Your Path to the Airlines

Career Pilot Training

Want to fly professionally or looking to become an Airline Pilot? Our Career Pilot Programs provide you with everything you'll need and more to help pave your pathway to the cockpit.

From zero experience to career-ready in as little as 8–9 months!

The Skies Are Calling

A Career That Truly Takes Off

Post-pandemic pilot hiring remains strong following the hiring surges of 2022–2023, with hiring pace stabilizing into a more historic & cyclical nature. The FAA, Bureau of Labor, and Boeing analysts predict a need for more than 600,000 pilots globally in the coming two decades, and a growth of 4% to pilot employment through 2034 across commercial and airline sectors.

This growth continues to be driven by many factors, including high demand for air travel and mandatory retirements. Pilot compensation and quality of life have also seen a rise across the industry, with regional airlines — along with other commercial pilot jobs — becoming potential career destinations, rather than stepping stones to the major airlines.

Dependable Aviation's Career Pilot Training is the complete path that takes brand-new students all the way to career-ready aviators. Giving them all the certificates and professional foundation they will need to start getting paid to fly while building to 1,500 hours they'll need to become eligible to fly for major cargo, charter, and airline operations.

$226K
Median annual wage for airline pilots according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pilot salaries can range from $80k to over $450k based on job type, aircraft, and seniority.
3–4 Yrs
From zero experience to 1,500 flight hours & ATP minimums / Regional First Officer position
$80K–$110K+
Typical first-year salary of a First Officer at a regional airline today
Benefits
High salary potential, competitive retirement, flexible schedules, FREE & reduced travel
Airline pilot in the flight deck

The Full Career Pathway

From your first Discovery Flight to your first airline job

1
Discovery Flight
Your first hour
2
Earn Core Ratings
PPL → IFR → CPL
3
Earn Advanced Ratings
Multi add-on, CFI, CFII, MEI
4
Time Building
Build to 1,500 hrs · meet ATP mins
Hired at Airline
Become a First Officer
Alternative Commercial Flying Jobs
Teach as a CFI
More than one path!
Two Paths, Same Destination

Choose Your Timeline

Every student's schedule and goals are different. Whether you need flexibility or want maximum speed, both tracks land you at the same career checkpoint — CFI, CFII, and Multi-Engine, ready to build hours for the airlines.

Standard Track
Accelerated
Month 0
Discovery
Month 0
Private Pilot
~6–9 months
PPL
Private Pilot
~3–4 months
Instrument Rating
~4–6 months
IFR
Instrument Rating
~2–3 months
Commercial Pilot
~3–5 months
CPL
Commercial Pilot
~2 months
Multi-Engine Add-on
~2–3 weeks
ME
Multi-Engine Add-on
~1–2 weeks
Flight Instructor
~2–3 months
CFI
Flight Instructor
~1–2 months
CAREER READY
Month 12–24 · + MEI available
CFII
CAREER READY
Month 8–14 · + MEI available
Standard Track

Fly around your life

Evenings, weekends, whenever fits. Ideal for students balancing school, work, or family while working toward a career.

Accelerated Track

Fly nearly every day

Full-time immersive training with dedicated instructors and priority scheduling. Reach the airlines faster. Adds a $2,500 flat entry fee to any career package.

Career Packages

Choose Your Program

Bundled programs designed to move you from your current level to Certified Flight Instructor with Multi-Engine — the checkpoint where a professional aviation career begins. All career packages include a 15-hour Multi-Engine add-on and Accelerated Enrollment Benefits.

Most Complete
Career Package

Zero to MEI

The full career package — all instructor ratings through MEI

$119,870

Career package · financing available

  • 175 hrs flight instruction · 290 hrs rental · 134 hrs ground
  • 15-hr Multi-Engine add-on + 17-hr MEI course
  • Ratings: PPL, IR, CPL (SE+ME), CFI, CFII, MEI
  • High Perf. & Complex endorsements included
  • Accelerated Enrollment Benefits
  • Fuel surcharge protection included
Start This Program
Best Value
Career Package

Starter Package + Checkrides

Zero to CFII · $6,500 checkride fees + student gear included

$115,120

Career package · financing available

  • 175 hrs flight instruction · 290 hrs rental · 134 hrs ground
  • 15-hr Multi-Engine add-on included
  • Ratings: PPL, IR, CPL (SE+ME), CFI, CFII
  • High Perf. & Complex endorsements included
  • Accelerated Enrollment Benefits
  • Fuel surcharge protection included
Start This Program
Career Package

Zero Experience

Brand new to aviation? Zero to CFII with Multi-Engine

$106,120

Career package · financing available

  • 175 hrs flight instruction · 290 hrs rental · 134 hrs ground
  • 15-hr Multi-Engine add-on included
  • Ratings: PPL, IR, CPL (SE+ME), CFI, CFII
  • High Perf. & Complex endorsements included
  • Accelerated Enrollment Benefits
  • Fuel surcharge protection included
Start This Program
Career Package

Credit for Solo

Already soloed? Continue on to CFII with Multi-Engine

$99,775

Career package · financing available

  • 160 hrs flight instruction · 275 hrs rental · 120 hrs ground
  • 15-hr Multi-Engine add-on included
  • Ratings: PPL, IR, CPL (SE+ME), CFI, CFII
  • High Perf. & Complex endorsements included
  • Accelerated Enrollment Benefits
  • Fuel surcharge protection included
Start This Program
Career Package

Credit for PPL

Already have your PPL? Continue on to CFII with Multi-Engine

$90,900

Career package · financing available

  • 135 hrs flight instruction · 250 hrs rental · 110 hrs ground
  • 15-hr Multi-Engine add-on included
  • Ratings: IR, CPL (SE+ME), CFI, CFII
  • High Perf. & Complex endorsements included
  • Accelerated Enrollment Benefits
  • Fuel surcharge protection included
Start This Program

How Financed Programs Work

All programs are built on a conservative completion timeline so students stay within the boundaries of their financing. If a student over-flies or over-uses the stated hours, additional flight or ground time is billed at the current standalone hourly rate — either out of pocket or from other financed funds allocated in the package.

Conversely, if a student finishes under the estimated hours, any leftover funds can be applied toward their next portion of training, time-building, or aircraft rental at their discretion. Any unused funds not allocated to future training will be returned directly to Stratus Financial.

Not Going Career? Ratings Packages

Just Want a Rating or Two?

Not aiming for the airlines? These bundled packages knock out one or two ratings without the full career track — great for personal, recreational, or business flying.

Package

Private Pilot + Instrument Rating

$44,650

Financing available

  • 115 hrs flight · 130 hrs rental · 60 hrs ground
  • PPL + IR ratings
  • Admin & Financing + Fuel Surcharge included
Start This Package
Package

PPL + IR + Commercial ASEL

$75,250

Financing available

  • 145 hrs flight · 250 hrs rental · 80 hrs ground
  • PPL + IR + Commercial ASEL ratings
  • Admin & Financing + Fuel Surcharge included
Start This Package
Package

60 Hrs Timebuilding + Commercial ASEL

$25,280

Financing available

  • 30 hrs flight · 92 hrs rental · 20 hrs ground
  • 60 hrs solo time-building included
  • Admin & Financing + Fuel Surcharge included
Start This Package
Package

120 Hrs Timebuilding + Commercial ASEL

$32,000

Financing available

  • 30 hrs flight · 152 hrs rental · 20 hrs ground
  • 120 hrs solo time-building included
  • Admin & Financing + Fuel Surcharge included
Start This Package

Individual programs also available — Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Multi-Engine, CFI/CFII — plus custom rental blocks. Contact us for standalone program pricing.

Investment & Financing

Two Ways to Pay

Whether you're paying out of pocket or financing your training, we make the numbers clear up front — no surprise fees, no hidden markups.

Pay As You Fly

Standalone hourly rates — pay only for what you use, when you use it.

  • Aircraft rental (C172 / PA28)$215/hr
  • Flight instructor (dual)$80/hr
  • Ground instruction$80/hr
  • Discovery flight$299
Recommended

Financed with Stratus

Dependable Aviation partners with Stratus Financial — a lender built specifically for aviation students. You stay in control of your training funds and pay as you fly, so your money works for your goals.

  • Funds released as you train — not all upfront
  • Covers flight, ground, checkride & written fees
  • Unused funds returned to your loan balance
  • Deferred payment options for select packages

Also Required (Not Included)

Aviation Renters Insurance
Required before any solo flight · ~$70–$100/mo
FAA Medical Certificate
1st Class for career students · ~$180–$300 one-time
Why Dependable

Real Training. Real Pilots.

Career-Focused Instructors

Our CFIs teach because they care — not just to build hours for their own airline application. You get instructors invested in your long-term success.

Real World Scenarios

Grass-strip landings, cross-country trips to Oshkosh, simulated engine fires, ILS approaches to minimums in real IMC. Standardized curriculum + real experience.

Transparent Refund Policy

Withdraw at any time. Unused financed funds return directly to Stratus to reduce your loan balance. Refunds processed within 30 days — no fine print, no games.

Let's Get You Started

Ready to Fly Your Career?

Talk to our team about which program fits your goals, timeline, and budget. First step is a Discovery Flight — no commitment, just come fly with us.

Send Us a Message

Fill out the form below or reach us directly — we'll respond within 24 hours