One of the many advantages to flying at McAir Aviation, over a Part 61 school, is that fewer flight hours are required to qualify for a pilot certificate. The requirement for a private pilot license is 40 hours at a Part 61 school and 35 hours at a Part 141 certified training center. Part 141 allows us to instruct according to a stringent and efficient training syllabus, ensuring a high level of pilot proficiency and cost effectiveness to our students.

You can start flying at any age at McAir. To be eligible to obtain a private pilot license, you must be at least 17 years old and be able to obtain and maintain a Third-Class Medical Certificate. It is just a quick exam with an FAA Certified Medical Examiner. You have to pass both a written knowledge test and a practical flight test to get your private pilot certificate.

McAir Aviation partnered with local school districts and colleges to provide practical, real-world flight lessons, education and training for students interested in aviation. Beyond the career benefits, learning to fly is a hands-on way to apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students of all ages build a deeper understanding, and possibly even a passion, for the STEM disciplines through aviation.

One of the many advantages to flying at McAir Aviation (a certificated Part 141 School), over a Part 61 school or individual instructor, is that fewer flight hours are required to qualify for a pilot certificate. The requirement for a private pilot certificate is 40 hours in a part 61 school and 35 hours in a part 141 certificated school.

This is also true for your additional ratings and certificates. For instance, if you are training at McAir, you do not need to log the additional 50 hours of cross-country time needed for the Instrument Rating under part 61. This can save you over $5,000 in training costs!

Would you like to earn your bachelor’s degree while flight training at McAir? We have articulation agreements that allows our students to transfer their flight training hours for college credit. Bring your career into greater focus with a bachelor’s degree that allows the option for flight training in fixed wing aircraft. Gain the fundamental knowledge and essential experience to launch your career in a variety of professional opportunities.

Our agreements with online degrees are perfect for McAir graduates wishing to complete a college degree while working full-time as a regional airline pilots. The flexibility of the online courses allows airline pilots to maintain busy schedules and access the courses at their convenience. Students enrolled in an online degree at one of our partnered schools have the same benefits as on campus students, including federal financial aid to assist with tuition.

For others, it seems perfectly ideal to be in-class with face-to-face interaction. Our agreement with MSU Denver allows students to have classes on-campus and then schedule their flight training around their class schedule. Not only will you have the benefits of being on-campus, but you’ll still have the option to use federal financial aid to assist with tuition.

Did you know you could start flying solo at the age of 16? It is an exhilarating experience for any high school student to reach the goal of flying an aircraft without the presence of a flight instructor.

Our mission is to open the doors for students that have the desire and passion to fly. Our goal is to expose students to the world of aviation while allowing them to explore the many aspects of the industry and career opportunities. We help those students who are passionate about flying to fulfill their dreams by providing the foundational knowledge to launch them into their pilot career.