Zero to Hire: Professional Pilot Program in Michigan
From zero to hero to hired, in about one year. You start with no flight experience.
About a year later you finish as a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI-A and CFI-I), ready to be hired as an instructor, with about 270 hours of flight time and more than 450 hours of instruction.
Commercial pilot training in Michigan, from Private Pilot through CFI-I, step by step, with a small team that has been training pilots for about 20 years.
SIX PHASES, ONE YEAR
Private Pilot: learn to fly from the ground up in a Cessna 172
Instrument Rating: fly in the clouds by reference to instruments
Commercial Pilot License: fly to professional standards and get paid to fly
Multi-Engine: 5 days in our G1000 Tecnam P2006T at Ann Arbor
CFI-A: learn to teach from the right seat
CFI-I: teach instrument students from day one
YOUR YEAR AT A GLANCE
Private Pilot: about 3 months
Instrument Rating: about 3 months
Commercial Pilot: about 2 months
Multi-Engine: 5 days
CFI-A and CFI-I: about 1 month
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That's about 9 months of training. We call it a one-year program to leave room for Michigan weather and scheduling.
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Most students have 3 to 4 lessons per week.
WHO IT'S FOR
It's built as a zero to hero course, but you can join partway through with the certificates you already have.
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There's no minimum age to start; you'll need to be 17 to finish the full program in about a year.
People starting from zero who want flying to be their career
Career changers ready for a focused year of training
Pilots who already hold some certificates
Students from Ann Arbor, Jackson, Southern Michigan and Northwest Ohio
WHY SOLO AVIATION
About 20 years training pilots. We're a Part 61 school operating with a Part 141 curriculum, so you get the structure of 141 with the flexibility of 61.
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Single-engine training is in the Cessna 172 and multi-engine in a G1000 Tecnam P2006T. You'll train with a small team at two airports, and we give preference to hiring our own graduates as CFIs.
COST AND FINANCING
The full Zero to Hire program, from zero experience through CFI-I, is about $80,800.
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Estimates based on our planned training hours, including flight, simulator, instruction, ground school, supply kit, admin fee, written test and checkride fees. Your actual cost depends on your progress. Flight school financing is available through the Stratus Pro Pilot Loan.
PROFESSIONAL PILOT PROGRAM FAQ
How long does it take to become a CFI?
In our Zero to Hire program, students go from no experience to CFI-A and CFI-I in about a year. Most have 3 to 4 lessons per week. Training takes about 9 months, and we plan on a year for weather and scheduling.
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How much does it cost to become a pilot in Michigan?
Our Zero to Hire program is about $80,800 from zero experience through CFI-I, including written test and checkride fees. Flight school financing is available through the Stratus Pro Pilot Loan.
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Do I need any experience to start?
No. If you already hold a certificate or rating, you can join partway through.
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What aircraft will I fly?
Cessna 172s for all single-engine training, and a G1000 Tecnam P2006T for multi-engine at Ann Arbor.
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Is this Part 61 or Part 141?
We're a Part 61 school operating with a Part 141 curriculum: the structure of 141 with the flexibility of 61.
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Will I have a job when I finish?
You'll be qualified to be hired as a flight instructor. We give preference to hiring our own graduates as CFIs, but we can't guarantee a job.
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Can I become a pilot in a year?
Yes. Our Zero to Hire program takes about 9 months of training, and we plan on a year for weather and scheduling.
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Do you offer airline pilot training in Michigan?
We train you through CFI-I, the usual first step toward an airline career. We don't promise airline jobs.