Academy of Aviation in the USA welcomes flight training students from India.
Start your journey with Academy of Aviation by filling out the form below:
Indian Student Required Information
Please read all of the information presented below. We have compiled this page specifically for students from India only, who wish to become a pilot by training in the USA. This page contains everything you need to meet DGCA requirements for easy co-validation.
**F1 Visa for Flight Schools Has Been Discontinued.** The Student and
Exchange Visa Program (SEVP/SEVIS) in late August 2021 determined that a degree program will
be required, along with flight training, in order to offer the F-1 Visa. Read more at: F-1 Visa Information.
Minimum Qualifications to Enroll with Academy of Aviation
17+ years of
age
Passport with 2+ years until expiration
Proof of funding to present to the US
Embassy during your student visa interview (approximately $35,000 - $45,000)
Able to
obtain a minimum 3rd Class FAA Medical
Proficient level of English
(evaluated by
Admission Team)
High school diploma or equivalent.
NC/GA/NY Locations: PPL-CPL (Single + Multi) Course Details
Estimate your Duration of Training: International students are scheduled 5
days per week and our training sessions are 2 hours. Therefore, you can estimate 8-10 hours
of flight per week. Referring to your quote above, in the section labeled "Total Logged
Time", you
can divide those hours by 10 for an estimate of weeks in order to complete all of your
training.
Example Payment Schedule: Payment Schedule based on C-152** with a start
date of January 11, 2022. You are only contracted for your tuition estimated at $45,695 and
will pay checkride, written, non-tuition and pilot supplies fees as they become due. The first
payment due after you are issued the visa, a minimum of 1 week prior to arrival, is
$5,000.
1/11/2022: $5,000 + $400 Cessna kit (non tuition fee) = $5,400
2/11/2022: $7,139
3/11/2022: $7,139
4/11/2022: $7,139
5/11/2022: $7,139
6/11/2022: $7,139
*Aircraft upgrade to the C-172 G1000, add approximately $1,500 to each monthly
payment.
**If you are 6+ feet tall and/or 200+ lbs, you are not eligible to fly the C152 due to the
compact size of the aircraft.
NOTICE: Farmingdale Campus Additional Non-Tuition Landing Fee: $2-$3 per
flight
Class Start Dates: The 2nd Tuesday of each month.
Curricular Practical Training Eligibility: On the M1 visa students are
eligible for unpaid Curricular Practical Training (CPT) when they complete their CFI, CFII
and/or MEI. Calculated by USCIS as 1 month of CPT for every 4 complete months of training,
maximum of 6 months. Read more about CPT at Curricular Practical
Training.
Logging Hours to Airline Minimums: You can always enroll for the Private
Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Single and Multi Engine Pilot Program to start and
decide later, while you are at the school, to continue with your Flight Instructor Ratings
(CFI, CFII and MEI).
The tuition costs are approximately $20,000 for the 3 Flight
Instructor
courses and the maximum tuition reimbursement is up to $10,000. Making the decision when you
are nearing completion of your CPL is what we advise, so that we can properly evaluate how
much Curricular Practical Training you would be eligible for.
You would still be
eligible to
train other students in order to log up to 1,000 total hours and for the tuition
reimbursement offer.
Flight Instructor Tuition Reimbursement Offer: Up to $10,000 upon
completion of all of your
flight training AND approved CPT by USCIS. Your total estimated tuition reimbursement will
be calculated upon approval by USCIS. Only USCIS can approve CPT; no school can guarantee
you CPT because it is not within the school's authority. You cannot be paid to work as a
Flight Instructor on the M1 visa!
FAA Medical: Depending on your career goals, students should obtain a 1st,
2nd or 3rd Class FAA Medical
before arriving to Academy of Aviation. You can typically find FAA Aviation Medical Examiners (AME) at major
airports in every
country. If not, please review disqualifying medical conditions and medications
that may prevent you
from obtaining the necessary medical certificate in order to conduct flight training in the
United States.
Our Admissions Team and staff are not AMEs, doctors or medical
professionals so we cannot appropriately advise on what would or would not be a
disqualifying condition or medication. If you are concerned about your ability to obtain
your FAA medical certificate and there are no AMEs within a reasonable distance to you in
your country, we advise you to obtain your country's aviation medical certificate prior to
beginning the enrollment process with Academy of Aviation. This will be a good indicator of
your eligibility for the FAA medical certificate when there are no other options.
Student Housing Options and Transportation Information
Charlotte Area Campus: (AKH) Gastonia, North Carolina$1,000 per month Private Room
10 minute drive/e-bike * 15 minute bicycle ride * 25 minute walk
Fully furnished, utilities and wifi included.
Atlanta Area Campus: (FFC) Peachtree City, Georgia
$1,000 per month Private Room
10 minute drive/e-bike * 15 minute bicycle ride * 25 minute walk
Fully furnished, utilities and wifi included.
Long Island Campus: (FRG) Farmingdale, New York
$1,300 per month Private Room
10 minute drive/e-bike * 15 minute bicycle ride * 25 minute walk
Fully furnished, utilities and wifi included.
$1,500 per month Private Crew Quarters (hotel room) at Republic Airport
1 minute drive/e-bike * 5 minute bicycle ride * 10 minute walk
Fully furnished, utilities and wifi included.
White Plains Campus: (HPN) White Plains, New York
No student housing available.
Is is certainly not mandatory that student's reside in student housing. Any housing arrangement within a reasonable commuting distance (max 45 minute commute) is acceptable. Many students become familiar with the area within 2-3 months and often relocate to alternative housing. Upon arrival, students may request to be put on the "Roommates List" if they would like to share a room for a reduced monthly cost. When a shared room and roommate situation becomes available, their living arrangements will be reorganized for the following month. There is no guarantee nor reservation for a shared room nor roommate option prior to a student's arrival. All students must budget for private room costs.
Due to insurance and liability, Academy of Aviation does not offer transportation at this time at any of the campuses. Students can obtain their own vehicle, utilize Uber or bus/train, and e-bike/scooter or bicycle.
