Beginning your journey towards flying commercially (remember that just means getting paid to fly planes, not necessarily flying for an airline) doesn't have to be intimidating. Broadly speaking, there are two routes you can choose to follow. Flight training affiliated with a college will allow you to complete all of your certificates and ratings while working towards an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree. As a future commercial pilot, it is never a bad idea to have a college degree on your resume. Many employers, including many major airlines, may require a Bachelor's degree as a prerequisite to your hiring. This has changed some in recent years so reach out to your dream employer and ask them about their requirements.

If you already have a college degree or if you simply are not interested in wading through the inefficient, bureaucratic world of receiving flight training through a college, the other option is to find a flight school, like Bend Aircraft, that can provide highly personalized flight training independent of a higher education institution. If you are motivated and proficient in self-studying, this will surely be the fastest and most economical route to become a commercial pilot. A focused student who prioritizes their studies and flies three to four times a week can complete their Private, Instrument, and Commercial training and become a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in a year or less. Working as a CFI is a natural step for many new commercial pilots. It is a great way to build flight experience and hone your craft. As an instructor, you will cement the skills you developed as a student and experience the joy of sharing your knowledge with eager students. We do our best to provide CFI employment opportunities to our former students.