FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Find answers to the most common questions about our flight training programs, time building, and more.
Are there any prerequisites or requirements?
You must be at least 17 years old and have a valid photo ID.
Are there any medical requirements?
You'll need to pass an FAA medical exam before starting your training. Each program may require a specific class of medical certificate, which we'll help you determine.
Do I need any prior flight experience?
No prior experience is needed. Our programs are designed for students at every level, from absolute beginners to experienced pilots looking to add ratings.
How do I enroll?
Simply fill out our contact form or give us a call. Our team will walk you through the enrollment process, help you choose the right program, and get you scheduled to start.
Where will I be training?
Training takes place at our headquarters at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE).
Who will teach me?
You'll be trained one-on-one by our team of hand-selected, experienced flight instructors. We maintain a low student-to-instructor ratio to ensure you receive personalized attention and high-quality instruction.
Is training like a classroom setting?
Training is personalized and conducted directly with your instructor—no large classroom lectures. This hands-on approach ensures you get the individual support you need to succeed.
Is there a uniform policy?
No, we recommend wearing something comfortable, but no open toe shoes.
What aircraft will I train in?
You'll train in our fleet of Cessna 172s, Piper Seneca, Piper Archers, Piper Warriors, and our Beechcraft Duchess for multi-engine training. All aircraft are company-owned and maintained by our in-house team.
How long will it take to finish my private pilot license?
Our program for a full time student should take 4-6 weeks.
How long will it take to finish my professional pilot program?
Our program for a full time student should take 6 months.
How long will it take to finish my airline pilot program?
Our full airline pilot program for a full time student should take approximately 10-12 months, including all licenses and time building.
What happens if I can't finish within my estimated timeline?
Our timelines are designed as estimates. We understand that every student learns at a different pace. Whether you're training full-time or part-time, we'll work with your schedule to help you succeed.
How do I reach 1,500 flight hours?
Our programs give you multiple pathways to reach 1,500 hours. After completing your training with us, you can work as a flight instructor, begin applying for aviation jobs, or continue building hours using our time-building fleet.
Will Flight Time conduct my check rides?
We do not do in-house check rides. We will prepare you for all your licenses, and then you'll take them with one of the FAA designated pilot examiners that we work with.
Can I work as a flight instructor after completing my CFI?
Yes! Many of our graduates go on to instruct at our school or other flight schools, building valuable flight hours while earning income.
What is time building and how does it benefit my pilot career?
Time Building is crucial for a pilot's career, as a minimum of 1,500 hours is required for commercial certification. Our program offers affordable rates and a well-maintained fleet to help you efficiently accumulate the necessary flight hours, moving you closer to your professional goals.
Is it possible to obtain 100 hours in just 10 days?
Absolutely. We accommodate up to 12 hours per day, 7 days a week.
Can I log PIC time during my time building experience?
Yes, in shared Time Building, both pilots may log PIC (Pilot in Command) time when the flight is conducted under simulated instrument conditions. When the pilot acting as PIC wears the view-limiting device (foggles), the other pilot becomes a required crew member, scanning for traffic (Safety Pilot).
What are the requirements for pilots with a foreign certificate?
You are required to complete the FAA Verification of Authenticity Form (online submission 45 to 90 days before travel is recommended), obtain your FAA Private Pilot License (PPL), secure appropriate renter's insurance, and complete a Biennial Flight Review (BFR).
How does weather affect time building?
You, as the Pilot in Command (PIC), have the final decision whether to fly if you consider weather conditions unsafe. Our Florida location offers favorable weather almost all year round. Your hours do not expire; the completion time is flexible and based on your availability.
Can I bring passengers during time building flights?
No, during Time Building hours, the aircraft is configured for the pilot and the safety pilot only. Lease and insurance agreements do not permit the carriage of recreational passengers. This ensures flight hours are focused solely on professional accumulation and regulatory compliance.
How is flight time calculated?
Flight hours are calculated and billed using the Hobbs meter. This method is standard in general aviation and records the time the engine is running, which is used for logging your flight time and billing.
Will I need to find my own flying partner?
No, we will pair you with another pilot who is also enrolled in the program. This ensures you always have a flying partner available for shared Time Building.
Am I limited to specific airports?
There are no airport limitations within the contiguous United States. You can fly to any airport that you and your flying partner deem safe and are comfortable with.
Do my hours expire?
Your flight hours do not expire. The completion time is flexible and is based entirely on your availability and the scheduling you establish with our team.
Can I fly part-time from out of state?
Yes, it is possible. However, we ask that you coordinate with our scheduling team in advance to ensure the aircraft is available for your arrival and departure.
Are there cancellation fees for weather?
No, there are no cancellation fees if you, as the Pilot in Command, decide to cancel the flight due to weather conditions you deem unsafe. Safety is always our top priority.
Do you offer student housing?
Yes, we offer comfortable, fully furnished housing options near our training facilities. Private bedrooms are $1,600/month and shared bedrooms are $900/month.
Is transportation provided?
We offer transportation assistance and crew car availability to help you get to and from the airport and around town.
Do you offer financing?
Yes, we work with third-party financing partners to make training and time building accessible. Contact us to discuss your options.
Starting Flight Training: The Short Version
You do not need a licence, a degree or any prior experience to begin. You need to be 16 to fly solo and 17 to hold a Private Pilot certificate, able to read, speak and understand English, and hold at least a third-class FAA medical certificate. If you intend to fly professionally, get a first-class medical first — it is the same standard an airline will require, and it is far cheaper to discover a problem before you have spent money on training.
Most people start with a discovery flight, which is a genuine instructional flight and loggable toward your certificate. From there we build a schedule around how many days a week you can realistically fly.
How Long Each Certificate Takes
Flying four to five days a week, a Private Pilot certificate typically takes four to six weeks. The Instrument Rating usually follows in a similar timeframe, and the Commercial certificate depends largely on how efficiently you build the required hours. Part-time students should expect three to four times those durations — not because the syllabus changes, but because skills decay between infrequent lessons and each flight starts with recovery instead of progress.
That frequency effect is also the main driver of total cost. The FAA minimum for a Private certificate is 40 hours; the national average is closer to 60 to 75, and almost all of that gap comes from irregular scheduling.
International and Foreign-Licence Pilots
Non-US citizens need TSA Alien Flight Student Program approval before flight training begins, plus appropriate visa status for the duration of their stay. Pilots holding an ICAO licence need FAA verification of that licence before flying here, which is a paperwork process rather than a training one. We start both processes at enrolment so they run in parallel with your first lessons instead of delaying them.
We regularly train pilots from Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean, and bilingual instruction is available.
Scheduling, Weather and Cancellations
Our operation runs twelve hours a day, seven days a week, and South Florida provides over three hundred VFR days a year. During the wet season, afternoon convection builds on a fairly predictable schedule, so experienced local pilots fly early and use afternoons for ground work — adopting that rhythm is the single biggest factor in how many hours you actually log per week.
If weather cancels a flight, you are not charged and the time stays on your account. Aircraft are company-owned and maintained in-house around the clock, which is why a squawk rarely turns into days of lost schedule.