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Academy of Aviation Commercial Pilot Programs


Academy of Aviation's vocational programs are developed to meet popular aviation objectives and harness the wealth of experience that this Flight Training Academy has accumulated over the years. As a student enrolled in one of our Career Pilot Programs, you are officially "matriculated," signifying our commitment to take a hands-on approach to your success.

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  • Beyond AOA

    Former AOA trainees and CFIs, Capt. Rejaul Rajib and First Officer Eric Riker, share the cockpit of a Republic Airways flight out of LaGuardia on Jan. 14, 2022. #flyaoa

  • AOA Certified

    AOA certified pilots and flight crew out of Chicago O'Hare: Rejaul Rajib in the left seat with Jamaal Simon closest to the camera. #flyaoa

  • AOA Awesome

    Armand DeLalla successfully completes his Commercial check ride at AOA in Farmingdale with CFI Jalen. #flyaoa

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COMMERCIAL PILOT

Commercial Pilot Training Explained

Your training is split into two parts: flight training and ground training. In ground school, you'll learn everything you need to know to become a skilled pilot. There are a few ways you can go about it, but the main goal is to pass your aviation knowledge test. Flight training happens in the actual airplane, where you'll pick up the skills and experience to fly solo and ace your check ride.

  • Before You Begin:

    • You must hold a Private Pilot Certificate with an Instrument rating.
    • You must be 18 years of age or older. There is no maximum age limit.
    • You must be able to read, speak, and understand English.
    • You must hold at least a Third Class FAA Medical Certificate.

  • FAA Minimum Requirements:

    The FAA has set a minimum training time for the Commercial Pilot Certificate, which is 250 total flight hours. Out of those, at least 20 hours need to be with a certified flight instructor, and 10 hours have to be solo.

    The flight hours you log while training for your Private Pilot Certificate and Instrument Rating, plus any other hours you rack up, can count toward the 250 total hours required.

  • How Long Will It Really Take?

    Most new pilots don't finish their training in just the 20 hours of minimum flight time with an instructor. This usually comes down to how often you fly. The less you fly, the longer it takes to build up your skills. On the other hand, the more frequently you fly, the faster you'll improve.

    If you can fly two to three times a week, you'll cut down the total flight time needed to get your Commercial Pilot Certificate. At that pace, it should take around 5 to 6 months to complete your training, with about 40 to 50 hours of flight time with an instructor and 10 solo hours — assuming you start with at least 200 total flight hours.

Become a pilot with a flight training program built around safety, innovation and accessibility.

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Part 141 Means Higher Training Standards

Convenience, Flexibility and Expertise



At Academy of Aviation, we’re all about helping you succeed in your training, whether you're flying for work or just for fun.

Our career programs are designed with input from our airline and charter industry partners to set you up for success in the industry. For those flying for fun, we use the same proven curriculum as our career programs, but with flexible scheduling that works for you.



What’s the difference between Part 141 and Part 61 training?



Part 141 training follows a strict FAA-approved syllabus. Both students and flight schools must stick to this plan, which means no variations in training. The upside is that you can earn your FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate in fewer hours, which means less time and money.

Part 61 training offers more flexibility in how the training is done, but requires more flight hours.

In short, Part 61 focuses on certifying pilots, while Part 141 certifies the flight schools.



Any questions? We’re here to help.



Just fill out our online form to get in touch with our admissions desk, and we’ll email you the info you need to get started.

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A good flight school prepares you to pass the FAA exams in the time frame you desire, for the price quoted, safely.

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Compare Prices

Earn the Same Ratings at the Same Airports

Compare our prices with our major competitor's. Academy of Aviation offers career flight training with a Fixed Cost Pricing starting from zero experience. Prices are based using average flight hours for course completion. Additional non-tuition expenses and fuel surcharges, if applicable, are not included. All prices are subject to change.

  • Academy of Aviation Price

    Part 141: Structured training time, lower costs.

    $70,740.*
    Package Includes
    • Cessna 152 Basic Trainer
    • Every student is matriculated, signifying our commitment to take a hands-on approach to your success.
    • Part 141 at EVERY location means strict FAA oversight.
    • CFIs are AOA Employees, not independent contractors.
    • Multi Engine Fleet: Diamond DA42 Twin Star at our dedicated Atlanta/Peachtree City Multi-Academy.
    • Finance your full career pilot training with Sallie Mae or one of our other finance partners.
    • Upgrade to the Cessna 172 G1000® for your Instrument Rating: add $1,820.
    • Upgrade to the Cessna 172 G1000® for your Whole Program: add $11,235.
    • *At Select Locations.
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  • Competitor Price

    Part 61: Variable training time, higher costs.

    $108,995.*
    Package Includes
    • Piper Archer Basic Trainer
    • Part 61 Only - No FAA oversight and training largely based on self-study.
    • CFIs are independent contractors.
    • Multi Engine Fleet: Piper Seminole
    • Advertises a "Reserved Loan," but contrary to our competition's claims, we too can help you obtain financing as a Sallie Mae Approved provider.
    • * +$3,000 in CA, MA, NY; +$2,000 in CT, MD, NJ, OR, WA, DC Area.

Become a pilot with a flight training program built around safety, innovation and accessibility.

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WHAT WILL I LEARN?

First Flight to First Officer Program from Start to Finish

This program prepares students for an entry-level position as a commercial pilot with a focus on building experience working as a Certified Flight Instructor for Primary and Commercial students.



  • Private Pilot Course
  • Instrument Rating Course
  • Single-Engine Commercial Course
  • Certified Flight Instructor Rating
  • Certified Instrument Instructor Rating
  • Multi-Engine Commercial Course
  • Multi-Engine Instructor

We invite you to explore our Student Portal and download our full Course Catalog. There you will discover every detail about all of our programs:



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Upgrade your career Flight Training with Academy of Aviation. We will create a customized program to meet your personal timeline.

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Finance Your Flight Training

Financing is Available

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Full financing is available for our "First Flight to First Officer" career pilot program. The Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan® is available for those who qualify.

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Free Discovery Flight With Your Financing Approval

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If you've got your heart set on a career as an airline pilot, our career-oriented programs will put you on a direct course to your goal in much less time, and for less money.

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