Aircraft Operating Cost Calculator
Calculate per-hour and annual operating costs for your aircraft including fuel, maintenance reserves, insurance, and hangar fees.
Inputs
Results
Total Cost/Hour
$173.00
≈ 12 movie tickets
Annual Operating Cost
$17,300.00
≈ 9 gaming PCs
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter fuel burn rate (gallons per hour) and current fuel price ($/gallon).
- Set maintenance reserve per hour ($) based on aircraft type and engine time.
- Enter annual insurance cost ($), monthly hangar or tie-down cost, and planned annual flight hours.
- Review fuel cost per hour, fixed cost per hour, total cost per hour, and annual operating cost.
- Use cost per nautical mile to compare this aircraft to alternatives on a mission-cost basis.
How the result changes with Annual Flight Hours
| Annual Flight Hours | Total Cost/Hour | Annual Operating Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | $133.81 | $26,895.00 |
| 701 | $106.13 | $74,395.00 |
| 1,300 | $101.00 | $131,300.00 |
| 1,800 | $99.33 | $178,800.00 |
What each input means
- Fuel Burn Rate
- Average fuel consumption in gallons per hour.
- Fuel Price
- Price per gallon of avgas or jet fuel.
- Maintenance Reserve
- Hourly reserve for engine overhaul, inspections, and repairs.
- Annual Insurance
- Annual hull and liability insurance premium.
- Monthly Hangar/Tie-Down
- Monthly cost for hangar or tie-down space.
- Annual Flight Hours
- Expected hours flown per year (affects fixed cost allocation).
What each result means
- Fuel Cost/Hour
- Hourly fuel expense.
- Fixed Cost/Hour
- Insurance and hangar amortized per flight hour.
- Total Cost/Hour
- All-in cost per flight hour.
- Annual Operating Cost
- Total yearly cost to operate.
- Cost per NM
- Estimated cost per nautical mile at 120 kts cruise.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersFuel Burn Rate = 10, Fuel Price = 6.5, Maintenance Reserve = 30, Annual Insurance = 3000 = 6 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total Cost/HourTotal Cost/Hour173 = $173
- Calculate Annual Operating CostAnnual Operating Cost17300 = $17,300
- Calculate Fuel Cost/HourFuel Cost/Hour65 = $65
- Calculate Fixed Cost/HourFixed Cost/Hour78 = $78
Related Calculators
The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.
Flight School Cost Calculator
Estimate total flight training costs including aircraft rental, instructor fees, ground school, checkride, and exam fees for your pilot certificate.
Aviation OperationsFBO Fuel Price Calculator
Compare fuel costs at up to three FBOs, factoring in detour costs. Find the cheapest fuel stop for your flight plan.
Aviation OperationsAircraft Annual Inspection Calculator
Estimate annual inspection costs based on aircraft age, engine hours, complexity, and historical findings. Plan your maintenance budget.
More in Aviation, Marine & Transport.