Looking for an Ohio flight school to get your pilot career off the ground fast? Wondering how to get paid to fly without slogging through a four-year university degree? Want to start applying to major airlines in as little as one year?
You’re in the right place! American Winds is your ticket to a soaring future. We’re an FAA-certified flight school AND an accredited College of Aeronautics located on the historic Akron Fulton Airport in northeast Ohio.
Our mission is to help you figure out how to become a pilot your way – faster, cheaper and easier than ever before!
8 Reasons Why American Winds Flight Academy Is the Best Choice
Did you know that you do not need a bachelor’s degree to work as a pilot? What you really need to fly for major airlines is your Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating, which requires 1,500 hours of flight time. The FAA has lowered that requirement for pilots who graduate with an aviation associate degree from authorized schools – including American Winds College of Aeronautics.
The Restricted ATP (R-ATP) allows you to fly for a major airline with only 1,250 hours of flight time – saving you a ton of time and money en route to the flight deck!
Need more reasons to launch your dream of a pilot career at American Winds? Here are eight of them:
1. Fast-Track Program
A bachelor’s degree takes 4 years. Most associate degrees take 2 years. The Fast Track Programs at American Winds can get you an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Aeronautics in as little as 1 year! How?
- Year-round courses and flight training
- General aviation and general academic classes rolled together
- Individualized support from experienced instructors
The best part is that once you complete your Certified Flight Instructor certificate, you can get paid to build flight hours while teaching others!
2. Lower Costs
The staggering cost of a four-year degree keeps a lot of people from pursuing their dream of a professional pilot career. American Winds College of Aeronautics brings you a better option! By choosing our associate degree programs, you’ll spend less time in school – which means spending a fraction of what you would on a bachelor’s degree. Plus, you can find lots of financial aid to bring down your costs, including plenty of aviation-specific scholarships and our in-house payment plan option.
Traditional University Bachelor Degree = $165,000 on average
American Winds College of Aeronautics Associate Degree = $90,000 on average
3. Fully Accredited College of Aeronautics
You’re getting a great education at American Winds College of Aeronautics. We’re one of only two flight schools in the U.S. to achieve accreditation with the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) – which has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education since 1978 as an authority on institutions committed to high standards and accountability. We’re also accredited through the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools (OSBCCS).
4. FAA Certified Flight School
Getting your Federal Aviation Administration ratings is crucial to gaining altitude toward your career as a pilot. The flight school you choose must meet all FAA requirements and use FAA-approved curricula to chart that course with you.
American Winds is one of only a handful of flight schools in Ohio approved by the FAA for training under both Part 141 and Part 61 regulations. Our ground school also operates year-round, working to prepare students for confident success on the FAA Knowledge Tests required for all certificates and ratings.
5. Hands-On Training
You can’t learn how to fly sitting in a classroom. But you could waste as much as two years in general education courses at a traditional university without ever getting behind the stick. At American Winds, we believe that doing is the best way to learn – so we get you up in the air on Day 1. You’re accompanied by our experienced Certified Flight Instructors, who are not only skilled at flying planes but also great at guiding you through every step of the flight plan. The hands-on training you get at American Winds is the tailwind propelling you toward the pilot’s seat!
6. Qualified Instructors
Denise Hobart is Founder, President and Chief Flight Instructor of American Winds. When you meet our team of highly qualified Certified Flight Instructors on your first day, you’ll see how she has instilled in each of them her own sense of dedication, excellence and professional pride. Pay attention to the passion you hear in their voices and the pure joy you see on their faces as they talk about the flight path ahead of you. We hire a lot of our own former students as instructors – because we know they were trained to be the best – and you just might be one of them very soon!
7. Personalized Individual Instruction
Feeling lost in those huge classes at a traditional university? Prefer the personal attention you get in a one-on-one learning experience? You’ll find exactly that at American Winds flight academy. We keep our ground school class sizes small and make sure each student receives individual instruction, both inside and outside our aircraft. You’ll be on a first-name basis with our Certified Flight Instructors, who know exactly how much time and effort you’re putting into every lesson. And when you have questions – because you will – our instructors will make sure you get full and complete answers every time.
8. Innovation and Inclusivity
For a long time, it was hard for many people to see themselves in the captain’s seat. Women, people of color and people with disabilities were not traditionally well represented in the field of aviation. It’s different at American Winds. Not only is our founder and Chief Flight Instructor female – she’s committed to opening the flight deck door to anyone willing to work hard and persevere through challenges.
She’s even made history with her inclusive efforts. In 2006, American Winds got permission from the FAA to develop a program and train the first-ever hearing-impaired pilot. When Stephan Hopson passed his Instrument Pilot check ride at American Winds on February 25, 2006, he cemented our place in aviation history as a leader and innovator in the flight training industry – and gained us recognition from the internationally respected Airplane Owners and Pilots Association.
Gain Altitude at American Winds!
Let’s get your pilot career cleared for takeoff! American Winds College of Aeronautics is your non-stop flight path to your blue-sky future. Get started today and gain altitude toward a high-paying and immensely rewarding career as a pilot sooner than you dreamed!
