Do you have dreams of becoming a commercial pilot? The first step on your career path is finding the best flight school where you can train, learn, and eventually gain your pilot’s license. At Leopard Aviation, we teach student pilots every day, helping them achieve their dreams of flying high in the skies. As one of the best flight schools in the nation, our experts will guide you every step of the way as you earn your commercial pilot license in Arizona. Keep reading as we give you some expert advice that will help you choose a flight school and get you one step closer to getting an airline job as a professional pilot.

Expert Tips on Choosing a Flight School: How to Find the Right Flight School for Your Needs

1. Look for a Flight School that Specializes in Commercial Training

Before you embark on a professional pilot path, finding a good flight school is essential. To help you narrow down your choices, look for flight schools that offer commercial training programs or specialize in this type of flight instruction. You need to pick a flight training program that will help you meet all of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) regulations for becoming a licensed commercial airline pilot. What type of school is best for your needs? Do you want to learn at a smaller flight school that uses the local airport for training students, or will you head to a larger, independent school?

2. Consider Your Budget and Timeline

Before you can learn to fly or pick a pilot training school, you’ll need to spend some time considering your budget and timeline. Enrolling in flight training school takes a serious commitment of money and free time, and the requirements to flight train are numerous. Where will you live as you earn your license? Are you going to work full-time? How will you manage your flight training costs? Will you earn your license at your own pace, or do you want to get certified as quickly as possible? Ask yourself questions such as:

• How much does renting the aircraft cost?
• Is there a ground school with flight simulators or other flight training devices?
• What is the hourly cost for students to fly with an instructor?
• What type of flight training aircraft are available for students to use?

3. Check the Flight School’s Reputation and Safety Record

The best training schools for aspiring airline pilots will have experienced flight instructors, top-of-the-line aircraft, a stellar safety record, and flexible student training programs. For example, you should check out reviews of the school’s reputation, its flight instructors, and testimonials from past students. Fortunately, most flight schools have a website and social media pages where you can learn more about what they offer.

4. Research Flight Instructors and Available Aircraft

The knowledge and skill of your flight instructor will have a significant impact on your overall experience as you earn your pilot certificate. Remember, you’ll be spending a lot of time with your flight instructor as they teach you how to fly and master an aircraft. Look for a school that offers the most experienced instructors that will help you smoothly navigate your instrument rating, flight hours, and other phases of your flight training. The best schools have certified flight instructors with years of experience working as a pilot and a passion for helping aspiring pilots on their path to gaining FAA certification.

Other considerations that are equally as important as your flight instructor are the type and quality of aircraft available for students. Many flight schools use planes that are 20 or 30 years old. However, at Leopard Aviation, we use Cessna 172S Skyhawks with a glass cockpit and state-of-the-art avionics and technology. As you’ll need to log 400 hours to gain your commercial license, your instructor and the type of craft you’ll be flying are critical factors to consider.

5. Schedule an In-Person Visit to the Flight Training Facility

Once you think you’ve found the right flight school for your needs, scheduling an in-person tour and visit is always a good idea. Take your time touring the grounds, looking at the planes, speaking with each flight instructor, checking out their programs, and more. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! The best flight schools offer discovery flights, also called “disco flights.” You can usually go on these disco flights for a relatively inexpensive fee, and it’s an excellent way to learn more about the school and get an overall feel for what it’s like.

Take to the Skies with Leopard Aviation

If you want to learn how to become a pilot, the professionals at Leopard Aviation are ready to guide you along your journey. Before you can start learning, though, you’ll need to find the best flight school for commercial pilots. So take the time to research schools, learn about their instructors and programs, and check important factors like their credentials and safety record.

Call Leopard Aviation now at 833-359-5735 to learn more about our flight school and get started on your path to becoming a pilot.