North America · Authority: FAA
232 researched schools and 507 verified programs so far. This is the research done to date, not a complete list of every provider in United States.
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232 schools
University flight-training unit · Charleston, United States
University aeronautics department offering a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics: Professional Pilot with flight training every semester; other aeronautics degrees (air traffic, management, maintenance) are not covered here.
Independent flight school · Sarasota, United States
Sarasota-Bradenton flight school offering private, instrument and multi-engine training, a career pilot program, a Liberty University degree partnership and an international student program.
Flying club · Pearland, United States
Pearland-based aero club offering discovery flights, private through CFII training, a Redbird AATD and rental aircraft.
Independent flight school · La Crosse, United States
La Crosse, Wisconsin FBO-based flight school with Cessna 172 and 152 rentals, flight instruction and a private pilot ground school (unrelated to the Colgan regional airline). Part 61/141 status not stated on the fetched pages.
Independent flight school · Van Nuys, United States
Cessna Pilot Center at Van Nuys Airport offering Part 61 and Part 141 courses and discovery flights, alongside charter and aerial-work services.
Independent flight school · Santa Paula, United States
Family-owned Santa Paula Airport flight school since 1987, specialising in tailwheel, spin, emergency maneuver training and basic aerobatics.
Independent flight school · Howell, Pontiac, Flint, United States +1 more
Flight training and aircraft rental operator with locations at Howell, Pontiac, Flint and Willow Run in Michigan; contracted flight provider for Eastern Michigan University's flight degree.
Professional flight academy · Fort Lauderdale, United States
Flight academy at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport that states it is Part 141 approved and sells discovery flights.
Independent flight school · Suffolk, United States
Part 61 flight school at Suffolk Executive Airport that traces its roots to 1955 and offers primary and advanced training, aircraft rental and complex and high-performance endorsements, restricted to English-proficient US citizens.
Independent flight school · Pompano Beach, United States
Pompano Beach flight school with Cirrus and Diamond aircraft offering discovery flights, private and instrument training and Cirrus transition.
Independent flight school · Waterford, United States
Flight school and rental operator at Oakland County International Airport, Waterford, Michigan; private through multi-engine training, a simulator offering and an FAA knowledge-test centre. The site does not state a Part 61 or Part 141 status.
Professional flight academy · DeLand, United States
FBO and flight school at DeLand; Part 141 flight training is provided by AVIA Flight Academy International, which says it is SEVP certified.
Professional flight academy · Fort Worth, United States
Fort Worth flight academy at Meacham Airport with a mixed Piper, Cessna and Beechcraft fleet that states it trains international students.
University flight-training unit · Cleveland, United States
University flight operations department at Cleveland Municipal Airport running the flight track of the Bachelor of Commercial Aviation degree.
Specialist training provider · West Columbia, United States
Fixed base operator in the Columbia, South Carolina area whose flight training department offers Part 61 private pilot training and discovery flights in Cirrus SR20 aircraft.
Independent flight school · Bedford, Nashua, Norwood, United States
Flight school with three bases in Massachusetts and New Hampshire (Bedford, Nashua, Norwood) offering private through ATP training.
Flying club · Ithaca, United States
Not-for-profit flying club at the Ithaca airport that has taught flying for over 60 years, offering discovery flights and training from private pilot to commercial.
Flying club · Rigby, United States
Idaho flying club with Cessna 172 and 182 aircraft where members can train with a club-approved CFI.
Specialist training provider · Hawthorne, United States
Seaplane, multi-engine and private flight training provider based at Melrose Landing Airport, Hawthorne, alongside maintenance and ferrying services.
Independent flight school · Gilford, United States
Family-owned FBO at Laconia Airport in New Hampshire's Lakes Region that runs a flight school offering private pilot through CFI and sport pilot training and aircraft rental.
Independent flight school · Miami, United States
Flight school based at Opa-locka Executive Airport training in Cessna 172s, with a menu entry for Part 61 and 141 courses and a student visa page.
Professional flight academy · New Smyrna Beach, United States
Florida-founded flight school with campuses in several states offering airline pilot programs, individual certificate courses and discovery flights.
Professional flight academy · Fort Pierce, United States
Fort Pierce flight school at Treasure Coast International Airport that offers EASA licence training in the USA under a stated EASA ATO approval.
Independent flight school · Sacramento, United States
Sacramento Executive Airport flight school offering private, instrument, commercial, CFI and ATP programs, discovery flights and an FAA test center.
Results are listed alphabetically; there is no price ranking because prices in different currencies, price types and bases are not comparable. Schools marked Sponsored are paid placements and never change approval status or order.
In the United States pilot certification is federal and set by FAA regulations in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Part 61 sets the eligibility, knowledge, experience and testing requirements for each certificate and rating, and training can be given by an authorized instructor outside any approved school. Part 141 is an alternative route: FAA-certificated pilot schools run approved, FAA-reviewed courses under the general operating rules of that part. Part 142 covers training centers, which provide training in simulators and training devices as an alternative means to accomplish training required by several other parts. Which route a school uses affects how its course is structured, so students should ask a school which part it operates under.
Private pilot
Part 61 sets the age, English, aeronautical experience and testing requirements for the private pilot certificate with an airplane, helicopter or other category rating.
Commercial pilot
A commercial certificate requires more flight experience than the private certificate and is a prerequisite for the flight instructor certificate.
Airline transport pilot
The ATP certificate is the highest airplane pilot certificate and has its own age and total-time requirements.
Names and privileges are local to United States. Similar names in other countries are not interchangeable.
| Code | Official name | Minimum age | Regulatory minimum flight time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL-A | Private pilot certificate, airplane categoryAllows the holder to act as pilot in command of aircraft within the privileges of the certificate and ratings, without being paid for flying as a pilot. | 17 | 40 hTotal flight time for single-engine airplane under 14 CFR 61.109(a), including 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training. Most students need more than the minimum. | official |
| PPL-H | Private pilot certificate, rotorcraft category, helicopter classPrivate pilot certificate with a helicopter class rating, subject to the same Part 61 eligibility rules as other private pilot certificates. | 17 | 40 hTotal flight time stated in 14 CFR 61.109 for the helicopter paragraph; check the section for the dual and solo breakdown. | official |
| SPL | Sport pilot certificateA lighter-weight certificate for sport pilots with lower aeronautical experience requirements than the private certificate. | 17 | 20 hSingle-engine airplane land or sea under 14 CFR 61.313: 20 hours of flight time including at least 15 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and at least 5 hours of solo flight training. | official |
| CPL-A | Commercial pilot certificate, airplane categoryAllows the holder to act as pilot in command of an aircraft for compensation or hire within the privileges of the certificate and ratings. | 18 | 250 hTotal flight time as a pilot for airplane single-engine and multiengine class ratings under 14 CFR 61.129, with specified categories of training, cross-country and solo time. Paragraph (i) provides exceptions. | official |
| CPL-H | Commercial pilot certificate, rotorcraft category, helicopter classCommercial pilot privileges for helicopters; the total flight time requirement is lower than for airplanes. | 18 | 150 hTotal flight time as a pilot for a helicopter class rating under 14 CFR 61.129, including 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in helicopters. | official |
| IR | Instrument rating (airplane)Allows flight under instrument flight rules; the applicant must hold at least a private pilot certificate and be able to read, speak, write and understand English. | n/p | 40 h40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time (15 hours from an authorized instructor with an instrument-airplane rating) plus 50 hours of cross-country time as pilot in command, under 14 CFR 61.65(d). | official |
| ME | Additional class rating (e.g. airplane multiengine land)A pilot adds a class rating by receiving an instructor endorsement and passing a practical test; the training-time requirements of the pilot certificate need not be met again. | n/p | n/p14 CFR 61.63(c) does not set a minimum hours figure for additional class ratings. | official |
| CFI | Flight instructor certificateAuthorizes flight instruction within the category and class ratings listed; requires a commercial or ATP certificate with appropriate ratings. | 18 | 15 hAt least 15 hours as pilot in command in the category and class of aircraft appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought (14 CFR 61.183(j)); this is not total hours. | official |
| ATP | Airline transport pilot certificateHighest-level pilot certificate for airplanes; 23 years of age applies to certificates under the standard experience provisions and 21 under the restricted provisions of section 61.160. | 23 | 1500 hTotal time as a pilot for the airplane category and class rating under 14 CFR 61.159(a). Section 61.160 provides reduced-hour alternatives for certain training and military backgrounds. | official |
| TYPE | Type ratingA type rating is required to act as pilot in command of large aircraft and turbojet-powered airplanes. | n/p | n/p | official |
A regulatory minimum is a legal floor for the qualification. It is not the number of hours most students need, and not a guarantee of cost or completion time.
Airman medical certificates are issued under 14 CFR Part 67, which sets the eligibility standards for first-, second- and third-class certificates. Official medical information
Applicants for the instrument rating and flight instructor certificate must be able to read, speak, write and understand English.
Languages of instruction among researched schools: English.
Non-U.S. citizens who apply for flight training from a U.S. flight training provider are subject to TSA flight training security rules in 49 CFR Part 1552 and should check with the provider and TSA before starting. Visa and immigration requirements are separate and set by the U.S. government; this page makes no promise about eligibility.
Training approval does not establish immigration permission or international-student eligibility. Verify current rules with the official sources above.
14 CFR 61.75 describes how the holder of a foreign pilot licence issued by an ICAO contracting State may apply for a U.S. pilot certificate based on it; the certificate can only be used while the holder also has the foreign licence. Details and verification procedures are on the FAA website.
Country information last reviewed 16 October 2026. 5 official sources consulted.