The sky isn't the limit, it's the start!

 

We sit here in the long foretold pilot shortage, it's the best time to become a pilot and take on aviation as a career.

 

What you need to know.

 

Flying is a way of life as much as it is a career, there are endless opportunities all throughout the world and it can be one of the most rewarding careers anyone could ever want. (If you ask us, there is absolutely nothing better)

 

However becoming a professional pilot isn't all fun and games and there are some serious considerations that you should take into account before taking the plunge, we want you to be in the know right from the start, so we will review some basics right here.

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Additionally being a professional pilot means that you will not have a standard 9-5 schedule. You will often be away from home for stretches of time that include weekends and holidays. The balance to that is that when you are home you are home without any extra work you have to do. It is important to understand this when deciding to enter because for some people the work schedule can become frustrating if you're looking for the predictability of other jobs. You will become an expert at living out of a suitcase and hotel rooms all around the world.

 

How long does it take?

 

This is the ultimate question, and depends on a great many factors. Two of the most important being; How much time can you spend flying per week? And do you have all of the money to do it or are you going to pay as you go while you work.

 

The more you can fly every week, the faster you will get it done, but that means the less you will be able to work at your normal job. If you have the ability to fly 5 to 6 days a week this is really the best way to earn your commercial license and get into the workforce, typically this route will take your about 12 months in New England. Depending on the type of student you are it might go a bit longer or it could go a bit shorter. 

 

If you can't dedicate that much time to it because you have some sort of real job, then it will take you longer. The example is flying 2 times per week, it will take you about 1 year to earn a private pilot license, 1 year to earn your instrument rating, and another 1.5 years to earn your commercial pilots license. So going this route could take you between 3 and 5 years before you're able to get into the work force.

 

Now becoming a professional pilot isn't a get rich quick scheme, just like anything in life it takes dedication and hard work to make it as a professional pilot and a good amount of time working your way up from the bottom of the pile before you start making the big bucks. So if you're used to living a 100k/year lifestyle, unless your independently wealthy you might not want to make this change without taking some more time to research the process.

 

The Breakdown.

 

This is the need to know information for anyone considering becoming a commercial pilot.

Initial Training: (estimated training cost $63,925.00*, estimated training time 12 months based on 6 lessons per week, this price includes the CFI at a heavily discounted price as it is built into the end of your commercial pilot certificate training)

 

• Private Pilot Certificate: This certificate takes on average 65 hours to complete and costs approximately $18,750.00.
   

• Instrument Rating: This add-on to your private lets you fly in the clouds. It takes an average of 40 hours to complete and costs approximately $11,750.00. (we are a part 61 flight school so you will have to complete 50 hours of XC PIC flight time prior to starting your instrument rating, however it is built into our commercial pilot course so it doesn't add any additional cost to training)
   

• Commercial Pilot Certificate: Requires 250 hours of flight time and allows you to get a job as a pilot. This certificate takes the remaining balance of your flight time (approx. 95 hours) once you complete your instrument rating and costs approximately $24,325.00.
   

• Flight Instructor Certificate: This certificate allows you to teach people how to fly and is one of the most rewarding certificates that you can earn. The approximate cost is $7,875.00*.
  
  *This cost can be reduced by 20% if you start from 0 flight time and enroll in our commercial pilot course.
  
  This option is only available to students who have completed all of their flight training at AVFS.

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Why should you do my commercial training at Air Ventures Flying School when I could go to Florida and get my commercial certificate a few months?

 

The answer to this question is simple.

 

A high quality of education that will position you for long term success in aviation.

 

At Air Ventures Flying School you won't just go into a hardcore memorization program where you strap on your tinfoil helmet and memorize every check ride on every flight until you're done. At AVFS you will gain a profound understanding of the intricacies of aviation and get to experience it for what it really is, an amazing and complex industry and rewarding career.

 

Air Ventures Flying School is owned and operated by Doug Auclair, a Master Flight Instructor with thousands of hours of flight instruction experience whom is dedicated to the craft of teaching pilots. At AVFS you will earn all of your certificates under his tutelage.

 

Our Foundational Based Training technique is proven to produce high quality, consistent, well educated, and safe pilots. You will have the confidence that you need to advance through your career and the knowledge that will make sure you can enjoy your life as an aviator as more than just a job.

 

At Air Ventures you will have a unique learning experience that is dedicated to giving you the highest quality aviation education. You will be proud of the place you learned to fly, and dedicated to the craft of being a professional pilot.

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*All flight training costs are estimated. Costs can vary based on a multitude of factors including but not limited to student study habits, fuel price, shipping costs, parts price and availability.

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