
More people have left their tedious office jobs to discover an exciting career in aviation. Not only is it a lucrative business, but the current shortage of pilots has made it easy to get a professional job right out of school. The southwest is also the perfect environment to learn aviation because the warm climate makes it easy to fly year-round without the complications of rain or snow. There are plenty of Texas flight schools that help students earn their private, commercial, or even instructor licenses.
ATP (Airline Transport Professionals) is one of the country’s largest flight schools with several locations, including Dallas and Houston. Unlike many programs that let students complete courses at their own pace, ATP offers full-immersion programs that get students certified in the fastest amount of time possible–making it one of the most efficient Texas flight schools. Because of their reputation, students who graduate from ATP claim to have a better chance being hired by major airlines than students who complete other programs.
The Private Pilot certificate is the first step toward a flying career. Private Pilot License (PPL). Different PPLs allow pilots to fly private planes, helicopters, gyroplanes, or balloons (usually any small aircraft without remuneration). ATP offers a $9,000, 60-day fast track program that includes 55 hours of flight time in a Cessna 172 and 35 hours of instrument training. The price also includes housing, manuals, test fees and the FAA written exam. It is the school’s mission to put committed students on the pathway to their careers as soon as possible, so the fast track programs are the best value.
A commercial pilot license is needed to fly an aircraft for remuneration and it’s the first step into a new career as a pilot. ATP’s Airline Career Pilot program only takes 90 days. The $55,000 price tag includes apartments, cross-country hotels, 5 written exams, manuals and. During this course, students will log 200 hours of flight time, 190 hours of multiengine time (75 hours of that will be cross country) and 10 hours of single-engine time.
Brazos Helicopters offers both private and commercial licenses for students. Because of all the different applications/vocations available to them, helicopter pilots are in high demand. By nature, a helicopter has more maneuverability than an airplane–which makes them extra valuable during search and rescue operations. Firefighters, police agencies and hospitals also use helicopters extensively. For recreation, aerial sightseeing has become increasingly popular–especially the beautiful vistas of Port Aransas, Mustang Beach, and Corpus Christi.
Brazos Career Pilot program allows students to get their Private Pilot or Commercial Pilot license. Each course takes about one year to complete and the program runs in conjunction with Utah Valley State College, so those who complete the course earn a fully accredited college degree in aviation. Their association with a school also makes it possible for students to apply for financial aid and loans–making Brazos one of the most affordable Texas flight schools.