It is easy to pick the right flight training school if you do your homework. There are over 1400
aviation schools, colleges and academies in the United States and they are not all the same. There are pluses and minuses for each school when you add it all up. How do you decide which school is right for you? We have prepared a handy guide to help you find the commercial flight training school that will best suit your needs.
Who
Who is going to teach you? Tour the aviation school you are considering and meet the staff faculty. Do they treat you professionally and respectfully? Commercial piloting is a business of professionals. It is important that you keep a professional attitude at all times – and this professionalism begins at flight school. If the flight training school doesn’t have a professional feeling and a business-like attitude then maybe the school isn’t right for you.
What
What does the
flight training school look like? Is it clean and well-maintained? Check the condition of the fleet and the surrounding environment. If the facility is cluttered, unattended to or even run down, chances are your training will be the same.
How many planes are in the fleet? Are they properly maintained and can you look at the maintenance logs? A training plane should be serviced after every 100 hours of flight time. It doesn’t have to be new to fly but it does need to be properly maintained.
What are the living conditions like? You are probably going to be living away from home when you attend a flight school and housing is expensive. Take a look at housing facilities at the flight school you are considering – if they even offer it. Check the local market for real estate listings, prices and availability.
Where
Location is important when you’re looking for an aviation school. A good location with year round mild weather conditions is a big plus - you can log more flying hours faster and get your degree quicker.
How
For most flight students where you go and when you go depends on how you get your
financing. Does the flight 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. The flight school you pick should have a number of financing programs in place and they should be ready to assist you.
FAFSA - or Free Application for Federal Student Aid - is the first step in an aviation school financial aid process. Use it to apply for federal student financial aid, such as the Pell Grant, student loans, and college work-study. Most states and schools use
FAFSA information to award their financial aid.
The financial rewards of a commercial pilot license are great – the average salary of a commercial pilot is over $100,000 a year. Getting that license is not easy, however – the schooling is tough and the financing for the schooling may be even tougher. If you are determined, committed and prepared it will make everything easier.
These are some of the most important things to consider before you select a
flight training school. Good luck and happy flying!