Professional Pilot

Quick Facts

Program: Aviation
Pathway: Business & Industry
Campus: Northwest
- Erma C. Johnson Hadley Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics

Professional pilots navigate and fly airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft to transport people and cargo.

Job Titles & Career Info

Our Program

We partner with US Aviation Academy and Veracity Aviation to offer our program at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas.

Why Choose Professional Pilot?

Follow an FAA Part 141-approved flight training curriculum
Get the classroom & in-air experience you need to succeed as you earn FAA Pilot certifications, licenses & additional ratings
Maximize your career potential: Apply your Professional Pilot A.A.S. toward a bachelor's degree at a 4-year college or university

Prepare for What You Will Do at Work

Check the condition of the aircraft before & after each flight
Plan flights & submit plans to air traffic control
Coordinate with copilot, flight engineer, air traffic controllers & ground crew during takeoff & landing
Be flexible & work with changing conditions, including weather & mechanical emergencies

Marketable Skills You Will Learn

Critical thinking
Reasoning
Communication
Personal & social responsibility
Teamwork
Computer literacy

Before You Enroll, Think About:

Choice of Tracks

You will choose 1 of these tracks:

Fixed Wing Track: Learn to fly airplanes.
Rotor Wing Track: Learn to fly helicopters.

Admission Process: Professional Pilot

Admission to our aviation programs is a multi-step, time-sensitive process. The College registration deadlines and information do not reflect the aviation program registration processes.

Our Professional Pilot program typically has a waitlist of approximately 1 year before prospective students are eligible to begin the program. Our Professional Pilot, Helicopter program does not currently have a waitlist.

Start the Admission Process

You begin the admission process by attending the Aviation Information Session, where we will give you detailed registration information.

To register, see on this page: Attend a required information session.

Get on the Waitlist for Professional Pilot

Attend the required Aviation Information Session
Submit the program-specific application
Complete the program-specific application steps
Attend the program-specific orientation
Be placed on the waitlist

Have questions about the waitlist?

Email us at aviation@tccd.edu

We Accept Private & Instrument Applicants

Have no flight experience?

You are a private applicant.

You need to begin with private training to earn your private pilot license (PPL).

Apply to our Commercial Pilot Certificate. The first semester of the certificate program will give you the training you need to get your PPL.

As a private applicant, you will begin under the certificate program. When you have your PPL and start instrument training, you will begin our degree program.

Have your PPL in hand?

You are an instrument applicant.

If you finished your private training at a different school, then you are eligible to apply to and enroll in Professional Pilot, A.A.S.

Projected Flight Costs

See detailed Projected Flight Costs in the Catalog.

Other Costs

Tuition: Tuition & Fees
Books: $600 (approximate)
Tools: $400–$1,200

Time Commitment

You can complete our A.A.S. program in 2 years whether you take day or night classes.

Day Classes

Days: Monday–Friday
Class hours: 7:40 a.m.–3 p.m.
Flight hours: arranged

Night Classes

Days: Monday–Thursday
Hours: 5:40–8:50 p.m.
Flight hours: arranged

Licensing Notice: Texas House Bill 1508

This program prepares you for an occupational license. However, you may not be eligible for licensing if you have a prior criminal history.

For more details, see Texas House Bill 1508 Licensing Requirements

Need a boost to get ready for college?

Talk to your advisor about Developmental Studies if your TSI scores say you need some help in math or reading and writing.

Degrees & Certificates

Degree

(Private Flight Rating Required)

Professional Pilot, AAS

Certificates

Level 1

(Private Flight Applicants)

Commercial Pilot

Enhanced Skills

Flight Instructor

Attend an Information Session

You must attend a mandatory Aviation Information Session to begin the application process.

Register for an Info Session

The next available session will be in September. You will need to click forward on the calendar to September to find the next available date.

We will send you a reminder email 1 week before the date of the information session you signed up for. If you don’t receive reminder emails after your register, check your junk or spam folder.