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. Though we will be providing training to non-citizens via TSA clearance, we are not currently offering alien training.

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.

The cost depends on how long it takes you to obtain the rating. Our Private Pilot Syllabus Training Course Outline (TCO) allocates 40 - 55 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.

The time and money required depend on many factors, especially when training part-time. Our aircraft rent for $150 per hour with $60 an hour for instructional time. Reservations are made in 2-hour blocks, which usually equates to 1.2 - 1.5 hours of flight time and 2 hours of total instructional time.

As training durations differ for everyone, you can start by multiplying the aircraft cost by the minimum hours required to estimate a price. This will not represent the final cost as you will also need to factor in the instructor's time/cost, ground schooling, learning materials, and flight gear, among other things. 

We quote a range from about $10,000 to $15,000 for the Private pilot certificate.

What you will see on the internet is 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 require a minimum of 3 sessions per week; current FAA guidance is at least 3-5 sessions per week 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: Pay via FlightCircle and receive discounted hourly aircraft rates.
• Financing: coming soon!

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 requirements (1500 hours).
5. Airline Transport Pilot (ATP): After gaining experience, secure employment with an airline, receiving ATP and type ratings. Prerequisites include 25 hours of multi-engine time. Airlines typically pay for this training. 

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