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Professional Pilot Training
at St. Johns River State College
Earn your FAA pilot certificates through St. Johns River State College and participating flight schools in St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and Ormond Beach, Florida, as part of the Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC).
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Flight Schools: FACT · Sterling Flight Training ·
A-Cent Aviation · Sunrise Aviation
Locations: St. Augustine · Jacksonville · Ormond Beach, FL
College: St. Johns River State College
Courses: Private · Instrument · Commercial
Part-Time: 15–20 hours/week · 12–16 months
Full-Time: 30–40 hours/week · 6–9 months
Cost: Varies by flight school and aircraft selection (see below)
Your Path to a Professional Pilot Career
A Direct Pathway to a Professional Pilot Career
The Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC) is a structured, non-degree college flight-training program for students seeking an efficient and affordable path to professional pilot certification.
Program Highlights:
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Non-degree certificate focused strictly on the FAA ratings required for employment
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Part-time (standard program): 15–20 hours per week for 12–16 months
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Full-time (optional): 30–40 hours per week for 6–9 months
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Simple progression: Private → Instrument → Commercial → Instructor Pilot (optional)
PAC is designed for:
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Traditional college students pursuing a degree outside aviation
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Adults preparing for a career change
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High-school students beginning flight training early
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Military veterans transitioning into aviation careers
Locations
Students complete classroom ground instruction at St. Johns River State College's St. Augustine campus and flight training at one of four participating flight schools in St. Augustine, Jacksonville, or Ormond Beach, Florida.
These training locations provide access to a variety of airport environments, controlled and uncontrolled airspace, coastal weather conditions, and cross-country flying opportunities throughout Northeast and Central Florida.
Participating Flight Schools
1. Florida Aviation Career Training (FACT) - Northeast Florida Regional Airport - 4900 US 1 North, Suite 200, St. Augustine, FL 32095
2. Sterling Flight Training - Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport - 10794 Craig Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32225
3. A-Cent Aviation - Herlong Airport - 9300 Normandy Boulevard, Suite 503, Jacksonville, FL 32221
4. Sunrise Aviation - Ormond Beach Municipal Airport - 740 Airport Road, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Students complete flight training at their assigned partner flight school while following the common PAC curriculum offered through St. Johns River State College.
Want to know more?
Discuss your training goals with us or attend a free webinar to learn how the program works.
Training Format & Weekly Commitment
Overview
Part-time students train approximately 15–20 hours per week in a cohort-based program with scheduled start dates and classroom instruction, typically completing the core program in 12–16 months. Full-time students follow an individualized training plan requiring approximately 30–40 hours per week, with flexible start dates and an estimated completion time of 6–9 months. Completion time varies with weather, scheduling, instructor and aircraft availability, and individual progress.
Part-Time Training: 15-20 Hours / Week for 12-16 Months
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3 hours of classroom instruction per week, typically evenings
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7 hours of flight training, typically three days per week
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5-10 hours of independent study and flight preparation
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Scheduled cohort start dates
Full-Time Training: 30-40 Hours / Week for 6-9 Months
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5-10 hours of online and individual ground instruction
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10-15 hours of flight training, typically five or six days per week
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10-15 hours of independent study and flight preparation
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Flexible start dates and individualized scheduling
Flight schedules require flexibility and may be affected by weather, maintenance, aircraft and instructor availability, and individual student progress. If you would like to know exactly how flight training can fit into your busy schedule, please contact us for a free consultation.
Pilot Training Curriculum
Three Core Stages of Professional Pilot Training
The PAC curriculum guides students through three consecutive stages of FAA pilot training. Flight and simulator hours vary by location; consult your selected flight school’s curriculum and cost summary for its planned hours.
Semester 1: Develop the knowledge and flight skills required to operate a single-engine aircraft safely under visual flight rules.
Approximately 60–70 flight hours and 5–10 simulator hours.
Semester 2: Learn to fly by aircraft instruments and operate aircraft safely in clouds, reduced visibility and the national airspace system.
Approximately 50–60 flight hours and 20–30 simulator hours.
Semester 3: Advance your airmanship while building toward the FAA experience requirements for a Commercial Pilot License (CPL).
Students typically complete the core program with 250–300 total hours.
Instructor and Multi-Engine Training Options
Multi-Engine training is included in the core program at some locations and offered as an optional course at others.
Semester 4 (Optional): Earn a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate and a Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) rating to pursue paid flight instruction and continue building experience toward airline eligibility.
Depending on your training location, Multi-Engine training may be included with Commercial Pilot training or offered separately. Multi-Engine Instructor training and additional multi-engine time-building are optional.
Aircraft, Equipment & Training Costs
Aircraft, flight simulators, training equipment, and program costs vary by participating flight school.
Select a flight school below to explore its training aircraft, available simulators, estimated program costs, and location-specific details.
All participating flight schools follow the Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC) curriculum in partnership with SJR State College.
