Finding the right flight school can be challenging, so it’s important to evaluate schools on what matters most.
After you decide that you want to be a pilot, you will need to find a flight school that matches your learning style, scheduling needs, and overall goals. An investment in the right flight school is an investment in your future–and a key component to your success as a pilot. Finding the right flight school forms the foundation of your aviation journey and blazes a path towards a fulfilling career.
Here are the top five factors to look for when choosing the best flight school for you.
(1) Scheduling Flexibility
As with any educational program, flexibility is key. At Paris Air Inc there are a multitude of instructors and over 50 aircraft, giving students the flexibility to decide which schedules work best for them. This means that the stress of inconvenient schedules is eliminated, allowing students to focus on what matters most–learning to fly.
When we asked Paris Air flight instructor Filippo Romelli why he loves Paris Air so much, he cited our flexibility for instructors and students when making their schedules. This can really be a game changer by eliminating headaches associated with rigid schedules.
(2) Diversity of Instructors
As a flight school with plentiful resources, we have a wide-range of instructors to choose from. This means that you can choose the instructor that you work best with and who aligns with your unique learning style. Everyone has a distinct personality and collaborates best with someone who meets their communication style. Having the option to choose who to collaborate with can really make the difference between a good flight training experience and an outstanding one.
(3) Curriculum Options within the Flight School
Because everyone has different needs and preferences when it comes to the structure of curriculum, it’s beneficial to have different options to choose from. Paris Air offers both FAA-approved Part 141 and Part 61 flight school options. These categories refer to the FAA regulations that oversee the training programs.
The main difference between the two styles is that Part 141 offers a more structured and fast-paced curriculum with complementary ground school and flight training. As a result, you often can get your license in fewer hours. With this track, students begin with ground school. After the ground school is completed, students take flight by flying with instructors. This allows students to apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom.
When we spoke with Paris Air student Simon Baudry, he shared that his favorite part of learning to fly at Paris Air was having the opportunity to apply what he learned in ground school with his instructor in the air.
Alternatively, Part 61 offers greater flexibility for student pilots, and training can occur at a slower pace.
At the end of the day, deciding on whether to pursue Part 141 instruction or Part 61 depends on your learning style and scheduling needs. If structure is what you desire, Part 141 is probably the best choice. But if a slower paced, more flexible option is what you prefer, Part 61 is the better choice.
(4) Availability and Safety of Aircraft
Having a large aircraft fleet means having more options for scheduling flights and more options when choosing the type of aircraft to fly. Paris Air’s large fleet consists of over 50 single-engine and multi-engine aircraft. We have several Piper and Cessna single-engine aircraft and Piper Senecas for multi-engine training. We also have Piper Chieftains for high performance endorsement.
In addition to having many airplanes at the ready, the safety and quality of our aircraft fleet is of the utmost importance to us. Our Part 145 FAA-approved Repair Station ensures that our planes are kept in the safest conditions possible. The Part 145 certification means that our maintenance operations are held to a higher standard of excellence. As a result, our students and flight instructors can have confidence that the planes they are flying on a daily basis are safe and high-performing.
(5) Comprehensive Offerings
Obtaining your pilot’s license has many challenges that will put you to the test and stretch you, but things like scheduling testing and check rides shouldn’t be one of them. At Paris Air, we provide all of the resources you need to complete your flight training successfully. We offer the following services:
- FAA-approved courses;
- Hands-on flight training;
- On-site FAA Airman Knowledge Testing;
- Designated Pilot Examiners for check rides; and
- Professional pilot shop.
In addition, for our international students with English being their second language, we partner with OHLA English school to offer English courses. We also offer resources to help international students with Visa applications and completing our application.
In addition, our comfortable and convenient housing for our students makes their time at Paris Air seamless and comfortable.
At the end of the day, all of these resources eliminate stress and barriers for students, allowing them to focus on flying instead of worrying about logistics.
Launch Your Aviation Journey with Paris Air Flight School
Paris Air has it all–flexibility, plentiful options, and a culture of safety. With a 100 percent graduation rate, the success and satisfaction of our students is our top priority. Our instructors and team all share this goal, cultivating a culture of excellence and passion for aviation.
The different licenses we offer include:
- Career Pilot Airplane Program (Multi-Engine)
- Commercial Pilot Certification with Multi-Engine Instrument Rating
- Career Pilot Airplane Program (Single-Engine)
- Commercial Pilot Certification with Single-Engine Instrument Rating
- Private Pilot Airplane Program
- Instrument Rating Airplane Program
- Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane Program: Initial Rating
- Certified Flight Instructor Airplane Program: Additional Rating
- Certified Flight Instructor Multi-Engine Airplane Program: Additional Rating
- Airline Transport Pilot Certification Course
We also offer helicopter training courses for helicopter pilots:
- Private Pilot Helicopter Program
- Instrument Rating Helicopter Program
- Certified Flight Instructor Helicopter Program: Initial Rating
- Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter Program: Add-On Rating
- Airline Transport Pilot Helicopter Certification Course
If you’re interested in learning more about Paris Air Flight Academy, contact us here.
