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Professional Pilot Program

Become a pilot faster with our accelerated professional pilot career program.

Commercial Aircraft in Flight

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Pilot Job Outlook is Strong

Employment for airline and commercial pilots are projected to grow 6% from 2021-2031, with a median salary of $134,600.

  • 6%Projected growth
  • $134,600Median salary

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes532011.htm Site visited on 6/8/2023. Also, job market conditions are dynamic and can change. This data is not intended to predict the market conditions that will be present when you graduate from your program and may differ based on your geographic location and other factors.

Career Opportunities

As a CFA airline pilot graduate, you’ll have the licenses, ratings, and skills to pursue career opportunities such as:

  • Airline Pilot
  • Commercial Pilot
  • Charter Pilot
  • Corporate Pilot
  • Cargo Pilot
  • Bush Pilot
  • Agriculture Pilot
  • Banner Tow Pilot
  • Flight Instructor (with CFI and CFII ratings)

Employers Who Hire Our Graduates

  • American Airlines logo
  • Delta airlines logo
  • AeroMexico Airlines Logo (1)

Job Placement Assistance - For Life

At CFA, our success is your success. Starting on day one, we aim to provide our students with the resources needed for a successful career. This is why we assist our graduates, for life, with the following:

  • calendar iconCareer coaching
  • printer iconInterview preparation
  • envelope iconResume Building
  • checkmark iconLicense & rating transition
  • headphones iconJob placement assistance
  • globe iconBuilding a professional network

Guaranteed Job Interview for CFA Graduates

If you earn your private, instrument, and commercial licenses from CFA, and your CFI from any school, we’ll guarantee you a job interview. This will allow you to earn additional flight hours to be hired as a pilot. Many newly licensed pilots earn their flight instructor ratings so they can teach students and earn up to 1,000 hours or more of flight time while getting paid!

Learn More

Program Highlights

  • 12 Months
  • 100+ Ground school hours
  • 27+ Simulator Hours
  • 192+ Flight Hours
private pilots give thumbs up form cockpit

Professional Pilot Program

CFA meets and exceeds all FAA flight training requirements for each of our licenses and ratings. To become a professional airline pilot, we provide you the fastest pathway to learn the skills and earn the licenses and ratings that airlines want including:

    • Applicable FAA regulations
    • Aeronautical charts for VFR navigation
    • Radio communications
    • Weather reports & situations
    • Aircraft operations safety
    • Weight & balance computations
    • Principles of aerodynamics & aircraft systems
    • Aircraft stall, spin, & performance maneuvers
    • Preflight & post flight procedures
    • Flight navigation
    • Takeoff & landing procedures
    • 4 Months
    • 35+ Ground School Hours
    • 3+ Simulator Hours
    • 52+ Flight Hours

    • Applicable FAA regulations
    • Air traffic control systems
    • Aircraft operations safety
    • Instrument approach charts
    • Flight by instruments & navigation systems
    • Aviation weather reports & forecasting
    • Operation of aircraft under instrument rules & conditions
    • Critical weather situations
    • Aeronautical decision-making
    • Crew resource management
    • Preflight & postflight procedures
    • Emergency operations
    • 4 Months
    • 30+ Ground School Hours
    • 14+ Simulator Hours
    • 55+ Flight Hours

    • Applicable FAA regulations
    • Aerodynamics & principles of flight
    • Multi-engine aircraft operations
    • Aircraft systems
    • Meteorology, weather reports, & high-altitude operations
    • Aeronautical decision-making
    • Aircraft stall, spin, & performance maneuvers
    • Weight & balance computations
    • Flight navigation, magnetic compass, & aeronautical charts
    • Preflight & post flight procedures
    • Takeoff & landing procedures
    • 4 Months
    • 35+ Ground School Hours
    • 10+ Simulator Hours
    • 82+ Flight Hours

For foreign students, once you’ve earned your USA FAA credentials, we’ll assist you in converting them to the appropriate foreign credentials.

License & Approvals

military friendly school logous department of homeland security logo

Modern, Safe Aircraft

As a CFA student, you’ll fly Cessna and Beechcraft airplanes that are maintained above FAA safety standards

  • Cessna 172SP

    Cessna 172SP

    With over 50 years of producing single-engine aircrafts, Cessna has released the SP line ensuring rock-solid reliability while being one of the most outstanding classes of aircrafts on the market.

  • Beechcraft Duchess BE 76

    Beechcraft Duchess BE 76

    Look no further than the Beechcraft Duchess for your multi-engine training needs. It has a four-seat, light, twin-engines and constant speed propeller making itself perfect for long navigational flights.

  • Redbird LD Flight Simulator

    Redbird LD Flight Simulator

    With 200 degrees wrap-around visuals, realistic flight controls, interchangeable cockpits and more, the Redbird LD trains students for single or multi-engine aircrafts.

Hear from Our Successful Graduates

Not only do we receive high satisfaction ratings from our graduates, but they also are placed with some of the top airlines around the globe.

  • Miat Mongolian Airlines

    "CFA has the best weather to fly with good training facilities. Now I'm a Boeing 737 First Officer at Miat Mongolian Airlines!"

    Tuguldur Boldbaatar,

    – Tuguldur Boldbaatar

  • Found Everything

    "I was looking for very good customer service, good location, plenty of airplanes to train in, and good weather. I found everything I was looking for in CFA."

    Luis Manuel Gómez Hernández

    – Luis Manuel Gómez Hernández

  • Boeing 737 First Officer

    "CFA was a great experience for me. I had everything to take my first steps in aviation. I'm now a Boeing 737 First Officer!"

    Galina Marakhovskaya

    – Galina Marakhovskaya

  • Airbus 319 First Officer

    “After much research I chose CFA. The friends I made here and the knowledgeable instructors have made it very easy for me to secure my future in the skies. In my opinion, this is the best place to study and to get your license.”

    Maharshi Patel,

    – Maharshi Patel

  • Airbus 319 First Officer

    “I just want to say thank you for my whole private pilot training experience. Two months ago I passed my final release check ride and now I’m an Airbus 319 First Officer!”

    Alberto Porras Lozano

    – Alberto Porras Lozano

  • Home Away from Home

    "I’m glad I chose CFA, because all of the staff and instructors are very humble and kind. All the students here are very friendly, and I have made friends from all over the world. This makes CFA my home away from home."

    Irfan Asif

    – Irfan Asif

  • Amazing Experience

    "My CFA experience was amazing. The instructors are so loving and caring - the best I could have asked for."

    Mitchell Ross,

    – Mitchell Ross

Benefits For You

  • pilot training in cockpit

    Personalized Mentoring

    Get one-on-one support and mentoring from licensed, experienced flight instructors.

  • gillespie field

    Gillespie Field

    Located on Gillespie Field Airport, you’ll get experience with air traffic control communications.

  • prop airplane over san diego

    San Diego Weather

    With 260 days of sunshine year-round, you’ll have plenty of days to build maximum flight hours.

  • flight training simulator

    Modern Aircraft

    Maintained above FAA industry standards, our aircraft will provide you a safe training environment.

  • female pilot flying prop plane

    Job Placement Assistance

    We’ll help you get connected with the right airlines so you can advance your pilot career.

  • private pilots give thumbs up form cockpit

    Build a Network

    We plan and sponsor various student events throughout the year so you’ll develop friendships – for life.

Highly Recommended by Students & Graduates

  • “California Flight Academy has been the best place to jumpstart my aviation journey.”
    –Viv G.
  • “CFA is a great school that truly cares about its students.”
    –Paola R.
  • “Great people and great atmosphere.”
    –Richard S.
  • “Between game nights, welcome parties, and exhibitions, I strongly recommend CFA.”
    –Ron
  • “CFA always makes sure their planes are maintained and in safe conditions.”
    –Francis D.
  • "I was looking for very good customer service, good location, plenty of airplanes to train in, and good weather. I found everything I was looking for in CFA."
    –Luis Manuel Gómez Hernández
  • "CFA has the best weather to fly with good training facilities. Now I'm a Boeing 737 First Officer at Miat Mongolian Airlines!"
    –Tuguldur Boldbaatar
  • "My CFA experience was amazing. The instructors are so loving and caring - the best I could have asked for."
    –Mitchell Ross
  • "I’m glad I chose CFA, because all of the staff and instructors are very humble and kind. All the students here are very friendly, and I have made friends from all over the world. This makes CFA my home away from home."
    –Irfan Asif
  • "CFA was a great experience for me. I had everything to take my first steps in aviation. I'm now a Boeing 737 First Officer!"
    –Galina Marakhovskaya
  • “I just want to say thank you for my whole private pilot training experience. Two months ago I passed my final release check ride and now I’m an Airbus 319 First Officer!”
    –Alberto Porras Lozano
  • “After much research I chose CFA. The friends I made here and the knowledgeable instructors have made it very easy for me to secure my future in the skies. In my opinion, this is the best place to study and to get your license.”
    –Maharshi Patel

Financing Options

Your pursuit of higher education is one of the most important investments you'll make. CFA will work with you to identify a financing plan that fits your needs. We offer loans through thirty-party financial institutions, as well as affordable monthly payment options. Please contact us to learn more.

Tuition

Tuition at California Flight Academy is broken up into four phases as highlighted on our Tuition page.

See Tuition Page

Admissions Process

Are you ready to become a pilot? Take the next step today!

To begin the application process, you will need to have the following ready:

  1. Personal Contact Information
  2. Personal Information and Background
  3. Payment for Application Fee
Apply Today

If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact your admissions representative, email [email protected], or call: (619) 448-2212.