Choosing the right flight school for your pilot training is very important. It's one of the most important decisions you will make and can affect your entire flight career. Most students agree that they are looking for several things: the best training and instruction, up to date equipment and reasonable tuition costs. We will cover these and several other important points to consider when choosing the best midsouth flight school for you.
What's the best midsouth flight school for you?
Here is what you need to look for:
#1 Professional Courses and Programs
Are you looking to become a commercial pilot or do you want to focus on getting your private pilot license? Make sure the school you choose is certified for commercial pilot training. Some flight schools only offer private pilot licenses and do not have commercial pilot programs. You also need to make sure that the school's courses are up to current regulation requirements. Here at CTI, we have FAA Part 141 approval so all of our flight training is fully certified. See what the FAA says about the benefits of going to a Part 141 approved school here.
#2 Cutting Edge Equipment and Training Aircraft
The benefit of going to a flight school with cutting edge equipment is that you get the best possible hands on experience. While you can train with older planes and equipment, the hands-on experience is significantly better when using the best of the best flight training aircraft and equipment. A lot of CTI PFT students have found that completing their training at CTI was much easier and enjoyable because of the cutting edge equipment, aircraft and technology that we provide our students with.
#3 Cost vs Value
Becoming a pilot can be a very rewarding and lucrative career. However, some students pick their flight school only based on price. The reality is, cheaper doesn't mean better. If you are committed to investing in yourself and pursue a career as a pilot, you need to look for the best overall value. Instead of just looking at the price tag, look for these "value" factors as well:
- 1. Will the school provide you with adequate knowledge and skills to not only get your license, but also get a job?
- 2. How much one-on-one time will you have with your instructors?
- 3. Does the school have a good track record?
- 4. What is the cost of living near the school?
- 5. Is the school FAA Part 141 certified?
#4 Location, Location, Location
Considering the location of the school is important as well. For example, CTI PFT is located at the Millington Regional Jetport just outside Memphis TN. The airport was established by the Navy and was designed to accommodate planes of massive size. The runway is extremely long and provides lots of room for landing and take off training. Not only that, Memphis is home to a large international airport and the worldwide headquarters of FedEx. This gives students great opportunities for training as well as exposure to a "real world" environment with many professional pilots and associations in the area. Beyond that, Memphis has a lower than average cost of living as well as many locations with great food and entertainment.
Want to know more about what it takes to become a pilot? Watch our quick overview video then take the quiz to see which classes are right for you!
