Yellow CompasNot all flight training schools are the same. There are over 1400 of them in this country so there is a big selection out there and finding the right flight training school can be difficult. We made it easy with this list of helpful tips. Here are six things you need to consider when you are looking for a good commercial flight training school.

Location

Location is very important when you are looking for a flight training school. What state the school is in and what the weather is like is critical for your getting your commercial pilot license.
Florida is a great place to earn your wings. The moderate and mild climate makes flight training a pleasure. You have your adverse weather – of course – so you get proper training in all kinds of conditions except you do not have any snow. The good weather allows you to log more flying hours faster, get your degree quicker and be on the way sooner to your new aviation career
Florida has a sub-tropical climate with long summers and short, mild winters. It is perfect for year-round outdoor activities and it is also perfect for flight training. The average median temperate in central Florida is 75 degrees and the skies are clear and sunny about 280 days out of the year. No wonder they call Florida the "Sunshine State."

Facilities

What does the facility look like? Make sure it is clean and well- maintained. Check the condition of the fleet and the surrounding environment. If the facility is cluttered, unattended to or run down, chances are your flight training will be the same.

Fleet condition

Are the planes new? If not, how old are they? How many planes are in the fleet? Are they properly maintained and do you have access to the maintenance logs? A training plane should be serviced after every 100 hours of flight time. It doesn’t have to be new for flight training but it does have to well-maintained.

Professionalism

More than any other vocation, commercial piloting is a business of professionals. It is important that you keep a professional attitude at all times. So where does all this professionalism begin? It begins at flight training school. Tour the facility you are considering and meet the faculty. Do they treat you professionally and respectfully? Are they proud about what they are doing? If the flight school doesn’t have a professional feeling and a business-like attitude then maybe that flight training school isn’t right for you.

Student housing options

You are most likely going to be living away from home when you attend a flight training school and housing can get pretty expensive. Take a look at housing facilities at the prospective flight school – if they even offer it. Check the local market for real estate listings, prices and availability.

Financing options

Does the flight training school give you a choice of payment plans or do they want all their money up front? It is important to have payment plans and options. We are still in tough economic times and that makes it even tougher for a flight school student.

Flight training is not cheap – and most flight training students are going to need financing. It will play a big role in learning to fly for a living and a good flight training school will help you with this. Does the flight training school have a financial assistance department?

There are lots of government loans out there - Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant and Career Training Loans from Sallie Mae. If a flight training school can’t help you navigate through the intricacies of a federal loan, maybe you should go to another flight school.

If you are a veteran, make sure the flight training school is approved for the GI Post 9/11 Bill. The Post 9/11 Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

These are six important factors to consider when you are looking for a flight training school. Good luck finding your school and good luck with your new career!