Aircraft cost per hour calculator

Add the fixed costs for the year, such as insurance, hangarage and the annual maintenance, and divide them by the hours flown. Add the running cost of each hour: fuel, oil, routine maintenance, and a reserve for the engine and propeller overhauls. The sum is the true cost of an hour.

Money put aside each hour so the overhaul is paid for when the engine reaches its time between overhauls. Divide the expected overhaul cost by the TBO hours: an overhaul that costs 30,000 at a 2,000 hour TBO needs 15 set aside for every hour flown.

The fixed costs are the same whether the aircraft flies 50 hours a year or 300, so they are spread across more hours. The chart shows how the cost of an hour falls as the aircraft is flown more.

At least the true cost of an hour at the hours the aircraft realistically flies, plus a margin for the hours it does not fly when planned, for unexpected repairs and, for a business, for profit. The calculator shows the rate at the margin you choose.

A wet rate includes fuel and a dry rate does not. The calculator gives both, so you can compare them with what members pay now.

Yes. It is free for any owner, syndicate, club or school, with nothing to sign up for. What you enter stays in your browser unless you ask us to email you a copy.