Elon Aviation

The private pilot certificate is the entry point certificate in our program. You’ll learn basic aircraft control and maneuvers, then you will work on perfecting your landings. After you solo, your focus shifts to performance take-offs and landings, navigation, working with Air Traffic Control, and night flying.

FAA Requirements
The FAA has several requirements that you must meet to become a private pilot.

• You must be a U.S. citizen and must provide a current U.S. passport or birth certificate. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet all TSA requirements for international students.

• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.

• You must be at least 17 years of age to take the FAA practical exam. (You must be at least 16 years of age to fly solo.)

• You must pass an FAA 3rd Class Medical Exam or meet FAA Basic Med requirements.

• You must pass an FAA Knowledge Exam.

• You must pass an FAA Practical Exam with a Designated Examiner.

Time Requirements
Per FAA regulations, you must achieve a minimum of 40 flight hours of total time to become a private pilot. This includes at least 20 hours of dual instruction and 10 hours of solo time. The remaining 10 hours may be dual or solo time.

The instrument rating enables you to fly within the clouds and not restrict your flying to only visual conditions. Because we teach you the way you’ll fly, most of your training will be on IFR cross-country flights. You’ll learn personal minimums, risk management, and decision-making throughout your training.

FAA Requirements
The FAA has several requirements that you must meet to earn your instrument rating:

• You must be a U.S. citizen and must provide a current U.S. passport or birth certificate. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet all TSA requirements for international students.

• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.

• You must hold at least an FAA Private Pilot Certificate.

• You must pass an FAA 3rd Class Medical Exam or meet FAA Basic Med requirements.

• You must pass an FAA Knowledge Exam.

• You must pass an FAA Practical Exam with a Designated Examiner.

Time Requirements
Per FAA regulations, you must achieve 50 hours as Pilot-in-Command on cross-country flights and 40 hours of instrument time, which may be combined, to earn your instrument rating.

The commercial pilot certificate challenges you with its required maneuvers and flight operations. You must have this certificate if you choose to fly for hire (commercially). You’ll learn more about commercial pilot opportunities while expanding your knowledge of professionalism, risk management, and decision-making.

FAA Requirements
The FAA has several requirements that you must meet to become a commercial pilot:

• You must be a U.S. citizen and must provide a current U.S. passport or birth certificate. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet all TSA requirements for international students.

• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.

• You must hold at least an FAA Private Pilot Certificate.

• You must pass an FAA 3rd Class Medical Exam or meet FAA Basic Med requirements. (You will need to pass a 2nd Class Medical Exam to function as a commercial pilot.)

• You must pass an FAA Knowledge Exam.

• You must pass an FAA Practical Exam with a Designated Examiner.

Time Requirements
Per FAA regulations, you must achieve a minimum of 250 hours total time to become a commercial pilot. This includes at least 100 hours as Pilot-in-Command, 50 hours as Pilot-in-Command on cross-country flights, 20 hours dual instruction (10 hours instrument and 10 hours in a complex or technically-advanced airplane), and 5 hours night VFR solo.

The CFI certificate enables you to teach other pilots. This may be an ideal program if you desire to enter the airlines, are seeking other aviation opportunities, or choose to serve as a career flight instructor. The commercial airplane single-engine certificate is a prerequisite for this course.

FAA Requirements
The FAA has several requirements that you must meet to earn your CFI certificate;

• You must be a U.S. citizen and must provide a current U.S. passport or birth certificate. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet all TSA requirements for international students.

• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.

• You must hold at least an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate and instrument rating.

• You must pass an FAA 3rd Class Medical Exam or meet FAA Basic Med requirements.

• You must pass two FAA Knowledge Exams.

• You must pass an FAA Practical Exam with a Designated Examiner.

Time Requirements
While there is no minimum time to achieve a CFI certificate, the average student completes training within 30 hours of ground instruction and 10 hours of flight instruction.

The CFII rating enables you, while working as a flight instructor, to teach other students how to fly in instrument conditions and therefore achieve their instrument ratings. The commercial pilot certificate is a prerequisite for this course.

FAA Requirements
The FAA has several requirements that you must meet to earn your CFII certificate:

• You must be a U.S. citizen and must provide a current U.S. passport or birth certificate. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet all TSA requirements for international students.

• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.

• You must hold at least an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate and instrument rating.

• You must pass an FAA 3rd Class Medical Exam or meet FAA Basic Med requirements.

• You must pass an FAA Knowledge Exam.

• You must pass an FAA Practical Exam with a Designated Examiner.

Time Requirements
While there is no minimum time to add the CFII to your existing CFI certificate, the average student completes training within four hours of ground instruction and four hours of flight instruction.

The multi-engine rating enables you to fly twin-engine aircraft. Obtaining the multi-engine rating diversifies your flying achievements and makes you a more attractive hire for many aviation companies. You must have this rating to be an airline pilot.

FAA Requirements
The FAA has several requirements that you must meet to earn your multi-engine rating:

• You must be a U.S. citizen and must provide a current U.S. passport or birth certificate. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet all TSA requirements for international students.

• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.

• You must hold at least an FAA Private Pilot Certificate.

• You must pass an FAA 3rd Class Medical Exam or meet FAA Basic Med requirements.

• You must pass an FAA Practical Exam with a Designated Examiner.

Time Requirements
While there are no minimum time requirements to achieve a multi-engine rating, the average student completes training within six to eight hours.

As an MEI, you can train other students to fly multi-engine aircraft. Prerequisites include the commercial multi-engine rating.

FAA Requirements
The FAA has several requirements that you must meet to earn your MEI certificate:

• You must be a U.S. citizen and must provide a current U.S. passport or birth certificate. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet all TSA requirements for international students.

• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.

• You must hold at least an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate, instrument rating, and multi-engine rating.

• You must pass an FAA 3rd Class Medical Exam or meet FAA Basic Med requirements.

• You must pass an FAA Knowledge Exam.

• You must pass an FAA Practical Exam with a Designated Examiner.

Time Requirements
You must have 15 hours of multi-engine time as Pilot-in-Command to achieve an MEI rating. While there is no minimum time to add the MEI to your existing CFI certificate, the average student completes training within four hours of ground instruction and four hours of flight instruction.

Contact us for more information.

If you plan to fly a UAS, or drone, for recreational purposes, you do not need the Remote Pilot Certificate. However, if you plan to fly a drone commercially or for business, you will need a certificate.

FAA Requirements
For more information on FAA requirements for remote pilots, please visit their website. 
For information on requirements to operate a drone in North Carolina, please visit the North Carolina of Transportation's Aviation Division's website. 

Thinking about learning to fly but not sure what to expect? Our First Flight is for you. During your First Flight, you’ll discover the thrill of flying and receive hands-on instruction while enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the area. Each First Flight lasts 45 minutes.

Young pilots aged 14 and over will benefit most from a First Flight. Those under 14 may fly as passengers.

When you schedule your First Flight, you’ll sign a waiver and release of liability and present a valid government-issued ID.

Want to share your First Flight experience with family and friends? You may bring up to two passengers. Restrictions due to aircraft capacity, amount of fuel on board, or passenger total weight may affect our ability to allow all passengers to fly.

Your First Flight experience is for you only. If your guests wish to sit in the pilot's seat, they need to reserve their own First Flight appointments.

First Flights make excellent gifts. You can purchase a gift certificate good for one First Flight. Contact us to schedule a First Flight or to purchase a certificate.   

Dreaming of becoming a professional pilot? With our Professional Pilot program, we can take you from no flight time whatsoever through all your required certificates and ratings in a minimum of six months. Professional Pilot program participants may also be interested in our relationship with Republic Airways.

If you can commit to flying at least five to six days a week, we can take you through your private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine, CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates and ratings in less than six months.

Contact us for details and pricing. Financing is available through outside lenders to cover the cost of your training.

We can help build an accelerated plan for any certificate or rating you desire. Perfect for students on break from school, military personnel on leave, or any other time-crunched individual.

Contact us for details and to schedule an appointment with one of our CFIs, who will help you design the training program that best suits your needs.

Have a friend or loved one who takes you flying? Are you mystified by what they do in the cabin? The pinch hitter course takes away that mystery and makes you a more knowledgeable passenger.

You will learn basic operations of the airplane and flying basics such as how to land a plane safely. Skills learned will enable you to assist the pilot during flight.