provides the ability to analyze data which helps people in making better decisions. Data analysis is the process of collecting, modeling, and analyzing, and exploring data to find a pattern in it.

Table of Contents

1. What is Data analysis?
2. Data analysis with Microsoft Excel
3. Essential keyboard Shortcuts for Excel Data Analysis
4. Download data set
5. Sort, Filter, Conditional, Formatting, and Charts
6. Create a Pivot table for a data set
7. Tables, What-If Analysis and Quick Analysis
8. Analysis ToolPak
9. Other tools for data analysis
10. Conclusion
11. End Notes

What is Data analysis?

Data analysis is the process of Data Requirement Gathering (What type of data do you want to use and how do you plan to analyze it), Data Collection (Collect the data from available sources), Data Cleaning (The data we collected are not always in ideal form so we have to remove white spaces, duplicate records, null values, and basic errors. it is mandatory to clean data before uses for analysis), Data Analysis (In this step we uses data analysis software’s and other tools to interpret the data and get insights on data), Data Interpretation (We need to interpret them and give the best findings from that) and data visualization (Display your data using graph and charts so that people can read and understand it easily).

There are two main methods of Data Analysis: qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis. There are many other techniques available like Statistical analysis, Text analysis, Diagnostic analysis, Predictive analysis, Prescriptive Analysis, etc.

Data analysis with Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel provides powerful features and ways to interpret and analyze data. The data can be collected from various sources. Then that data can be converted and formatted in several ways according to user need. It can be analyzed with the relevant Excel commands, statistical functions, and tools – Sort, Filter, Ranges, Tables, Conditional Formatting, Date functions, Time functions, Subtotals, Quick Analysis, What-if Analysis, Solvers, Pivot Tables, Charts, and Analysis ToolPak, etc.

Essential keyboard Shortcuts for Excel Data Analysis

1. Alt + A + T or Alt + D+ F +F : To add or remove Filters

2. Ctrl + Pg Up/Pg Dn : Shift between sheets

3. Alt + A + S + S : To sort data

4. Ctrl + Spacebar : Select entire column

5. Shift + Spacebar : Select entire row

6. Ctrl + Shift + Down/Right : Select till the last non-empty cell in column/row

7. Ctrl + 0 : To hide columns

8. Ctrl + Shift + ) or Alt + O + C + U : To Unhide columns

9. Ctrl + 9 : To hide rows

10. Ctrl + Shift + ( : To Unhide rows

11. Alt + W + F + R : To freeze top row

Download data set

Download Supermarket sales data set from Kaggle using the below link:

https://www.kaggle.com/aungpyaeap/supermarket-sales

The growth of supermarkets is increasing and market competition is also high. The given dataset shows the historical sales of a Supermarket Company which has recorded data for 3 months in 3 different branches of the Supermarket. We are going to analyze this dataset with Microsoft Excel. Open supermarket_sales – Sheet1 file in MS Excel. We can also check the Attribute information of this sheet on the Kaggle site.

This data set is already clean and validated so we don’t have to perform any data cleaning and validation steps on it. Before analyzing always check that only valid values are in cells, there are no missing or null values and data is in the proper format.

Sorting in Excel:

We can sort our Excel data based on one or multiple columns. We can sort in ascending or descending order or sort data in a custom order. We can also sort data by color. We can use Alt + A + S + S shortcut to directly sort data or select the sort icon from the Data menu as shown below.

In the below example we sort data according to the Date column and the order is ascending. We can also sort data according to different columns and different orders. For example, if we want to check data rating wise we can sort data according to the rating column. From this, we can find out the highest and lowest-rated products and branches ratings.

Filtering in Excel:

We can filter our data and can only display records that we need for analysis. We can use Alt + A + T shortcut to directly Filter data or select the Filter icon from the Data menu as shown below. We can also apply a number filter to display numbers in a certain range or greater than, less than, or equal to the selected limit We can also apply a text filter to display records that begin with a specific character, end with a specific character, contain or do not contain a specific character, etc. To apply a number filter or text filter Click the arrow next to the heading row. For example, if we want to display only branch A’s data, then select only branch A from the filter box.

Conditional Formatting:

Conditional formatting in Excel allows you to identify duplicates in a dataset, highlight cells with a value greater/less than a number, highlight top/bottom 10 (or 10%), highlight errors/blanks, create Heat Maps, highlight every other row/column to increase the readability of the data, search and highlight data using Conditional Formatting. For example, if we want to highlight only members in customer type, first select the customer type column then Go to Home –> Conditional Formatting –> Highlighting Cell Rules –> Text that Contains. A dialogue box would open, in the dialogue box enter the value and select the color for highlighting cells.

Charts in Excel:

A simple Excel chart can be worth a thousand words of description. Concepts that are difficult to understand with sheets full of numbers can be easily displayed with charts or plots. To create a chart, Select data first then on the Insert tab in the Charts group click the chart symbol you want. There are different types of charts like Column Charts, Line Chart, Pie Chart, Bar Chart, Area Chart, Scatter Plot, Data Series, Axes, Chart Sheet, Trendline, Error Bars, Sparklines, Combination Chart, Gauge Chart, Thermometer Chart, Gantt Chart, Pareto Chart available in Excel.

Create a Pivot table for a data set:

The Pivot Table feature is a powerful tool that allows us to summarize huge amounts of data. You can use a PivotTable to analyze numerical data in detail (summarize data as averages, sums, or counts), and answer unanticipated questions about your data.it is mostly used to understand and find patterns in the data set.

Here, we’ll use it to find out the Gross income of each Branch for General items like Electronic accessories, Fashion accessories, Food and beverages, Health and beauty, Home and lifestyle, sports, and travel. First, select table from supermarket_sales – Sheet1, so they are highlighted. Then from the Insert menu select PivotTable. In the dialogue box that appears, make sure the Table/Range radio button is selected and the accompanying text box reads ‘supermarket_sales – Sheet1′!$A$1:$Q$1001’.At the bottom of the dialogue box, make sure the New Worksheet radio button is highlighted, then click OK.

 

Now add Branch in Columns, product line in Rows gross income in values that shows the sum of gross income and generate table shown below from which we can know the total gross income of different branch for different products.

We can also add a graph for this table. Just select the type of graph from the Insert menu. We select the bar chart. From this chart, we can easily find out the highest and lowest gross income for different branches.

From this pivot table and bar chart, we can gain general insights like food and beverages have high gross income than other categories. The amount of gross income is very similar in all Branches with a slight increase in Branch C.

Just like this pivot table, we can create different types of pivot tables based on the information we need from the data. In the below example select the columns as shown in the below figure. After creating the pivot table select a line graph. From this Pivot table and graph, we can say that Women generate higher sales when compared to men.

Tables in Excel:

Excel tables allow you to analyze your data easily and quickly. To create a table from your data click any single cell in your data and then from the Insert tab in the Tables group, click Table. It automatically selects your data. Select My table has headers and click on OK.

It directly formatted the table for you and allows you to use many powerful features like sorting, filtering, calculating the total row at the end of the table by clicking on the checkbox Total Row in the Design tab. Using this not only gives you the total but you can also calculate Average, Count, Max, Min, Sum, Std deviation, etc.

What-If Analysis in Excel:

What-If Analysis in Excel allows you to change the different values in cells to see how those changes will affect the outcome of formulas. You can use its Goal Seek feature when you are not sure what input value the formula requires to get that result. To use this from the Data tab, in the Forecast group click on What-If Analysis.

Quick Analysis in Excel:

With the Quick Analysis tool in Excel, you can quickly and easily analyze your data. To use this First select the data and then Right Click and select Quick Analysis from the menu which opens. You can directly perform Formatting like adding Data Bars, Color Scales, Icon Sets, highlight cells, etc. we can directly add pivot tables, insert sparklines, Charts, and also perform calculations like Average, Count, Max, Min, Sum, etc.

Excel Analysis ToolPak:

The Analysis ToolPak is an add-in that is included with Excel that provides data analysis tools. To add the Analysis ToolPak add-in follow the below steps:

1. Open File tab in Excel

2. Click on Options

3. In Excel, Options dialog box click on Add-ins

4. Select Analysis ToolPak from Add-ins and click on the Go

5. Select the checkbox for the Analysis ToolPak and click OK.

To access Analysis ToolPak Click on the Data tab and then from the Analysis group click On Data Analysis.

The Analysis ToolPak adds the following functionality to Excel:

· Anova: Single Factor

· Anova: Two-Factor with Replication

· Anova: Two-Factor Without Replication

· Correlation

· Covariance

· Descriptive Statistics analysis

· Exponential Smoothing analysis

· F-Test Two-Sample for Variances

· Fourier Analysis

· Histogram

· Moving Average analysis

· Random Number Generation analysis

· Rank and Percentile analysis

· Regression analysis

· Sampling

· t-Test: Paired Two Sample For Means

· t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances

· t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Unequal Variances

· z-Test: Two-Sample for Means

The below figure shows the dialog box for Data Analysis.

Correlation:

If we want to find out if there is any correlation between columns Gross Income and Rating. First, select the correlation option from Data Analysis. Then in the correlation dialog box select both Gross Income and Rating columns in the Input Range. Then Click on OK. The correlation coefficient has a value between -1 and +1. From this, we can know how strongly two variables are related. Value 1 indicates a perfect positive correlation. From the output shown below, we can say that there is no correlation between Rating and gross income.

Descriptive Statistics:

If we want to calculate Descriptive Statistics for any numeric column then first select the Descriptive Statistics option from Data Analysis. Then in the Descriptive Statistics dialog box select columns (for example cogs, gross margin percentage, gross income, Rating) in Input Range. Then Click on OK.

Descriptive Statistics directly calculates Mean, Standard Error, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation, Sample Variance, Kurtosis, Skewness, Range, Minimum, Maximum, Sum, and Count for selected columns. Output for this example is shown below.

Histogram:

If you want to know the distribution of customer ratings, you can use a histogram for that. First, select the histogram option from Data Analysis. Then in the histogram dialog box select the rating column in the Input range and for the Bin range create a range according to your need. We created Bin range from 1 to 10 and select it in Bin range. Click on Chart output and then Ok. It creates a histogram display below. In this histogram add Trend Line. To add a trend line go to Design –> Add Chart Element –> Trendline. From this, we can say that customer rating has a normal distribution.

Other tools for data analysis:

There are many data analysis tools available nowadays, but which one is best to analyze our data depends on what type and how much data do we need to analyze, budget, and time available for analysis.

Here is a list of some of the best data analytics tools available Other than Excel.

1. Python:

Python is an open-source, high-level programming language. For data analysis, it provides a large set of libraries like Pandas, Numpy, SciPy, and scikit-learn, etc. It also provides many data visualization packages like Matplotlib, Plotly, and Seaborn, etc. it is the most preferred language for machine learning and data science.

2. Tableau:

Tableau is a powerful analytics and data visualization platform that allows users to create reports, interactive dashboards that represent data in the most user-friendly way. It can run on the cloud or on-premises.

3. Microsoft Power BI:

Microsoft Power BI is a top business intelligence platform it makes it easy for businesses to spot trends, patterns, and insights across large sets of data. It supports many types of data sources. It also provides reports, visualizations, and dashboards for data.

4. R:

R is an open-source programming language. It is best at exploratory data analysis, predictive analyses, and statistical analysis. Such as distributions, clustering classification, and regression analysis. It is used for building your own data analysis tools.

5. Qlik:

Qlik offers in-memory data processing for fast results and data visualization. It can also run on the cloud or on-premises. It offers helpful tools support for data exploration and discovery by technical and non-technical users alike.

6. KNIME:

KNIME stands for the Konstanz Information Miner. It is a free, open-source platform to perform data integration, processing, visualization, and reporting. It builds advanced machine learning and data mining solutions with minimal or no programming requirements.

Conclusion:

Here are some general insights about the data that we find from our data analysis.

The number of gross income is very similar in all Branches with a slight superiority in Branch C. Women use to generate sales with a higher gross income than men. Customer rating has a normal distribution. The Credit Card is the payment method less used. There is no correlation between Rating and gross income.

Always perform data cleaning and data validation before Data analysis if data are not in proper format otherwise it leads your data analysis in the wrong direction.

How Many Years Does it Take to Become a Commercial Pilot?

 Becoming a commercial airline pilot can require months and even years of intense training, including written exams and flight practice. There are ways to shorten the path to a commercial pilot’s license and get into the air sooner. By choosing the right flight school, you can achieve your goal of certification in 14 months or less.

Pilot Certification Path

Traditionally, there are multiple steps that you have to take to become a commercial pilot. First, you need to get a medical certificate that clears you for safe flight. This medical exam tests your vision, balance, heart condition and hearing. While it is not mandatory to start your training with this exam, it helps to take it first so you don’t spend hours training, only to find out that you have a condition that would prevent you from flying.

After completing your medical clearance, the next step is to start ground training. This classroom training includes learning about navigation, instruments, weather and aviation procedures and terminology. This is often described as the most demanding and intense portion of commercial flight training, and student pilots are required to pass a written test administered by the FAA in the US (Federal Aviation Administration), EASA in Europe(European Aviation Safety Agency), or other the relevant agency in what ever jurisdiction you want to fly in.

Once you have fulfilled your basic requirements and passed your exam, you can move on to in-air training. You will need 1,500 of flight hours if you are training in the United States, but only 200 flight hours if you complete your training in Europe. You will train first with a flight instructor until you are ready to fly independently. You will also train in a simulator in the later stages to simulate the larger planes like an Airbus where costs of flying are too high just to train students.

Integrated Training vs. Modular Training

One of the big questions that a lot of aspiring pilots ask is how much it will cost to complete the licensing. One of the major factors in the cost and time it takes to get licensed is whether you train in an integrated program or in a modular one. Because the cost of the pilot’s license can average from around $10,000 for a private pilot’s license (PPL) to well over $100,000 for some commercial training academies, many student pilots complete their course of study while still working full time jobs. This modular training means that student pilots are learning their craft piecemeal, making it hard for them to complete the training quickly. In addition, lapse in training time means that many student pilots will need refreshers on critical information, which slows down the process and ends up costing more money in the long run.

Another factor that will greatly increase the time and cost of your training is weather. Inclement weather like snow, rain and ice storms will prevent you from getting the number of hours of flight practice that you need to complete the training. To get the right amount of required hours, you will need clear and sunny skies for your test flights and check ride. The geography of your school makes all of the difference in how much practice you will be able to enjoy and how quickly you will be able to finish. Consistent good weather means that you will have more hours behind the flight controls and the ability to pay less overall for your training.

With the integrated EASA ATPL certification, pilots can finish their entire training in one shot, and earn their licenses in as little as 14 months at FlyBy. Schools like FlyBy that offer aggressive flights schedules and have a large stock of planes available for practice are the best bet for completing your training on time. One of the major complaints that many students have is that there are not enough sunny days and available planes for them to get enough practice time to master their skills. Our students are more likely to complain they are flying too much.

Many student pilots from the United States choose to train for their license in Europe, as lower costs of living, favorable weather conditions and lower priced training makes it easier to complete the training. In addition, the European EASA flight time requirement is much lower than the United States’ required 1,500 hours, making it easy to complete the training in less time.

After completing the training in Europe, newly licensed pilots can then return to their home countries to transfer their certifications to the new location. But they can accumulate the hours they need from their home country while being paid for a large commercial carrier instead of accumulating up to 1,500 hours on their own dime. From there they can get additional certifications and licenses and work in aviation around the world.

The first step in getting your pilot’s license quickly is choosing the right school. While all pilot training schools follow a similar curriculum and use the same global standards, some schools are better than others when it comes to quickly gaining the certifications and licenses you need. Many students find that temporarily relocating for school is a worthwhile investment. When choosing a school, find one with the best calendar of flights in an area with plenty of ideal flying conditions.

Careers in the Aviation Industry

The aviation industry is experiencing rapid growth with the emergence of new discount airlines, expansion of existing airlines and increased demand for travel. At the same time, attendance at pilot training schools has remained steady, causing experts to forecast an unmet demand for trained pilots. While there has been a slowdown in the aviation industry due to the recent pandemic, the industry has bounced back quickly after every major slowdown in the past as there is always going to be a demand for commercial and leisure travel. There are still a lot of seasoned pilots retiring and if one begins training today, there is a good chance that things are going to be getting back to normal as you graduate, potentially with pent up demand. Never before has there been a better opportunity to break into the world of aviation, with an estimated 700,000 new pilot jobs expected to open in the upcoming years.

While most pilots train to become commercial airline pilots, there are other career paths that you can take after you have completed your training and earned your license. Commercial airline pilots have been traditionally in the highest demand due to the proliferation of new airlines that are starting up all over the globe. In Asia, especially, up until the recent pandemic issues, there had been a huge demand for trained pilots who can shuttle passengers all over the globe. There are also many positions available for private pilots who run charter flights for private passengers. Other new pilots work as helicopter pilots, flying aircraft for tour companies, television stations and police stations. Still others work as pilots for shipping and delivery companies like Amazon, FedEx and UPS. There are also jobs for pilots who work as first responders, fighting fires from the air, airlifting trauma victims to hospitals and performing high-altitude rescues.

With the pilot’s license, you can also start your career as a pilot instructor. With the right amount of flight hours, experience and additional certifications, you can earn a living training new pilots in your own business or in larger training schools. Flight school instructors are always in high demand. FlyBy has established a cadet program for those who want to gain more experience as a flight instructor after you have finished achieving your commercial license. You can click here to learn more about that program.

When it comes to getting your pilot license and commercial airline certifications, it can take years or as little as 14 months depending on the type of certifications you seek and the flight school program you select. The weather in your flight school’s location, the time you can devote to training and your financial resources all play a part in how much time it will take. At FlyBy, our intensive integrated ATPL program allows you to spend more time studying with fewer breaks so that you can complete your licensing program quickly.

We offer aggressive flight practice calendars that allow you to spend more time in the air and less time waiting for an available plane or a sunny day. In fact, many of our students find they spend too much time flying. In as little as 14 months, you can be well on your way to a high flying career as a commercial pilot, for only € 69,300 including all costs most flight schools charge extra for.

Contact us today to learn more about our ATPL integrated program.

How Much Does it Cost to Become a Pilot?

 

If you’re considering become a pilot, cost is likely one of your biggest concerns. Every flight student is worried about how much their training will cost.

Most pilots are familiar with the old saying, “An airplane is a hole on the tarmac that you throw money into.” It’s true for airplane owners, who receive frequent invoices from their favorite mechanic. But it’s also valid for student pilots, who are paying for both an expensive airplane and a professional flight instructor.

How much does it cost to become a pilot, you ask? It depends. There are many different licenses and approaches to aviation that you can take.

For private flying, you might just want a sport or private pilot license. If you are looking to make a career out of it, you need to start at the private certificate and work your way through the instrument rating and commercial license.

All flight training follows a similar structure. Flight schools provide applicants with a rough estimate of their total costs, but every student’s final number will differ. Along the way, students pay for the following costs.

Supplies

Every course will require new textbooks, charts, and supplies. When you first start, you’ll need to buy some pilot gear, but that should last you for many years to come. This includes items like a headset, kneeboard, flight computer, pilot bag, and fuel tester.

Aircraft Rentals

Aircraft rates are billed per hour to the nearest tenth. Depending on the school, they may be billed wet, an all-inclusive number including fuel, or dry, where the student will pay for the fuel they use. Aircraft time is billed based on the Hobbs time recorded from the aircraft, which begins and ends when the engine operates.

The price you pay will vary depending on the type of plane.

Larger, more complex planes cost more to operate and are therefore more expensive. Smaller planes provide a better value since they can be rented for less money.

Flight Instructor Time

Flight instruction time is billed hourly, as well. You will pay for instruction time while you are in the aircraft receiving training, as well as for any ground instruction you receive before and after the flight. You will also occasionally pay for ground-only instruction to help you prepare for exams or check rides.

Written Exam

When you take a written exam, you have to pay a fee to the FAA testing center. The fee is usually around $100, but it varies by location and type of exam.

FAA Practical Exam

If you do your check ride with a designated pilot examiner (DPE), they will charge for their time. Costs vary considerably depending on the type of checkride and your region. Generally, they are between $500 and $800.

Before You Start

Before you start training, there are a few things that you can get out of the way.

If you are not a US citizen, you will need to apply for approval to begin flight training from the Transportation Security Administration.

This process will involve getting fingerprinted and having a thorough background check completed. The total cost of the process costs about $230.

You’ll need to apply for approval before you can start flying (sport pilot or private pilot), before you begin an instrument rating, and before you start your multiengine rating. US citizens only need to present documentation to their flight instructor before their first flight.

You should also consider getting your FAA medical exam out of the way. The exam is performed by an AME, or aviation medical examiner. It usually costs around $100.

It’s not a bad idea to go ahead and get the more stringent grade of certificate, a first-class medical, especially if you want to fly for a career. That way, if any medical issues come up, they won’t be a surprise later on. If you are only completing your private license, you only need a third-class medical.

Ground School

Ground school usually describes the bookwork and aeronautical knowledge you need to accumulate to pass the FAA’s written exam. There are two ways student pilots can go about accomplishing their ground school–they can take a course specifically aimed at passing the exam, or they can make an independent study program with the help of a flight instructor.

Taking a prepared course is often the best way to get the ground school component out of the way. Truth be told, there is plenty of aeronautical knowledge left to cover after you’ve passed the written exam. The FAA practical exam for your license will also require preparation, and your time with a flight instructor one-on-one is best saved for that purpose.

With so many varying options, the cost of ground school can vary considerably. If you are paying your flight instructor for personalized training, your cost could be significantly more than the cost of a class–it will just depend on how much independent study you do.

It’s worth noting that you’ll be taking written exams throughout your pilot career, and the preparation for them never really changes. Written exams are required for all licenses (commercial, ATP, flight instructor) and additional ratings (instrument, rotorcraft, etc.).

The total cost for most ground schools is around $400, plus the FAA written exam fee, which varies between $90 and $200.

Student Pilot Cost

The student pilot license is issued by the FAA or one of their designated pilot examiners (DPEs). Once you have demonstrated that you can safely solo the aircraft, your flight instructor will give you their endorsement, which shows that you have the knowledge and proficiency to fly alone under some circumstances.

The actual student pilot license is free, but all of the training that goes into getting it is not. You’ll get the student pilot license on your way to getting either a sport pilot or private pilot license, so the real cost is included in those numbers.

Sport Pilot License Cost

The cost of a pilot certificate is related to how many hours it takes you to complete it. Flight training is always performed to proficiency, so the cost varies dramatically from one student to another. It’s all one-on-one training, performed in the cockpit and the classroom. All of that time is billed per hour.

The FAA sets the minimum requirements that students must meet before they can take the FAA practical exam. These are spelled out in the Airman Certification Standards (ACRs), which state precisely how well maneuvers and tasks must be performed to pass. Your flight instructor’s goal is to train you well enough that you can do those tasks safely and proficiently. How much practice it takes to get you to that point depends on how much you study and your aptitude for flying an airplane.

The total sport pilot license cost, including the minimum 20 hours of flight training, is estimated at around $7,000.

Private Pilot License Cost

The difference between the sport pilot and private pilot training programs isn’t as significant as you might think. The private pilot license includes more time learning about the national airspace system, flying at night, and flying cross-countries to other airports.

These are privileges that are more limited under the sport pilot rules, whereas a private pilot is allowed to fly nearly anywhere in the country.

The private pilot course consists of three different phases of training. During the pre-solo phase, you learn what you need to fly the plane safely. That training culminates in your first flight alone around the traffic pattern.

You then move into the cross-country phase of training to learn more about navigation and moving between airports. The last part of the course is practical exam preparation, where you bring all of these skills together and master them. It culminates in your checkride, a two-part practical exam. You’ll have an oral question and answer session, followed by a flight test in the plane.

Like sport pilot candidates, students who begin with the private pilot course can spend radically different amounts of time and money getting the license.

The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) say that the minimum time you can get a private pilot certificate is 35 hours under Part 141 training or 40 hours under Part 61 (Learn the difference between Part 141 and Part 61). But the national average is closer to 70 hours, indicating that most pilots will take substantially longer than the regulatory minimums.

The minimum private pilot license cost, including 35 hours of flight training, is around $12,000.

Instrument Rating Cost

The instrument rating course follows the same general schedule that the private pilot did.

You need to complete a written exam, and many pilots choose to attend a formal ground school to prepare for it. You must complete at least 35 to 40 hours of training, broken into a few phases. In the end, like the private pilot license, you must pass a practical exam that consists of an oral knowledge test and practical flying skills checkride.

One benefit of the instrument rating is that you can accomplish quite a lot of the training in a flight simulator. Modern simulators are full motion, with cockpits that mimic the equipment you take flying in the real world. Time spent flying simulators is excellent for a lot of reasons. Not only does it save you money, but it also creates an environment where your flight instructor can hit “pause” for a moment to explain things thoroughly. And of course, you can train for dangerous scenarios more realistically in a simulator than you can in the plane.

The instrument rating’s estimated total cost, including 21 hours in the G1000-equipped Cessna 172SP and 14 hours of dual in the RedBird full-motion simulator, is around $12,000.

Commercial Pilot Cost

Two types of pilots look to upgrade their licenses to the commercial level.

One set of pilots is going to school to become professionals, and they need to get the required hours to get there. They follow a curriculum, which will need to include another 120 hours of flight time, including 55 of dual instruction and 65 hours of solo time. These pilots enroll in a FAR Part 141 program to get it done quickly.

Other pilots may have had their private certificates for a while and been using them. Maybe they own an airplane, or they rent and fly regularly. These pilots can get their commercial pilot license under FAR Part 61 when they get 250 hours of total time in their logbook. When they have around 200 hours, they should talk to a flight instructor and make a plan.

How much does it cost to become a pilot with a commercial license?

The two types of pilots make it harder to say. With so many hours in question, a lot of money can be saved using the smallest, least expensive planes available.

If pilots are doing independent flying, they might not be interested in the commercial license’s overall cost. All it will take is about ten hours of preparation for the exam. They may just need to know how many hours they’ll need to finish it up under Part 61.

No matter how you begin building your hours for the commercial pilot exam, everyone ends it at the same place–in the cockpit of a complex aircraft. Your initial commercial license test must be in a complex airplane.

A complex plane is one with retractable landing gear, an adjustable-pitch propeller, and flaps. You must have about ten hours in such an aircraft, so these are usually the ten hours right before your checkride.

The estimated total commercial pilot license cost is about $24,000. The exact makeup of the sorts of training flights you need to accomplish to fulfill the regulations vary considerably, so make sure you work closely with a flight instructor when you get to this point.

Multiengine Rating Cost

A multiengine rating can be added to any grade of pilot certificate–private, commercial, or ATP. Most pilots opt to get it with their initial commercial license or as an add-on after that.

The rating is one of the fastest, easiest, and most fun you can get. Flying a twin is exhilarating after you’ve been flying in a single. The climb rate, higher altitudes, and all-around better performance will bring a smile to your face.

The course includes roughly ten hours of dual instruction in a multiengine airplane. Only about five hours of ground instruction is needed to bring you up to speed on the new airplane’s systems and some multiengine aerodynamics.

The estimated total cost of the multiengine rating, with ten hours in the Beechcraft Duchess, is about $5,000.

Flight Instructor Cost

The flight instructor course is one that mostly revolves around ground training. There are no new maneuvers or airplane systems to learn, but you will be expected to know the material you have learned well enough to teach it to someone else.

There are two written exams required for the CFI course. The Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) is an exam about basic teaching techniques, introductory learner psychology, communication, and how to structure lessons and a curriculum. The Flight Instructor-Airplane exam looks a lot like the commercial pilot aeronautical knowledge exam.

Everything else about the flight instructor course is about setting you up to teach. You learn how to fly from the right seat of the cockpit, and you must know the maneuvers well enough to perform them while explaining them.

The total flight time required is usually around ten hours. You may have to do spin training if you are getting the single-engine airplane rating.

Every CFI will tell you that flying is the easiest part of the flight instructor course. Oral exams for this license are usually very thorough. You will be asked to prepare an entire ground lesson and teach it to the examiner, and you will need to show a commercial pilot-level of knowledge for all areas that you are asked to perform.

There are different ratings on the flight instructor certificate. If you intend to keep teaching, the flight instructor-instrument rating is worthwhile. The course and prep are similar in cost and time as the initial CFI, but there will be less groundwork prep since you will not have to retake the FOI.

The estimated total cost of a CFI training course is around $4,000.

Airline Transport Pilot Cost

To qualify to become an airline transport pilot (ATP), you must have accrued 1,500 hours of total flying time. Few people pay for all of that time; the ATP is usually a license that working professionals get after they’re already well into their careers.

Remember, there are lots of jobs in the aviation world that only require a commercial pilot license.

You only need an ATP to work for an airline. Many copilot jobs, banner towing, sightseeing flights, survey flying, or flight instruction all only need a commercial. Most pilots build their time up to 1,500 hours by working other jobs, and then they get the ATP as the next step in their careers.

The actual cost of getting the ATP isn’t that great because the flight training is pretty simple.

Any pilot who has built up 1,500 flying hours is likely to be reasonably experienced. Most ATP applicants need less than 20 hours of flight training to get themselves ready for the checkride. Pilots who do not do a lot of instrument flying may need a little more time since the ATP is heavily an instrument-flying checkride.

The written exam is another matter. The ATP written is difficult, but most pilots find success with independent study programs and the occasional check-in with their flight instructors