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Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC)

Pilot Training System has partnered with the colleges below to offer career pathway programs for aspiring professional pilots (click logo to learn more and apply):

Professional Flight Training at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Professional Flight Training at St Johns River State College in St Augustine, FL, Ormond Beach, FL and Jacksonville, FL
Professional Flight Training at Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois and the Quad Cities
Professional Flight Training at Beaufort County Community College in Washington, NC and New Bern, NC
Professional Flight Training at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL and the Northwest Chicago Suburbs
Professional Flight Training at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, IA and Omaha, NE
Professional Flight Training at College for Technical Education in Lexington, KY
Professional Flight Training at Palm Beach State College in Fort Lauderdale, FL and West Palm Beach, FL

OVERVIEW

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The Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC) is a structured career pathway program designed for aspiring professional aviators seeking efficient, affordable and local commercial pilot training.

 

PAC is a non-degreed college flight program that allows students to complete their professional pilot certification in 12, 16, or 20 months when training part-time (15–20 hours per week), depending on the number of pilot licenses and ratings pursued. Students who dedicate 30–40 hours per week to flight training can finish in as little as 6–8 months in accelerated pilot training.

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The PAC program is structured to serve:

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  • Traditional college students who want a degree is something other than aviation

  • Returning adult learners seeking a career change who do not want or need a degree

  • High school students beginning early professional pilot training while finishing high school

  • Military Veterans transitioning into aviation careers

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With record hiring demand and a growing pilot shortage, PAC provides a direct, efficient pathway into the booming aviation job market by focusing only on what is needed to get hired quickly.​

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COLLEGES

 

Each Professional Aeronautics Certificate program combines:

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  • College-based ground school instruction delivered at an accredited partner college

  • Hands-on flight training conducted at an approved partner flight school

  • Airport-based flight operations located within driving distance of the college campus

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Partner colleges and airport locations include:

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1) Madison College with airports in Madison,  Watertown, Juneau and Wisconsin Dells, WI

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2) McHenry County College with an airport in Wonder Lake, IL 

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3) Black Hawk College with an airport in Moline, IL

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4) Iowa Western Community College with airports in Harlan, IA and Blair, NE

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5) College for Technical Education with airports in Lexington, Danville and Georgetown, KY

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6) Beaufort County Community College with airports in Washington and New Bern, NC

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7) St Johns River State College with airports in Ormond Beach, St Augustine and Jacksonville, FL

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8) Palm Beach State College with an airport in Fort Lauderdale, FL​

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CURRILCULUM

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The Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC) is a non-degreed, college flight program that includes the three required FAA certifications needed to obtain employment as a professional pilot, offering one certification in each of three consecutive semesters:

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  • Private Pilot License (PPL)

  • Instrument Rating (IFR)

  • Commercial Pilot License (CPL)​

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This comprehensive professional pilot certification pathway can be completed in approximately 12 months for students who dedicate about 20 hours per week to flight training during Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters, or it can be completed in 16 months, training approximately 15 hours per week and adding an additional four-month semester of structured flight instruction. Full-time commitment can be as short as 6-8 months.

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PAC reduces the failure rate and inefficiencies often found in traditional flight schools by aligning college academics with structured flight operations, and students benefit from:

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  • Streamlined, predictable block scheduling

  • Dedicated resources and faster, known certification timelines

  • Higher success rates and workforce-ready aviation credentials

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CORE COURSES

PPL

Semester 1: Private Pilot License (PPL) training in a single-engine aircraft, preparing students for safe VFR operations. Includes approximately 60–70 flight hours plus 5–10 simulator hours to build foundational flight skills.

IFR

Semester 2: Instrument Flight Rating (IFR) qualifies pilots to fly in clouds and low visibility under instrument flight rules (IFR). IFR training includes 50–60 flight hours and 20–25 simulator hours to advance navigation and control skills.

CPL

Semester 3: Commercial Pilot License (CPL) requires a minimum of 250 total flight hours, including 50 loggable simulator hours to reduce costs, strengthen skills and build airmanship. Graduates are qualified for entry-level aviation careers.

OPTIONAL COURSES

 CFI+
CFII

Semester 4: Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) ratings in one course, enabling graduates to work as instructors and build hours toward an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license.

 ME+
MEI

Add a Multi-Engine (ME) rating to qualify in twin-engine aircraft with the option to earn a Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) rating or complete additional time-building flights to accelerate airline career progression.

Graduates Celebrating Outdoors

GRADUATION & EMPLOYMENT

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Aviation is one of the most fun, exciting and rewarding careers available, and the  Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) program requires less time and money and has a higher earning potential and more job satisfaction than many bachelor's degrees can offer.

 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, entry-level commercial pilot salaries have nearly doubled as the aviation industry faces a historic pilot shortage. Aviation is one of the only professions with a mandatory retirement age of 65 at U.S. airlines, creating a predictable and sustained demand for new pilots. With thousands of senior airline pilots retiring over the next two decades and global air travel demand continuing to grow, the aviation job market remains one of the most stable and high-paying career sectors in the United States.

 

With record salaries, rapid career advancement and long-term hiring stability, the aviation workforce shortage represents one of the strongest career opportunities in modern history. Boeing estimates a need for 119,000 commercial pilots in North America between 2025 and 2044 due to increased travel demand, mass retirements, and the expansion of drones and Advanced Air Mobility aircraft. Workforce demand will continue rising as commercial drone delivery, air-taxi services, and emerging aviation technologies expand worldwide.

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PAC students graduate after earning their Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and can enter the workforce flying commercial charter, cargo or corporate aircraft with 250-300 total flight hours. However, most graduates become instructor pilots because that is the most readily available entry-level position, and they build their hours as flight instructors before applying for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license, which requires 1500 hours of total flight time. Students who complete the PAC Instructor Pilot course will enjoy priority consideration for open instructor positions at partner flight schools. 

 

PAC helps students:

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  • Earn a Commercial Pilot License (CPL)

  • Build flight hours efficiently and affordably

  • Transition into paid flight instructor roles

  • Progress toward an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate

  • Enter the aviation career pipeline faster

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Affordable financing options are becoming increasingly available, and PTS assists students in navigating funding pathways to make professional pilot training achievable.

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