For over 30-years, Florida Aviation Flight Academy has trained professional pilots from more than 50 countries with one of the best safety records in the industry.
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The Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC) is an accelerated career-pathway program strategically designed to take students from zero experience to Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in just 12–16 months without requiring a traditional four-year aviation degree.
Regulated exclusively by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), PAC serves students in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, and across Central and North Florida. PAC was built to address the global pilot shortage by producing highly trained, safety-focused, jet-ready graduates prepared for careers in commercial aviation, corporate flight departments, and airline operations worldwide.
Developed in partnership with St. Johns River State College, Florida Aviation Career Training (FACT) and former Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor, Dr. Chris Johnson, PAC produces commercial pilots in fraction of the time and cost as traditional college flight programs.
PAC students complete one certification per semester in a clear, linear progression:
PPL → IFR → CPL → CFI / CFII
PAC uses a blended learning format combining in-person classroom instruction, structured online coursework, and individualized flight and ground training. Students may rent aircraft between semesters to continue building flight time.
PAC is structured as a part-time professional program with an accelerated full-time option.
Flight schedules require flexibility due to weather, maintenance, and resource availability.
Ground school is held at St. Johns River State College in St Augustine, FL.
Flight training is conducted at:
These locations provide access to:
Florida’s year-round flying conditions allow students to train consistently and efficiently.
Upon earning their CPL (~250 total flight hours), graduates typically build time as:
Once pilots reach 1500 total hours and obtain an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, they are eligible for positions at airlines and advanced corporate and cargo operations.
PAC is structured to produce competitive applicants prepared for long-term aviation careers, not simply certificate completion.
A sustained workforce shortage in aviation is expected for the next 10-20 years due to:
These factors have strengthened long-term demand for commercial pilots, allowing them to earn higher salaries and enjoy faster career progression than ever before.
This hiring environment is widely considered one of the strongest in aviation history
PAC requires less time and often less total investment than most bachelor’s degree programs while offering access to a high-income professional career path.
Estimated cost is between $63,414 and $74,398 from zero hours to CPL, and total cost varies depending on:
Financing options vary by applicant:
For detailed pricing and financing guidance, please CONTACT US.
The cost of the program will be discussed with potential students during the first meeting.
| Course | Tuition + Syllabus | Flight Fees | Exam Fees | Other Fees | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Pilot | $1,000 | $18,568 | $1,275 | $3,484 | $24,327 |
| Instrument Pilot | $1,000 | $22,198 | $1,275 | $899 | $25,372 |
| Commercial Pilot | $1,000 | $19,767 | $1,275 | $1,186 | $23,228 |
| Instructor Pilot | $1,000 | $10,461 | $3,025 | $462 | $14,948 |
| Optional Course | $87,875 | ||||
| Multi-Engine (ME) | N/A | $12,529 | $2,200 | $868 | $15,597 |
| $15,597 |
Applicants must:
Because FAA medical standards are strict, applicants are strongly encouraged to CONTACT US prior to scheduling their exam to avoid preventable delays.
The PAC program was developed by Dr. Chris Johnson, an aviation educator, Air Force veteran, commercial pilot, and Certified Flight Instructor.
Prior to PAC, Dr. Johnson was a professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
He earned his PhD in Engineering from University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he conducted FAA-funded research focused on improving pilot training safety and human-machine systems.
His academic work contributed to advancements in unmanned systems and aviation training technologies, including development of a weather simulator used to improve pilot and drone training.
Dr. Johnson also founded Pilot Training System, the aviation industry’s only fully free online ground school platform, which has grown to over 72,000 YouTube subscribers.
If you’re ready to begin a professional aviation career without spending four years in a traditional degree program, PAC offers a direct and accelerated path.
APPLY NOW or CONTACT US to learn more.
Most PAC students complete their Commercial Pilot License (CPL) within 12–16 months while training part-time. Full-time students can finish in 6-9 months, and all graduates finish with approximately 250–300 total flight hours.
Airline eligibility requires building additional flight time to meet the 1,500-hour ATP minimum, which take 18-24 months of full-time flying.
This is one of the strongest hiring cycles in aviation history driven by mandatory retirements at age 65 and sustained travel demand that has created a workforce shortage that is projected to last 10–20 years, resulting in higher starting pay, faster upgrades, and long-term career stability.
A Commercial Pilot License (CPL) allows a pilot to be paid for flying services such as charter / cargo, instruction, or corporate aviation.
An Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license is required for airline employment and requires 1,500 total flight hours under FAA regulations.
US airlines no longer require a four-year degree. Hiring decisions are primarily based on FAA certifications, total flight time, training quality, and professional performance.
PAC provides a direct path to airline eligibility without requiring a traditional aviation degree program.
Private financing is available to qualified borrowers (CONTACT US), and the US Department of Education is launching its Workforce Pell Program in late 2026. Many scholarships and grants are available to qualified applicants, and these websites each list dozens of opportunities:
Students must obtain a First-Class Medical Certificate prior to enrollment to ensure future ATP eligibility. We strongly recommend students (and parents) CONTACT US before scheduling an exam to avoid common disqualifying issues.
Students must carry $50,000 renter’s insurance, available through AOPA who offers a free 3-month student membership.
APPLY NOW or CONTACT US to learn more.
For over 30-years, Florida Aviation Flight Academy has trained professional pilots from more than 50 countries with one of the best safety records in the industry.
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