Flight Training · Career Certificate
Four Commercial Pilot programs, matched to where you are today and where you're going. From focused checkride prep to our flagship 141 with Multi.
Program overview
Most flight schools sell one Commercial program: a single curriculum, regardless of where you’re starting. The reality is that pilots arrive at Commercial training in very different places. Some already hold the 250 hours and just need focused checkride preparation. Some are working toward the experience minimums and need structured time-building. Others are starting Commercial training from the day they earned their Instrument rating and need a full path to the certificate. And career-track pilots want both Single- and Multi-Engine Commercial, in one efficient program.
We’ve built four distinct Commercial programs to match those four realities. Across all of them, training takes place in the National Airspace System under experienced TFA instructors, in Diamond DA40 NG aircraft for the single-engine work and DA42 NG for the multi-engine component. We back it with a 90%+ first-time checkride pass rate across all our training programs and 175–200 total checkrides annually — the deepest examiner relationships and the most proven processes in our region.
The career math
A Commercial certificate isn't the destination — it's the qualifier. Here's the actual hour count from zero to airline first officer, and where Take Flight gets you the most efficient path.
Private + Instrument
Foundation certificate/rating
Commercial + Multi
Our 141 option gets you both
CFI / CFII / MEI
Add the instructor hat
Airline first officer
First regional cockpit job
The standard ATP minimum is 1,500 flight hours. A qualifying aviation degree program may reduce that requirement under FAA rules — we'll walk you through how the math works for your specific situation on your first call.
Two regulatory paths
The FAA recognizes two routes to the Commercial certificate. Three of our four programs run under Part 61. Our flagship program runs under Part 141 and adds the Multi-Engine Rating.
Part 141
190
Total time minimum
● FAA-approved syllabus, 60 hours fewer than Part 61
● Single-Engine Commercial certificate plus Multi-Engine Rating
● Progress checks at completion of each stage
● Best for full-time and college-pathway students
Our flagship Commercial program — the most efficient way to earn both certificates.
Part 61
250
Total time minimum
● Same instructors, same airplanes, same standard
● Three program tiers — Basic, Intermediate, Advanced
● Right-fit for any starting experience level
● Build hours with structure rather than chasing them
Choose the tier that matches the hours and experience already in your logbook.
The four programs
Each program is built for a specific kind of pilot. We'll recommend the right tier on your first call after reviewing your logbook and goals.
Tier 1
Part 61 · CPL SEL Basic
Focused preparation for pilots who already have the Part 61 experience requirements in their logbook and need structured checkride readiness.
Best for
Pilots with 250 hours and the night, cross-country, and instrument experience already logged. Polish the Commercial maneuvers, prepare the oral, pass the practical.
DA40 NG · 20 hours dual + 15 hours ground + checkride flight
Tier 2
Part 61 · CPL SEL Intermediate
A defined-purpose pathway for pilots still working toward the Part 61 experience minimums. Every flight has an objective — no flying holes in the sky.
Best for
Pilots who hold a Private and Instrument but don't yet meet the 250-hour total or the cross-country, night, and instrument experience requirements.
DA40 NG · 30 hours dual + 10.5 hours solo + 15 hours ground + checkride flight
Tier 3
Part 61 · CPL SEL Advanced
Our comprehensive 95.5-hour Part 61 program. Equivalent in flight and ground hours to our 141 program, minus the multi-engine component.
Best for
Career-track pilots starting Commercial training without the 250 hours or associated Part 61 experience. The full structured path to the certificate.
DA40 NG · 59.5 hours dual + 34 hours solo + 35 hours ground + checkride flight
Tier 4
Part 141 · CPL with Multi-Engine
Our flagship Commercial program. Earn the Single-Engine certificate and add the Multi-Engine Rating in one integrated curriculum, on a Part 141 syllabus we authored.
The TFA difference
Our program completes the multi-engine component in 12 hours of flight time — significantly fewer hours than typical Part 141 programs that include both certificates.
Best for
Career-track pilots who want both Single- and Multi-Engine Commercial certificates on the most efficient path. The standard choice for the airline track.
DA40 NG + DA42 NG · 67.5 hours SE dual + 12 hours ME dual + 41.5 hours solo + 40 hours ground + checkride flight
Curriculum
A Part 141 syllabus we authored — built around the maneuvers, judgment, and decision-making the FAA expects of a professional pilot.
Phase 1
Commercial maneuvers
Chandelles, lazy eights, eights on pylons, steep spirals, power-off 180s, and the rest of the Commercial maneuvers — flown to ACS standards.
Phase 2
Cross-country & complex ops
Long cross-country, night cross-country, complex aircraft introduction, advanced systems, and the practical decision-making expected of a paid pilot.
Phase 3
Checkride prep
Stage check, oral preparation, mock checkride with a senior CFI, and the FAA practical exam with a designated examiner.
Aircraft you'll fly
Single-Engine Commercial training is taught in the DA40 NG with the Garmin G1000 NXi panel. When you're ready to add a Multi rating, you'll transition into our DA42 NG — the same aircraft most Diamond-equipped regional flight schools use, and the closest thing to a small jet most of our students will have flown by checkride.
College pathway
For career-track students, our partnerships with Purdue Global and Utah Valley University let you complete an aviation degree alongside your TFA flight training — keeping the academic side from extending your overall timeline.
Purdue Global
Bachelor of Science · Aviation
Online coursework that pairs with your in-person flight training at TFA. Designed for working students and accelerated career timelines.
● Pairs with TFA flight training under one coordinated plan
● 100% online academics
● Federal financial aid eligible
Learn more about the Purdue pathway →Utah Valley University
Bachelor of Science · Aviation Sciences
One of the most respected aviation degree programs in the country. UVU students complete their academic coursework online while doing their in-person flight training with us at KMGJ.
● Online academics + in-person flight at TFA
● Nationally respected aviation curriculum
● Federal financial aid eligible
Learn more about the UVU pathway →Eligibility
To begin training
● At least 18 years old
● Hold a current FAA Private Pilot certificate
● Read, speak, and understand English
● FAA first-class medical certificate (required for our Part 141 and Professional Pilot programs)
To earn the certificate
● Pass the FAA Commercial written knowledge test
● 250 hours total time (190 under Part 141)
● Pass an oral and practical exam with a designated examiner
● Hold a current FAA medical at the time of checkride
Why we hold this standard
A first-class medical is what you’ll need at the airline anyway. Our Part 141 and Professional Pilot programs require it from day one — not because the FAA mandates it for training, but because we’d rather you discover any medical issues before significant time and money are invested, not after. It’s a small upfront cost that protects everything that follows.
"I came to TFA for my multi-engine rating and walked out with my CFI a few months later. The instructors here actually know what airline interviewers ask."
Sarah R.
CFI · Regional first officer, 2025
Continue your training
Multi-engine
Add a multi-engine rating in our DA42 NG. Required for nearly every airline track.
Learn more →CFI / CFII / MEI
Become a certified flight instructor. Build the hours you need toward ATP.
Learn more →Zero-to-Professional
The integrated career pathway. Private through CFI on a single coordinated plan.
Learn more →Reach out and we'll talk through your situation, your goals, and the right program tier for you — at no cost or commitment.
49 Hangar Road, Hangar D
Montgomery, NY 12549
845-457-4188
Open 7 days · 8 AM – 6 PM