Career Pilot Program
Take Flight's career pilot program takes a student with no aviation experience to a Commercial pilot with instructor ratings — and a job interview — in 6 to 9 months. Then we put you on payroll while you build the hours to ATP.
Program overview
Most aspiring airline pilots arrive at flight school with the same problem: a clear destination (1,500 hours and an airline cockpit) and no clear roadmap. Schools sell you “Private Pilot training” or “Multi-Engine training” as separate products, and you spend the next two-to-five years stitching them together while the timeline stretches and the cost compounds.
Our career pilot program is the alternative. One enrollment, one curriculum, one team. We take you from zero flight hours to a Commercial certificate with instructor ratings in 6 to 9 months of focused full-time training — and then we put you on TFA’s instructional staff so you can build to 1,500 hours and ATP on our payroll. That’s the full path from “I want to be an airline pilot” to “I have an airline interview.” Done right, end-to-end.
The career-pilot path, in seven steps
Each step is its own structured program. Each one feeds the next. You'll always know what you're working on, what comes next, and how close you are to finishing.
The foundation certificate. Three phases — pre-solo, cross-country, checkride prep — in the Diamond DA20-C1.
Private Pilot program → →~60 hrs
Flight time
Real-weather IFR flying. DA40 NG with G1000 NXi and GFC 700 autopilot, plus integrated Redbird FMX time.
Instrument Rating program → →~40 hrs
Additional flight
Part 141 flagship: Single-engine Commercial with Multi-Engine Rating integrated, at 190 total flight hours.
Commercial Pilot program → →~90 hrs
Additional flight
Integrated with the Part 141 Commercial program. Diamond DA42 NG, twin Austro AE300 diesels, scenario-based instruction.
Multi-Engine program → →Integrated
with Step 3
3-week accelerated cohort academy. Where you stop paying for hours and start building paid hours. Final stage check doubles as a job interview.
CFI Academy → →3 weeks
Cohort academy
Many of our CFI graduates are hired onto our instructional staff. You'll instruct in the same fleet you trained in, on our payroll, building hours toward ATP instead of self-funded.
~1,250 hrs
to build to ATP
Apply to regional airlines with the hours, the references, and the airline-aligned training in your logbook. Our Republic RJet Cadet partnership offers an early-interview pathway.
1,500 hrs
ATP minimum
About that timeline
Some career pilot programs advertise "as few as 6 months" without saying what that requires. Here's what it actually requires — so you can decide if our program fits your situation.
The 6-month timeline is achievable when the student treats training as full-time work, flies 5–6 days a week, and dedicates parallel hours to ground study and FAA exam preparation. Most students who finish this fast have prior structured-study habits, no major life commitments competing for time, and the financial structure to focus exclusively on training.
9 months is the typical finishing time for committed full-time students. It accounts for normal weather delays in the Hudson Valley, scheduled examiner availability, and the small buffer for re-takes if needed.
Beyond 9 months is what happens when training becomes part-time — fitted around work or family. That’s a legitimate path, and many of our students take it. It’s just not the same program. We’ll talk through which version of the program fits your situation on the first call.
What 6–9 months requires
● Full-time commitment: training is your job
● 5–6 days per week of flying when weather allows
● Parallel daily ground study and FAA exam prep
● First-class medical certificate from the start
The most important step before you start
An airline first-officer position requires a current first-class FAA medical certificate. The most expensive mistake a career-track student can make is to invest a year and significant money into training and then discover they can’t pass a first-class medical. We require it before training begins — not because the FAA mandates it for student status, but because we’d rather you find out now than after.
Financing
Career pilot training is a major investment. We partner with Sallie Mae to offer financing that defers payments until you've started earning as a professional pilot — so cash flow during training isn't the obstacle.
Our Sallie Mae partnership covers the full career pilot program — training, ground school, examiner fees, and associated costs. Loan payments are deferred until you've completed training and started earning as a professional pilot, meaning your monthly obligation tracks your career, not your enrollment date.
● Full program coverage through Sallie Mae's aviation lending program
● Payments deferred until you begin earning as a pilot
● Application support from TFA's program team
● Loan approval depends on credit qualification
Other paths
Cash payment
Pay-as-you-go works for some students. We invoice per phase, not upfront.
Other paths
GI Bill (eligible veterans)
VA education benefits may cover portions of training for qualifying veterans.
Other paths
Family or third-party
Many students combine personal savings, family support, and partial financing.
Airline partnership
When you cross the 1,500-hour threshold, we don't send you into the airline application pool blind. Our Republic Airways partnership opens a door — and Republic operates as American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express.
Republic Airways
Indianapolis · Embraer E170/E175
RJet Cadet PartnerThe Republic Airways RJet Cadet program is a structured pathway for career-track pilots that provides early interview access for First Officer positions on Republic’s Embraer 170/175 fleet. Republic flies American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express regional routes — meaning a First Officer position with Republic is also a stepping stone toward mainline carrier opportunities for pilots who choose that path.
As a TFA career pilot program graduate, you’re eligible for the RJet Cadet pathway when you meet the 1,500-hour ATP minimum. We’ll walk through the application process with you when you’re approaching readiness.
Eligibility
● At least 17 years old (Private Pilot certificate minimum age)
● Read, speak, and understand English
● First-class FAA medical certificate (recommended before enrollment)
● U.S. citizenship or proof of legal residency (TSA security clearance for non-citizens)
● Willingness to commit to a full-time training schedule for the 6–9 month accelerated path
● Financial plan in place (Sallie Mae, cash, GI Bill, or combination)
Common questions
Can I really go from zero hours to airline-ready in 6 to 9 months?
You can complete the training portion — Private through Commercial with instructor ratings — in 6 to 9 months of full-time committed work. Building the 1,500 hours required for an ATP and airline cockpit takes additional time after that, typically 12 to 18 months of instructing. So “zero to airline cockpit” is realistically a 2-year journey if everything goes well. The 6-to-9-month figure refers specifically to the training portion at TFA.
What does the whole thing cost?
Career pilot program cost depends on how many hours you take to reach proficiency, which aircraft you use at each phase, and any prior experience you bring. We don’t publish a flat-rate program price because every pilot’s path is a little different. Reach out and we’ll build a personalized estimate based on your goals and provide financing options to match.
What happens if my first-class medical comes back with issues?
If you can’t obtain a first-class medical, an airline career path may not be open to you. Some conditions are resolvable through FAA waivers; others aren’t. We strongly recommend completing your first-class medical with an Aviation Medical Examiner before enrolling — exactly so this conversation, if it has to happen, happens before significant time and money are committed.
Do I have to teach at TFA after I earn my CFI?
No. The CFI Academy stage check doubles as a job interview, but accepting a position with us is entirely optional. Many of our graduates do — it’s the most efficient way to build paid hours toward ATP. Others instruct elsewhere, fly charter, or take different career paths. Either way, your CFI certificate is portable.
Why TFA versus a large national flight school?
Three reasons: smaller class sizes and direct contact with leadership (you’ll know the team running your program by name), an in-house maintenance operation that keeps the fleet flying (so weather is the only thing canceling your lessons), and a real airline partnership in Republic RJet. We’re not the biggest career pilot school in the country. We’re built around getting you across the finish line on a known timeline.
Each step on the path
Instrument Rating
The rating that makes flying transportation. DA40 NG and the Redbird FMX.
Learn more →Commercial Pilot
Four programs. The Part 141 flagship reaches Commercial + Multi at 190 hours.
Learn more →Reach out and we'll walk you through your specific situation, your timeline, your financing options, and the next start date. No cost, no commitment.
49 Hangar Road, Hangar D
Montgomery, NY 12549
845-457-4188
Open 7 days · 8 AM – 6 PM