The Length of Flight Training

Questions regarding the length of flight training are some of the most commonly asked by those interested in becoming pilots. New student pilots will quickly learn once they begin flight school that the correct answer to nearly all aviation questions is "It depends." This question is no different.

For aviators, flight training never truly ends. One of the most common phrases shared among pilots is, "A good pilot is always learning." However, most reading this article already understand this and want to know how long flight school is from day one to graduation. The answer to this is it depends.

In aviation, there are no semesters, spring breaks, report cards, or parent-teacher conferences. A student either knows the information or they don't. A pilot completes a course when they receive the desired rating or certificate. For example, this may be a Private Pilot License or an Airline Transport Pilot License. Pilots train to meet requirements and may receive the desired rating once completed. These requirements are set by the Federal Aviation Administration and are the same for all pilots in the US.

Every flight school's programs differ; some allow pilots to take as much time as they would like, whereas others encourage pilots to move quickly through training. Some are done in association with a university and may be linked to a degree; in these cases, grades do exist, although they do not affect a pilot's ability to meet licensing requirements.

Daily Time Commitment

At Axiom Aviation, several courses are offered covering fixed-wing (airplane) flight instruction. Before covering how long a course takes, we must first go over the daily time commitment.

While attending flight school, students are encouraged to attend full-time, although part-time options are available. Students looking to study full-time can expect to spend 1-3 hours per day flying, 1-2 hours doing ground training, and 2-3 hours studying. Full-time students are expected to attend school five days per week, generally Monday through Friday. However, other schedules may be arranged under various circumstances.