Costs
What is the program cost?
The cost of our programs vary by location and whether or not you have already received your Private pilot license! We have dedicated pages to each location, and the pricing can be found there:
Why is the Florida location (GIF) more expensive?
The Career Pilot Program at our Florida location is more expensive than our North Carolina location. This is because Florida is still a new location, and because of that, it is an all Part 61 program (whereas the NC location is a hybrid between Part 61 and Part 141). This means that there are more required hours in the program.
We are currently working on our 141 certification, which means our FL location will soon have the same structure, pricing and # of flight hours as our NC location.
What is the hourly rate for instructors and/or to utilize your aircraft?
Is housing included in the program cost?
Housing is not included in the program cost! The program cost only covers your ground training and flight training.
Can I rent my own room in your student housing?
No, we assign two students per bedroom to foster a collaborative and supportive learning environment. This arrangement helps build camaraderie among students, enhancing your overall training experience.
Do you have any discounts?
Financing
Click here for the Financing page!
Do you have options to finance the Career Pilot Program?
We do! We are partnered with two lenders, Stratus Financial and Aeroadvantage.
Click here to find more information on our Finance page!
How long does it take to apply?
Stratus & Aeroadvantage
It’ll only take 10 minutes to apply!
What are the credit requirements?
Stratus
Eligibility Criteria:
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US citizenship or permanent residency.
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Age of consent as per state
Credit Score Requirements:
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A credit score for you or a co-borrower of 680 or more is preferred
Aeroadvantage
Eligibility Criteria:
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US citizenship or permanent residency.
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Age of consent as per state
Credit Score Requirements:
- Credit Score 720+:
- Student qualifies.
- Student qualifies.
- Credit Score 620-719:
- Different requirements based on credit score within this range.
- Minimum credit score: 620.
Is it a hard hit to apply for your financing?
Stratus & Aeroadvantage
It is a hard hit to apply through either Stratus or AeroAdvantage.
Hard Hit - A hard hit, or a "hard pull," occurs when you apply for a new line of credit, such as a credit card or loan. It means that a creditor has requested to look at your credit file to determine how much risk you pose as a borrower. Hard inquiries show up on your credit report and can affect your credit score.
Is a co-borrower or co-signer required?
Stratus & Aeroadvantage
Neither is required, but it is highly recommended!
Do I have to pay the loan while I'm in school?
Stratus Financial
No payments due until 1 year after your first date of training (depending on which loan product you use). where at that point your payments for principal and interest will begin.
Interest does accrue during your deferment period.
AeroAdvantage
No payments due until 18 months after your first day of training, where at that point your payments for principal and interest will begin.
Interest does accrue during your deferment period.
Will interest accrue while I am training, or in my deferment period?
Stratus Financial & Aeroadvantage
Interest does accrue during your deferment period.
What are the typical loan terms?
Stratus Financial & AeroAdvantage
Terms for both Stratus and AeroAdvantage go up to 20 years. Loan payments can be deferred for the first 12 months, after your first day of training, to allow the student to finish school and start working as a certified flight instructor (CFI), and interest will accrue during this deferment period.
Who do I contact if I need assistance?
If you ever have any questions, we always recommend reaching out to one of our training advisors first by giving us a call at (919) 578-3713 or shooting us an email at info@blueline-usa.com. If you need to talk to your loan provider, their information is as follows:
AeroAdvantage: (417) 827-7550 / austin@aviationfinance.us
What does the financing cover?
Stratus Financial & AeroAdvantage
Our financing options cover the cost of all the ground training (online ground school, one-on-one instructor time, and group grounds), flight training, test fees, housing and training supplies. Our financing does not extend to personal expenses such as food, cell phone bills, etc., so you need to consider these costs when calculating your expenses while training. For more details about other costs you should consider, please refer to the Costs Breakdown chapter of this guide.
Program Structure and Duration
How fast is the program?
The duration of the program is dependent on two variables; the location you want to train at, and whether or not you have already obtained your Private pilot license. You can find the duration of each program on the Career Pilot Programs page for each location:
How early before I want to start do I need to enroll?
We highly recommend you reach out to us sooner than later! It takes time to go through the process of making sure you're ready for flight school (legal requirements, documentation, pre-training, etc.).
At a minimum, we ask that you start your enrollment process with us 2 months prior to a start date. That should give you enough time to take care of the administrative tasks, as well as get you started with your online ground training so you can complete your writtens before your start date with us!
How are you able to get the training done so quickly?
We actually made a video talking about just this. Check it out:
Enrollment Process
What does the enrollment process look like?
There are three phases of our enrollment process:
Stage 1 - Preparation
Prerequisites:
None
What To Expect:
In this phase, you'll get informed by reading the entire Program Guide. We'll verify your qualifications to become a pilot, address any questions or concerns you may have, and take care of the initial paperwork. You'll also need to create accounts and complete behavioral and cognitive tests. The "What Now?" chapter provides detailed instructions on how to create these accounts and apply for your 1st class medical.
Stage 2 - The Tour and Flight Assessment
Prerequisites:
- Reviewed the Program Guide
- Completed Behavioral and Cognitive Test
- Started the process of applying for your 1st Class Medical
What To Expect:
In this phase, we'll answer any questions that weren't covered in this Program Guide. You'll work with your training advisor to schedule and complete a tour and flight assessment, which allows us to evaluate your ability to take directions and remain calm during flight. It also exposes you to flying for the first time so you can get a feel for whether or not flying is right for you. If you’re coming in with your Private, this assessment flight is not required. You'll also apply for financing during this stage. The tour is mandatory, and you must physically visit the location where you plan to train.
Stage 3 - Final Enrollment
Prerequisites:
- Tour and flight assessment completed
- 1st class medical obtained
- Financing applied for
What To Expect:
In this phase, we'll discuss your start date, housing details, and other important logistics. You'll sign the enrollment form and submit your deposit. Once that's done, we'll provide you with access codes for the King Schools online ground school. You'll receive automated emails guiding you through the remaining steps, which include beginning your online ground school studies and completing your written exams before your first day of training with us.
How do I figure out what start date I can expect?
You'll be informed of this during Phase 3 of the enrollment process (check out the question "What does the enrollment process look like" for details on these phases).
Are there any prerequisites to enroll in the Career Pilot Program?
At the bottom of each Career Pilot Program page for each location, there is a list of requirements we have for enrollment. Check those pages out here:
Partnerships and Career Opportunities
Do you have any partnerships with any airlines, etc.?
We're committed to not only providing top-notch flight training but also ensuring our graduates have rewarding career opportunities awaiting them. We've established strong partnerships with industry-leading entities such as Mountain Air Cargo (if you're interested in flying cargo) and PlaneSense (if you're interested in flying people), that are eager to welcome our skilled and highly trained pilots. With these partnerships, you benefit from preferential hiring because these companies recognize the quality pilots we provide. These partnerships open doors to exciting career prospects upon completion of your instructing journey with us. Your success as a professional pilot is our priority, and our collaborative efforts with these organizations reflect our dedication to your future in aviation.
What percentage of students find employment after graduation?
After graduation, our Blue Line graduates are in high-demand. In fact, 90% of our graduates who don’t instruct with us find employment within the first 90 days of completing training.
Do we hire students to instruct with us after they graduate the program?
Joining the ranks of some of the best instructors in the industry at Blue Line Aviation is an exceptional opportunity. We pride ourselves on maintaining the highest standards of quality instruction and professionalism, and we don't just accept anyone, even our own graduates. We carefully observe our students throughout their training, emphasizing that each day should be treated like a job interview. To ensure a diverse range of teaching perspectives, we also hire outside instructors, holding them to the same rigorous onboarding standards. This onboarding process ensures that all our instructors uphold our high standards and contribute to a strong safety record. Once you become an instructor, you'll have the chance to advance to an academy leader role, offering higher earning potential and bolstering your resume as you prepare for a future in airlines, cargo, or corporate flying.
Fleet and Facilities
How many planes do you have in your fleet?
We currently have 36 planes and 4 simulators total in our fleet. We also have an order of 100 aircraft from Diamond and 100 aircraft from Piper that will delivered to us over the next 3-4 years!
Where are your locations?
We have two locations!
Smithfield, NC
Johnston Regional Airport (JNX)
3149B Swift Creek Rd, Smithfield, NC 27577
Winter Haven, FL
Winter Haven Regional Airport (GIF)
2073 US-92, Winter Haven, FL 33881
Instructors and Student Experience
What is the student to instructor ratio?
We always try to maintain a 1:3 instructor to student ratio. This means that our instructors rarely have more than 3 students that they are working with at a time.
Why does this matter? It's all about quality of training. The less students an instructor has to work with, the more in tune your instructor will be with your needs as their student.
How many students and instructors do you currently have?
We would have to update this section almost daily with all of the new students joining and those that are graduating 😅. We recommend talking to your training advisor for a more up to date number of students. We do have a cap of 175 students that we accept every year, at each location.
As for instructors, this is updating all the time as well, so we recommend you check out the Our Team page, where we post all of instructors.
Do you have a hard time finding DPEs?
A Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) is an individual appointed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct pilot checkrides. These checkrides are the final step in assessing a pilot's skills and knowledge for obtaining a specific pilot certificate or rating.
We recognize there is a nationwide shortage of DPEs, but this has not been a problem for us. We ensure that DPEs are always available for the daily checkrides our students need to complete by being proactive in our approach.
Firstly, we have in-house DPEs who can conduct checkrides regularly. Additionally, we have Examining Authority, which allows us to perform checkrides in-house, providing a consistent and efficient examination process. We also maintain strong relationships with a network of local DPEs to ensure we have sufficient coverage. Furthermore, when we anticipate a large number of checkrides and notice a potential shortfall in DPE availability, we fly in DPEs from other states. This multi-faceted strategy ensures our students remain on track and complete their training on time.
Other Questions
What is the difference between Part 61 and 141? What are we?
Part 141 and Part 61 are two different types of flight training programs regulated by the FAA.
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Part 141 programs follow a structured, formal syllabus approved by the FAA. They are often more organized and efficient, allowing for fewer required flight hours before taking a checkride.
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Part 61 programs are more flexible and less structured, allowing instructors to tailor training to the individual student's needs.
We are a hybrid school, combining the best of both Part 141 and Part 61. This hybrid approach helps our students graduate quickly by offering the structure of Part 141 and the flexibility of Part 61.
Currently, our Florida location operates entirely under Part 61, but this may change soon. We recommend checking out the Career Pilot Program pages specific to each location for the most up-to-date information.
Do you accept scholarships?
Firstly, did you know we have our own scholarship? Are you a resident of Johnston County or Polk County and will be graduating high school this year? We recommend checking out our $100k Fly Right Scholarship:
While we don't have any direct relationships with anyone outside of our school that provide scholarships, many students have successfully secured external funding through scholarship programs.
John
As Blue Line’s Chief Sales Officer, John and his team of student advisors are your guide to beginning your journey into the world of aviation. Regardless of your background, they will assist you in charting a course to achieving your aviation dreams.