Aviation training is an important part of becoming a skilled pilot. With the right training, you can gain the skills and knowledge needed to become a professional in the aviation industry. But with so many different types of schools offering aviation training, it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you.
In this blog post, I will discuss the different types of schools that offer aviation training and how they differ from each other. I will also provide tips on choosing a school that fits your needs and goals as well as resources to help you make an informed decision about where to pursue your aviation education.
Universities
These are schools that offer four-year bachelor’s degrees or higher in aviation-related fields, such as aeronautical science, aviation management, aerospace engineering, etc. They usually have their own airports, aircraft, labs and facilities, and provide a comprehensive academic and practical education. They also sometimes have partnerships with airlines and other aviation employers for career opportunities.
Someone would select a university that offers aviation programs if they want to get a comprehensive and rigorous education in aviation-related fields, such as aeronautical science, aviation management, aerospace engineering, etc.
These are also suited for someone looking for a graduating with a degree in addition to just flight training, that could be valuable for some airlines or if you want to pursue a different career related to aviation but not exclusively being a pilot.
They would also benefit from the academic reputation, research opportunities, alumni network, and career services that a university can provide. They would also enjoy the campus life, extracurricular activities, and social events that a university can offer.
Colleges
These are schools that offer two-year associate’s degrees or certificates in aviation-related fields, such as aviation technology, aviation maintenance, professional pilot, etc. They usually have smaller campuses and fleets, but provide a more affordable and faster option for students who want to enter the aviation industry. They also have partnerships with airlines and other aviation employers for career opportunities.
Someone would select a college that offers aviation programs if they want to get a more affordable and faster education in aviation-related fields, such as aviation technology, aviation maintenance, professional pilot, etc.
They would also benefit from the smaller class sizes, personalized attention, and flexible schedules that a college can provide. They would also enjoy the community atmosphere, practical learning, and hands-on training that a college can offer.
Similar to universities, getting a graduation degree from such school can allow other options for someone if after completing the course they feel like flying is not entirely their choice of career or this could also sometimes act a backup for getting a job in the aviation field if getting a pilot job is taking a long time.
Flight Schools
Before beginning about this category, I need to mention that this is the most popular category of choice by most pilots looking for a career in Civil Aviation. These are schools that focus on providing flight training for students who want to obtain various pilot licenses and ratings, such as private pilot, commercial pilot, instrument rating, flight instructor, etc.
They usually operate at local airports and have a variety of aircraft for rent or lease. They also have instructors and examiners who can guide and evaluate students’ progress.
Someone would select a flight school that offers pilot training if they want to get a focused and efficient education in flying various aircraft and obtaining various pilot licenses and ratings.
They would also benefit from the experienced instructors, available examiners, and diverse fleet that a flight school can provide. They would also enjoy the flying environment, challenging scenarios, and supportive culture that a flight school can offer.
These types of schools are exclusive to people that only want a pilot job in the aviation field as the programs offered by such schools are solely focused on flight training. There are further categorizations of flights schools which has to be considered before selecting the type of flight school based on one’s requirements.
For example, the US has Part 61 and Part 141 or Canada has flight schools that offer modular or integrated training. Understanding the differences between these different types opens the opportunities to select the type of flight school that best suites one’s needs.
Conclusion:
Gathering information on types of schools available for flying is extremely important for someone interested in aviation because this information can give an understanding of possibilities that are available in the field of aviation.
Also since becoming a pilot in itself is so challenging in many different ways, knowing this information and deciding the kind of school one wants to join can give some people a backup of switching to other options and not wasting precious time or money. At this stage it is also important to understand that one type of school is no less or more compared to other type when thinking about the job opportunities for aspiring pilots.
I have a post if you would like to know the steps one can take to help decide on a flight school. I have also curated many posts with lists of top schools in different countries, you can read about the here for USA, India, Canada