Flight schools train aspiring pilots to fly aircraft. These schools provide certified instructors who guide students through ground school and air instruction. The airmanship skills students learn are necessary for the student to meet the requirements mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to earn their license. There are four categories of flight schools in Washington state: privately owned flight schools, specialized aviation colleges, traditional universities and online aviation courses.
Private Flight Schools
The most common type of flight school in Washington is the privately owned facility. These companies, such as Alternate Air in Seattle, are often located on or near an airport and their primary business is flight education and aircraft rental. Alternate Air has a small fleet of Cessnas for rent, either with or without an instructor. There are no accreditation processes for private schools, other than their flight instructors must have earned their Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certification from the FAA.
Specialized Aviation Colleges
Specialized aviation colleges offer degree programs. Northwest Aviation College, in Auburn, Washington, is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, which is recognized as a national accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education. Northwest offers an Associate's degree in Aviation Flight Technology along with professional programs for those looking to pursue a career as a pilot. Northwest has partnered with Kent School District to provide a high school aviation program.
Universities
Universities such as Central Washington University in Ellensberg not only offer aviation-specific degree programs, but a full range of degrees for flight students. Students can earn a four-year degree with their Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management and can specialize as a Commercial Pilot or a Flight Officer. Students pursuing other majors can receive their flight education at Central Washington. Flight students can enjoy the benefits of a full university experience with the diversity a university offers, while pursuing their pilot license.
Online/Multimedia Flight Schools
Online and multimedia flight schools are used for the ground school portion of aviation education. Mark Knapp, a flight instructor at Alternate Air, recommends the American Flyers program for ground school. By participating in online classes or by reviewing study materials on DVD, students can prepare for the written portion of their certification. This is cost-effective and allows students to study at their own pace and on their own schedule. The FAA requires that a certified instructor sign off that the student is ready to take his written test.
FAA General Requirements
In addition to passing the written test for each certification, acquiring the number of flight hours mandated for each certification, such as a minimum of 40 hours flight time for a private certification, and passing a practical flight test, there are other general requirements that the FAA mandates. Pilots must be at least 17 years of age to earn their license for certifications other than a glider or balloon. Students must be able to speak, understand, read and write English. Students must have logbook endorsement from an instructor, even if the student passed a home-study ground school course. And students must be able to pass an FAA flight physical.
