Iowa Western Community College Program

Applicants should turn 17 years of age in the same year they start the PAC program. Applicants under age 18 must have legal guardian or parent approval to enroll. Students must be citizens or permanent alien residents of the United States with no history of felony criminal convictions. Excessive use of alcohol or use of most prescription drugs, all illegal drugs, marijuana or any cannabis-derived products (including CBD in any form) is strictly prohibited. Substance use violations are grounds for immediate expulsion.
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Applicants must possess a valid class 1 or class 2 FAA medical certificate at the time of application, and they are expected to maintain their medical status throughout the duration of the program. Some medical certificates may be deferred 6 to 12 months or more, and students with deferred medicals will be admitted to PAC on a case-by-case basis. For more information on applying for an FAA medical certificate, please contact us.

PAC is an accelerated, targeted, vocational program for aspiring professional aviators that is more flexible, less time-consuming and faster than the rigid, full-time commitment required for an associate or bachelor’s degree in aviation. Since PAC only requires 15-20 hours of work each week, high school students can dual-enroll in PAC while finishing high school. This allows them to enter the aviation workforce 1-2 years ahead of their peers, which is valued at $150,000-$200,000 per year. PAC is also designed to attract returning adult students looking for an exciting new career. PAC allows them to work part-time to pay bills while earning their professional flight certifications. In fact, PAC is also a valuable alternative for traditional college students considering an aviation college or university. Specifically, PAC is not tied to an aviation degree, which allows our students to earn a degree in ANYTHING they choose while simultaneously earning their professional flight certifications. This has an advantage over aviation colleges whose degrees are generally related to aviation science or aviation management because those skills cannot be applied to earn money outside of aviation. PAC students, however, can earn degrees and certifications in areas outside of aviation, allowing them to work remotely while sitting around airports and hotels between flights.

Financing is available through a variety of private lenders who specialize in flight training and can offer the most competitive rates. We invite you to secure your own lender, but we can recommend one of our preferred lenders after we have had a chance to review your financing plan. Loan eligibility depends on your credit history and in many cases requires a qualified co-signer. Scholarships and grants are also available.

Right now is an ideal time to start flight training. The pilot-shortage crisis that the industry faced in 2017, 2018, and 2019 was only paused briefly by the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for air travel slumped during the pandemic but bounced back to exceed pre-pandemic demand in 2023. With increases in baby boomer retirements amidst growing demands for pilots in traditional cockpits (manned aviation) and new aviation markets (unmanned aviation), pilot hiring is forecast to be stronger than any other period in history for at least the next decade. This is why aviation companies are paying higher salaries than ever before, and many of them are offering large signing bonuses that substantially offset the cost of flight training.

Graduates typically either work for private or charter operators or as instructor pilots to build the 1500 hours required to earn an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license. An ATP license is required to work for most airlines, major cargo operators and corporate flight departments that operate jet aircraft. Flight instructors and new commercial pilots can expect to earn $40,000-$60,000 per year, and after 15-20 months of experience / hour-building, graduates typically move on to be First Officers at regional airlines or captains at charter flight departments, earning $80,000-$150,000 per year. Career airline pilots enjoy competitive salaries with comprehensive benefits packages, annual raises, union representation and travel perks for themselves and friends and family, and they can earn salaries over $500,000 within 10-12 years of joining a major air carrier such as Delta, American, United, FedEx, or UPS whose most senior Captains work only 10-13 days per month.

Airline pilots fly scheduled passenger or cargo flights and must hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license, the highest FAA qualification. However, all pilots must start their professional aviation careers by earning their private pilot licenses. Next, they earn instrument ratings to fly in the clouds and low visibility, and then they obtain a commercial pilot license before they can apply for an ATP license. There is a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight experience required to hold an ATP license, so commercial pilots most often choose to become flight instructors and work at a school teaching new pilots while building their hours before taking the ATP licensing exam. The ATP exam is normally conducted by an airline in combination with a jet specific type rating after hiring.

Ground school will meet one evening per week for 3 hours, and each student will be assigned a flight block on a first-come first-served basis. Students will be expected to be at the airport every other day 15 minutes BEFORE the start of their flight block. The 8 flight block times are: Mon, Wed, and Fri (MWF) or Tues, Thurs, and Sat…early morning, late morning, early afternoon and late afternoon. 

To promote successful program completion, students are expected to arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled flight time and to be 100% committed to flying whenever the opportunity arises. Students unable to make their scheduled flight time are expected to notify their instructor at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to attend scheduled appointments may result in penalty fees. Make-up flights may be conducted on Sundays and whenever aircraft and instructor availability allows.

PAC graduates will typically enter the aviation workforce as certified flight (CFIs) instructors eligible to be hired by Nebraska Flight Center as well as other flight schools in the Midwest and around the United States. Flight instructors typically spend 15-20 months teaching private, instrument, and commercial students, building flight time and gaining valuable experience required to qualify for commercial pilot jobs with corporate flight departments, air freight operators, regional/national commercial airlines, or other professional aviation careers. This program is designed to progress students from zero experience to a six-figure salary as a first officer in about 40 months.

Unfortunately, GI Bill benefits cannot currently be used for flight fees under Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 61, but we are working to FAR Part 141 approval for the PAC program that will allow GI Bill benefits to be used for flight fees. 

This program is built to maintain 9-12 hours of contact learning with instructors each week, and it is expected that students will spend at least another 6-8 hours of personal home study and flight preparation, for an estimated 15-20 hours per week on average. Students will spend three (3) hours in class one day per week. Additionally, students will be scheduled for three (3) 2.5-hour flight lessons each week. Ground school courses are scheduled according to the academic calendar: PPL in fall of year 1, IFR in spring of year 1, CPL in fall of year 2, and CFI / CFII in spring of year 2, but flight training is not as rigid. Flight training can start anytime, and PAC coordinators will work with your schedule to build a program that fits. Students will coordinate closely with their instructor on scheduling, and staying on track will require commitment to work around scheduling interruptions caused by weather and aircraft maintenance. Students should be prepared to make up cancelled flight lessons on any day of the week, including Sundays if required. Other outside commitments will need to be scheduled accordingly, and students must be flexible and ready to fly when the weather and aircraft availability allows.​

Yes. All students must obtain a Class 1 medical certification and submit a copy prior to enrollment in this program. A Class 1 medical certification ensures future employment as an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). We highly recommend you speak with us before scheduling your medical exam by clicking the link below and completing our CONTACT form. After you fill out our CONTACT form, we will contact you and can recommend a physician with the proper FAA certifications near you.

Renter’s Insurance is required from students who are ready to solo. Solo flight will not be allowed without proof of renter’s insurance from AOPA or Avemco.