Flight School in Des Moines, IA

The Ultimate Airline Pilot Training Guide

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Learn Everything Needed To Get Started On The Right Track Saving You Time and Money On Flight Training…

  • Discover Our Proven System for Getting to The Airlines Fast!
  • Understand the Career Outlook for Airline Pilots
  • Learn Exactly What Steps to Complete Prior to Starting Training
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STEP #1

SCHEDULE DISCOVERY FLIGHT

Take the controls as an instructor walks you through your first flight...

STEP #2

APPLY FOR STUDENT LOAN

Get the funds you need to start your new career..

STEP #3

CHOOSE YOUR START DATE

Enroll now to start the process of reserving your class start date...

availableFLIGHT PATHS

PRIVATE PILOT PROGRAM

Learn to Fly for Fun and Pleasure or Use Your License to Travel Quicker and More Often. Take Your Friends and Family with or Use Your License to Travel for Business.

AIRLINE PILOT PROGRAM

From No Experience to the Airlines. Our Professional Airline Pilot Training Program Will Have You Career Ready in as Little as 9 Months with Full Financing Available!

ACCELERATED PILOT PROGRAMS

Get Your License or Ratings in Under a Month With One of Our Accelerated Flight Training Programs. These Full Time Training Options Include Fixed Cost Pricing!

airlinePARTNER

"THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO START YOUR JOURNEY

OF BECOMING A PILOT"

“The aviation sector has been hit in recent times with a growing demand for new pilots as the airline industry continues to experience global shortages in the number of certified pilots. In the next 20 years, airlines in North America alone are going to be in need of around 117,000 new pilots.”

– statista.com

studentACCOMPLISHMENTS

theBEST TRAINING ENVIRONMENT

First Class Training Environment

Our locations give you access to the best private airport lobbies in the country where you can rub shoulders with corporate pilots and other crew.

Valuable ATC Experience

Our locations are all within Class C or B Airspace which means you interact with ATC (Air Traffic Control) on every flight from day 1 just as you will as a professional pilot!

Experienced Instructors

We have a consistently growing team of experienced and veteran flight instructors who know how teach you the skills and knowledge you need to be a safe and competent pilot.

Des Moines Pilot Training Programs

privatePILOT PROGRAM

Our Des Moines Private Pilot Training offers students a complete and professional flight training program where you will learn everything required to safely and confidently fly an aircraft. Our mission is to provide the best flight training possible while helping students master their new skillset. We don’t just teach the FAA minimums, we incorporate real world scenarios and tools not used by our competitors. We are conveniently located within the Signature Flight Support building at Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, IA. Check out our Private Pilot Program for more details! 

fast-trackAIRLINE PILOT PROGRAM

Our Des Moines Fast Track Airline Pilot Program offers students a complete training program to go from zero to  career ready in just 9 months!  By the end of this program you will be a Commercial Multi Engine Instructor (MEI) with 25 Hours Actual Multi Engine Time, and Certified Flight Instructor with Instrument Rating (CFII).  This will allow you to work for US Flight Co or any other flight school to start building your time towards ATP Minimums. See more about our Fast Track Airline Pilot Program Here.

acceleratedPILOT TRAINING

Our Des Moines location offers several Accelerated Pilot Training options including Accelerated Private Pilot, Instrument Training, Commercial Pilot License, Multi Engine Rating, and Certified Flight Instructor Courses. We have furnished housing available to make your stay comfortable and easy. Our Accelerated Private Pilot License Course will get you your license in as little as 14 days! 

ourDES MOINES FLIGHT TRAINING FACILITY

We provide a clean and professional environment for flight training and flight planning.  Students and renters have access to Signature Flight Support Des Moines’ shared lobby and conference room. We provide an exclusive briefing room in addition to quiet individual flight planning spaces. We provide a laptop, printer, and WiFi for flight planning, dispatching aircraft, and checking aircraft in during debrief.  Call us today to schedule a tour and check out our training facility. 

515-650-5558

Take Advantage of Our Full Financing Today!

Full Deferred Financing Means No Payments Until After You Complete Training!

frequentQUESTIONS

Most flight schools will take between 3 and 6 months to get your private pilot license. With our accelerated programs you can get your Private Pilot License in as little as 14 days!

The FAA minimum is 40 hours, nationwide average is about 56 hours to get their license. With our accelerated full immersion style training most students are close to the 40 hour minimum.

Expect to pay around $10,000 for a Private Pilot License. Get our Free Pilot Guide to get a complete cost breakdown of training. 

With an instructor flight lessons are about $180/hour plus tax. Fuel surcharges may apply.

Airlines typically cover training for type ratings and in some cases will cover the cost for pilots to get their Airline Transport Rating.
Meet up with one of our FAA Certified Instructors and they will lay out a path for you to achieve your dream of becoming a pilot using our proven curriculum.
All of our flight instructors are trained on navigating all the specific requirements to start flight training including TSA Approvals, Student Pilot Certificates, and Flight Medicals. Give us a call today to meet with an instructor and start the process.

trainingTIMELINE

From Zero Hours to Airlines

Your Journey Starts Here

Intro Flight

Take the controls and fully engage in this flying experience as an instructor walks you through the steps. 

2 Months

Private Pilot License

This license will allow you take to the skies with friends and family as you fly for pleasure or travel.

4 Months

Instrument Rating

Refine your skills as you learn to fly and navigate solely through the use of aircraft instruments. 

7 Months

Commercial Pilot License

This is the license that allows you to fly for compensation and get a job as a pilot. Common jobs at this level are flying for pipeline / powerline inspection, ferry pilot, and sky diving pilot.

8 Months

Certified Flight Instructor Rating

This rating is required to teach other people how to fly. This is the most common way to log the time required to meet airline requirements.

9 Months

Multi Engine Instructor Rating

This rating is required to fly and teach in aircraft with more than one engine. While you can typically acquire this rating in as little as 10 hours, we include 25 Hours Actual Multi-Engine time as this is the minimum required by the airlines. 

10 Months

Begin Working as a Flight Instructor

Working as a flight instructor is the most common way to acquire the 1500 hours Total Time required by the airlines. At US Flight Co. we know our flight instructors are our most valuable asset. This is why we pay our instructors well above the industry average. 

End of Year 2

Begin Flying For Regional Airline

Upon accumulation of 1500 hours and 200 hours of cross country time you can apply for an ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) rating. This will allow you to get hired on at a regional airline. 

availableAIRCRAFT

DES MOINES LOCATION

Our Des Moines, IA location utilizes both high wing Cessna 172 Skyhawk and low wing Piper Cherokees. Both Cherokees and Cessnas provide great platforms for learning private, instrument, and commercial. Our fleet is constantly being updated with modern avionics, new interiors, and fresh paint as fast as our in house maintenance team can work. 

flightINSTRUCTORS DES MOINES, IA

Michael Robertson

Certified Flight Instructor | CFII MEI
Michael is a second-generation pilot that has been around general aviation his whole life. In 2019 he started to pursue a career in aviation, over the next year he would acquire CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates. After earning his ratings he went on to instruct at Embry Riddle University for a year and a half before joining US Flight Co. He plans to further himself as an instructor while building hours towards his goal of flying for the airlines.

Blake Bakkum

Certified Flight Instructor | CFII MEI
Blake is an aerospace engineer-turned pilot from Batavia, Illinois. He graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and soon after completed his flight training at ATP Flight School at Dupage Airport (DPA) in West Chicago. He is passionate about giving students a well-rounded flight school experience focusing on aeronautics, physics and the essentials of flight.

Daniel Watkins

Certified Flight Instructor | CFI
Daniel is from Allensville, PA. He decided to become a pilot in college while pursuing his childhood dream of studying meteorology. After graduating from Penn State in 2019 with degrees in Meteorology and Energy Business & Finance, he continued his pilot training at Hagerstown Flight School in Hagerstown, MD. Daniel earned his instrument rating and commercial license from Frederick Flight Center in Frederick, MD. After that he came to Des Moines, IA, and completed the CFI course here at US Flight Co. "I am grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this company and fly for a living. My hobbies include playing tennis, stargazing, and cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals." Daniel's aviation goal is to fly for one of the major airlines.
Flight Instructor in Des Moines, IA

Jayden Oshirak

Certified Flight Instructor | CFII
Jayden graduated from the University of Dubuque in winter of 2021 with a Major in Flight Operations and a Minor in Aviation Management. Becoming a CFI was actually his dream job so he can share his passion for flying with others. Jayden is also a Buffalo Bills enthusiast!

yourDREAM CAREER

Is Now Within Reach

We offer a full airline pilot career program which has been designed from the ground up to take you from no experience to career ready in just 9 months. After completing our program you will be qualified to take entry level pilot jobs such as flying sky divers, performing pipeline patrol, or flying for a small charter operator. Our program is proven, which means we can even offer private student loans to cover the cost of training, housing, study materials and fees to complete the program. Get in touch today to talk with a student advocate about the program and how to get started!

pilotCAREER OUTLOOK

The 2020 Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook projects that 763,000 new civil aviation pilots will be needed to fly the global fleet over the next 20 years. Read the Full Outlook.

According to the 2019-2039 FAA Aerospace Forecast the airline pilot shortage will be an ongoing issue for regional airlines due to the projected growth of the global economy, mandatory pilot retirement, and projected doubling of the airline industry by 2039. Read the Full Forecast.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the Pilot Median Pay for 2019 was $121,430 per year with a job growth outlook of 5% (Faster than average). See the Full Summary

The Ultimate Airline Pilot Training Guide

Get The Ultimate Guide to Becoming an Airline Pilot FREE!

Learn Everything You Need To Know To Get Started On The Right Track Saving You Time and Money On Your Flight Training...
  • Discover Our Proven System for Getting to The Airlines Fast!
  • Understand the Career Outlook for Airline Pilots
  • Learn Exactly What Steps to Complete Prior to Starting Training
Name(Required)
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