- Patroning your local fixed based operator at your home airport is the best choice for recreational pilots or for those that want to train on weekends or work around a full time job or school schedule. A fixed based operator (FBO) is located at the airport's general aviation section. Large airports are divided into terminal operations and general aviation operations. Smaller airports either combine these or have only general aviation operations. Look for flight instruction signs, or enter the FBO and ask about instruction and rentals. Certified flight instructors will be eager to answer your questions and explain your training.
- A large flight school is one that in addition to having a large quantity of students and instructors, is also governed by several different sets of aviation regulations, referred to as FAR part 141 or FAR part 142. These flight schools train new and advanced students who have a planned progression from private pilot through commercial pilot or flight instructor. They likely will have a large fleet of aircraft from which training is completed and a core group of full-time flight instructors on staff. Large flight schools are a great choice for students who wish to become professional corporate or airline pilots.
- All branches of the military employ pilots in their missions, and these pilots are trained from within after being selected from a competitive pool of applicants. Pilots are generally officers from an ROTC college program or from an officer candidate school. For aspiring helicopter pilots, the military can be an especially attractive avenue since helicopter civilian training tends to be extremely costly--about double the price of airplane flight training. After completing a military contract, these pilots tend to be employable in the civilian side of aviation.
- An accelerated flight training program is for career-oriented pilots who want a fast track to an airline career. These are sometimes called Ab Initio programs. These courses take an applicant from zero experience to airline pilot ready in one to two years. The training prepares the student to step into the seat of a regional jet or turboprop as a first officer. Many of these programs have arrangements with regional airlines to allow for preferential hiring of their graduates.
- Aeronautical universities, or aviation departments, within a university are an excellent choice for a career pilot. Here, the student will earn a four-year bachelor's degree in aeronautical science or a related field, which will later make this pilot extremely marketable in the industry. In addition to a degree, the student will simultaneously complete his flight training. Several reputable locations in the United States include Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the University of North Dakota, Parks College at Saint Louis University and Purdue.
