Edit Article

How to Pick a Flight School

Community Q&A

A flight school is the best place for beginners to learn different courses of flight operations in a systematic and technical way. The techniques and skills that one can learn from flight schools are very important for people who are aspiring to become pilots because the dangers and risks that are involved in the task of flying a large aircraft come in huge numbers. Moreover, this is not an easy thing to do.

Selecting a flight school should take time and deliberation. There are many to choose from, but only a few that will meet your subjective needs. For this reason, you should decide what those specific needs are and then consider the following steps when the time comes for you to pick a flight school.


  1. 1
    Establish your objectives for learning how to fly. Decide whether you want to make a career out of flying or if you just want to fly for pleasure.
    • If you want a career as a pilot, look for a flight school with several airplanes and full time flight instructors. These tend to be more structured and will get you done sooner than some of the more laid back type of schools.
    • If you want to fly just for fun and go at your own pace, you can choose a more relaxed-style type school. But, you may end up paying more money overall, since the longer you take the more money you will pay.
    • If you are going to be working on your commercial pilot certificate, strongly consider a Part 141 School versus a Part 61 school since you will only be required to log 190hrs of flight time if getting your commercial pilot training from a Part 141 School instead of the 250hrs if you are training at a Part 61 School.
  2. 2
    Make a list of all the characteristics you are looking for in a flight school.
  3. 3
    Decide whether you are looking for a specific certification, a professional pilot program or an internship program.
  4. 4
    Research flight school directories, and make a list of all the flight schools you would be interested in attending based on location. Review the schools on your list online. Get an idea of each school's accreditation, programs, facilities, safety record and anything else that you feel is important in an aviation school search. Narrow your list down to no more than 8 flight schools, if possible, and request information from all of them, including the training syllabus you are interested in.
  5. 5
    Take your time to read through the informational packets. Write notes comparing the positives and negatives of each school. Base your feedback on the characteristics that you consider significant when attending a flight school. Make notes of the bonus features at each school also, as these may be the determining factors if you are having a hard time choosing. You should jot down questions about things not mentioned or confusing.
  6. 6
    Narrow your choice of flying schools down to 5. Use the process of elimination in your selection, based on your notes.
  7. 7
    Visit the 5 flying schools of your choice. This way you can put yourself in the environment of each school and meet the people you may be spending time with. Arrange a tour of the campus and flight department.
  8. 8
    Request a meeting with the admissions administrator. If financial aid is a requirement, make arrangements to meet that administrator also. You can also arrange to meet with a flight instructor and interview the current students during the tour.
  9. 9
    Be prepared for each meeting. You should bring your written list of questions. If additional questions come up during the meeting, write them down. Your goal is to leave each meeting feeling as if you have a complete picture of what it is like to be a student at the school.
  10. 10
    Decide if the school leaves a good impression. Determine whether you are still as impressed as you were when you read the school's informational packet. If you are more excited, then the school should be considered a finalist in your decision making. If the feeling is less impressive, then cross the school off your list.
  11. 11
    Review the remaining schools in your list. Look over your list of questions and responses from each flying school. Recall the feelings you got during each visit. Compare all your remaining schools in this manner and decide which one fulfills your ultimate goals.

Community Q&A

Ask a Question


  • Don't fall for marketing techniques used by some flight schools to make the price of obtaining your license look a lot cheaper than it actually is. Don't be fooled; flight school is a big investment.
    • The minimum number of pilot hours in order to obtain a pilot certificate is 40 hours, although most students only pass after 65 hours of flight. Since many schools charge per hour of flight, this can add up quickly.[1]
    • Just like going to normal school, there are occasionally delays due to illness, bad weather, etc. This takes the time you've already spent money on to learn![1]

Article Info

Categories: Flight Training

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,872 times.

Did this article help you?