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
Professional flight academy · Pembroke Pines, United States
North Perry Airport flight training center stating Part 141 certification, with a published professional pilot program price, an itemised cost estimate and F-1 student support.
Specialist training provider · White Plains, United States
Cirrus-focused flight training, rental and aircraft management company at Westchester County Airport.
Professional flight academy · Daytona Beach, United States
Daytona Beach professional pilot training school offering private pilot, professional programs and international licensing programs.
Independent flight school · Winston-Salem, United States
Flight school at Smith Reynolds Airport stating Part 141 and Part 61 training from private pilot through CFI, with instrument, multi-engine and commercial ratings and a Liberty University flight training affiliation.
Independent flight school · Gaithersburg, United States
Gaithersburg, Maryland flight academy offering private pilot training, technically advanced airplane training in a Cessna 172S G1000, discovery flights and ground school at Montgomery County Airpark.
Independent flight school · Dallas, Fort Worth, United States
Part 61 flight school with structured curriculum operating at Dallas Executive Airport and Hicks Airfield in Fort Worth, flying Cessna 150s and 172s.
Independent flight school · Green Bay, Appleton, Milwaukee, United States
Wisconsin flight school with locations in Green Bay, Appleton and Milwaukee Timmerman, training in Cessna 172 and Cirrus SR20 aircraft and acting as a Cirrus Training Center.
Independent flight school · Hartford, United States
Connecticut flight school based at Hartford-Brainard Airport with a second site at Windham Airport, teaching sport pilot through ATP, multi-engine and tailwheel courses.
Independent flight school · Newberry, Columbia, United States
Faith-based flight school with bases at Newberry County Airport and Columbia Owens Airport, offering private pilot, light sport and instrument training.
University flight-training unit · West Lafayette, United States
AABI-accredited professional flight program in the Purdue School of Aviation and Transportation Technology using university aircraft and simulators.
Independent flight school · Everett, Gig Harbor, Auburn, United States +1 more
Puget Sound flight training provider with bases at Everett, Gig Harbor, Auburn and Seattle, offering private through multi-engine and instructor courses, ground school and aircraft rental.
Independent flight school · Ramona, United States
Ramona Airport flight training centre with Part 61 instructors, club-style aircraft access and a multi-engine Piper Aztec.
Independent flight school · Fort Worth, Decatur, United States
Fort Worth Meacham and Decatur flight training provider founded in 2002, also offering corporate King Air and Citation training.
Independent flight school · Hudson, Schenectady, Kingston, United States
Flight school operated by Richmor Aviation (a jet charter and management company) at three Hudson Valley airports, offering private pilot through commercial and flight instructor training.
Independent flight school · Newport News, United States
Full-service FBO at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport with an FAA-approved Part 141 pilot school, repair station and PSI testing center.
Independent flight school · El Cajon, United States
Part 61 flight school at Gillespie Field offering introductory flights and training from private pilot through flight instructor.
Independent flight school · Williamstown, United States
West Virginia flight school with bases at Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport and Mallory Airport, a Cirrus Authorized Training Center offering flight instruction, rentals and discovery flights.
Helicopter school · Danbury, United States
Helicopter flight school and Enstrom helicopter sales and service operation south of Houston, offering helicopter instruction since 1979.
Independent flight school · San Carlos, United States
San Carlos flight school offering learn-to-fly, demo flights, ground schools and ratings from private to CFI, with simulators.
Independent flight school · Santa Monica, United States
Santa Monica flight school offering sport, private, instrument and commercial pilot training, intro flights and group ground school.
Independent flight school · Savannah, United States
Cirrus-based flight training center and FBO at Savannah's airport offering discovery flights, private through CFI and multi-engine training, VA training and aircraft rental.
University flight-training unit · Kerrville, United States
University aviation studies degree with flight instruction at Schreiner Field, Kerrville-Kerr County Airport.
Independent flight school · Phoenix, United States
Pay-as-you-go flight school (Cessna and Cirrus fleet) offering private, instrument, commercial and instructor training; the site says it is relocating from Scottsdale Airport to Deer Valley Airport.
Independent flight school · Fredericksburg, United States
Flight school at Shannon Airport in Fredericksburg, Virginia operating a fleet of Cessna 172 aircraft and a Piper PA-28, with discovery flights.
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.