To join our aviation programs, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• You can start flight training at any age, but you must be 16 years old to solo and 17 to earn your Private Pilots license.
• Possess proficiency in reading, speaking, writing, and understanding the English language
• US Citizen? As per TSA Department of Homeland Security rules, you must bring your Birth Certificate and a Valid Government-issued Photo ID or a valid US Passport to your first official lesson.
• Non-US Citizens. You must apply via the Department of Homeland Security website. Click here for more information.  

We're here to help you at every stage of your application process. Here's an overview: 

1. Schedule a Discovery flight.
2. Meet with our Flight School Director to review your goals. Feel free to reach out to Mike through the Contact Form or give us a call at 656-223-2370. 
3. Apply for Financing. 
4. Schedule your first lessons. (Bring your Birth Certificate and Photo ID or a Valid US Passport.)
5. Sign up for Sporty's online ground school. 

We do not have enrollment deadlines as we pride ourselves on providing customized training solutions to our students. Simply fill out our contact form and we can get started designing your training schedule.

Grant Programs: The FAA has published a list of Grant programs available to aspiring pilots: Click here to learn more. 

Financing: KC Aero Academy has partnered with Stratus Financial to offer comprehensive funding options to help you achieve your aviation goals. Click here to learn more. 

We offer several training packages for aspiring aviators that include comprehensive flight and ground instruction. Visit our Pilot Programs page for more details.

We offer the following programs: 

• Complete aviation funding
• Private Pilot
• LOFT Program (Line-Oriented Flight Training): This program is included in our funded program to ensure you have more than enough flight time to accomplish your goals. 
• Instrument Pilot (with LOFT) 
• High Performance and Complex aircraft flight training. 
• Commercial Pilot
• Flight time building program. 
• Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) 
• Certificated Flight Instructor Instrument. 
• NOTE: We currently do not offer multi-engine flight training, but we have a list of providers. 
• NOTE: We include extensive ground instruction in all of our programs. 

For the Private Pilots License,  the FAA mandates a minimum of 40 hours of Total Flight Time with a minimum of 10 hours of solo flight. However, each student's pace varies. The national average is about 55-65 hours to complete private pilot training and to pass the exam.

On the ground, you'll receive 35 hours of Ground Instruction.

The frequency of your training sessions is directly related to the time and money it will take to get your certificate. We recommend 3-5 sessions per week. These will include ground and flight lessons, equating to approximately 3-6 months for completion.

We estimate 15 months from Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and CFI-I. Upon earning your Certified Flight Instructor Certificate, you will be offered employment with KC Aero Academy! 

The cost depends on how long it takes you to obtain the rating. Our Private Pilot Syllabus Training Course Outline (TCO) allocates 60 hours of flight training. Even in the most regimented program, individuals learn at different paces. Some will finish at 40 hours; others will finish at 100.

When it comes to the cost and time required, there are several factors to consider, especially for part-time training. Our aircraft rent for $150 per hour, with an additional $60 per hour for instructional time. Reservations are made in 2-hour blocks, which typically translate to 1.2 - 1.5 hours of flight time and 2 hours of total instructional time.

Since training durations vary for each individual, a rough estimate can be obtained by multiplying the aircraft cost by the minimum hours required. However, this figure does not represent the final cost, as it does not include the instructor's time/cost, ground schooling, learning materials, and flight gear, among other necessary expenses. 

We quote around $15,000 for the Private pilot certificate. (excluding LOFT) 

Our "Zero to Hero" Private, Instrument, Time-Building, Commercial, High-Performance, Complex, CFI, and CFI-I program is approximately $81,000. Complete funding is available through our partnership with Stratus Financial. We also offer deferred payment options.

NOTE: When looking at flight training providers via the internet, keep in mind that many will quote FAA MINIUMS, not real numbers. Some schools also charge extra "hourly fuel surcharges," which is a tricky way to hide more expensive rental rates. Here at KC Aero Academy, we like to be upfront and honest. 

We recomend a minimum of 3-8 sessions per week; current FAA guidance is at least 3-8 sessions weekly for efficient progress. Our flexible schedule empowers you to customize your class times and learning pace, but extended time away from the program will greatly increase training time and cost. 

We offer various payment options:

• Pay-As-You-Go: Payment after each lesson.
• Block Rates: Pre-buy blocks of 10 hours at a time and receive discounted hourly aircraft rates.
• Complete financing via Stratus Financial, including deferred payment options! 

Becoming an airline pilot typically follows these steps:

1. Private Pilot License: Begin with your private pilot license, enabling personal aircraft rental and flying.
2. Instrument Rating: Acquire proficiency in flying in adverse weather conditions and without visual reference.
3. Commercial Pilot License: Advance to flying for hire, accumulating around 250 hours of flight time.
4. Certified Flight Instructor (CFI): Teach others while accumulating flight hours towards Airline Transport Pilot (ATP): 
5. Airline Transport Pilot (ATP): After gaining experience, secure employment with an airline and receive ATP and type ratings. Prerequisites include:
   • 25 hours of multi-engine time. 
   • 500 hours of cross-country flight time.
   • 100 hours of night flight time.
   • Reach the age of 23.  
   • ATP-CTP course completion with Type Rating. Employers typically pay for this training. 

Come train with us and get started on your journey to becoming an airline pilot. Start by contacting us