You're here because you want to learn to fly.
We welcome and teach both career airline and private recreational flight students at all of our locations.
You can flight-train in the major metropolitan areas of New York and North Carolina.
Want to fly for fun?
Academy of Aviation has locations just outside of New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina. You will fly small planes in the same airspace as major flights going in and out of JFK and Charlotte Douglas International, and learning to become a pilot in these airspaces will give you the experience and confidence to fly anywhere.
If you are career-minded:
One of the most compelling comparisons between Academy of Aviation and a four-year college is the time factor. Unlike a full-time college commitment, we get you into the air for the full duration of your training. If you’ve got your heart set on a career as an airline pilot, our career-oriented programs will put you on a direct course to your goal in much less time, and for less money.
A central distinction between an independent FAA-certified instructor and the Career Pilot track at Academy of Aviation is determined by our ACCSC Accreditation. You can train at a school recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. ACCSC serves as the designated institutional accrediting agency for 700 trade and technical schools that provide quality vocational education to over 150,000 students each year.
As an enrollee of Academy of Aviation's Career Pilot program, we encourage students to apply for a Certified Flight Instructor job upon graduation.
A position as an AOA flight instructor allows you to build experience and flight time; in about 18-22 months, you can build the flight experience required for the ATP Certificate and 1500-hour airline hiring minimums. The Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate is the highest level of aircraft pilot certificate.
A Full student financing option is available for our Career Pilot program.
How do I become a pilot?
Individuals interested in becoming a pilot will first need to determine what type of license they want to earn. The FAA offers several types of pilot certifications, including sport pilot, private pilot and commercial pilot. At Academy of Aviation, we specialize in both Private and Career Pilot course tracks.
Next, aspiring pilots need to attend an FAA-certified flight school or take private lessons from an FAA-certified instructor. These programs may be found at flight training schools, community colleges, and technical schools. Topics covered include basic aerodynamics, aircraft components, and flight controls, FAA regulations, aircraft weight and balance, basic navigation, flight planning, and aircraft systems. Every hour of training and flight instruction is logged to ensure new pilots have completed the minimum hours needed to learn how to fly an airplane.
Your definitive 6-step guide to becoming a pilot. You can do it, and our financial aid options can get you in the cockpit.
How To Become A Pilot
- Flight Training
- Services and Information
- Locations and Contact
- Financial Aid Questions?
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In Focus...
Preferred School Partnership
Academy of Aviation and ExpressJet Airlines have partnered to offer you the ExpressJet Airlines And Academy of Aviation Preferred School Partnership program.
You will receive opportunities for future employment at ExpressJet Airlines after completing your training at Academy of Aviation.
Watch a personal account about why you should become a pilot:
KFRG Map and Directions
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