Colorado Flight Schools
Have you ever dreamed about becoming a pilot? Getting licensed as a private or commercial pilot is a fun and exciting idea, and Colorado is the perfect place to accomplish your flight goals.
With outstanding natural beauty, brilliant blue skies, and more than 300 sunny days per year, it’s no surprise that Rocky Mountain State is one of the best states in the USA to attend a flight school.
Training in Colorado offers the chance to practice basic drills on wide open plains and to navigate high-altitude mountain areas. Colorado has it all for those who want the thrill of soaring in the skies.
Licensed Colorado flight schools follow rigorous programs to make sure you learn everything needed to pilot a plane with safety and competence. Most Colorado FAA-certified training schools offer a full spectrum of training programs such as the following:
Private Pilot Certificate - This first course teaches you to pilot a small plane solo and with passengers. You’ll log around 40 hours of in-flight hours in visual conditions, plus extensive ground school training. Course fees run between $12,000 to $21,000 depending on time and circumstances.
Instrument Rating Training - This next step allows you to pilot a plane in all sorts of weather conditions using onboard flight instruments, even when outside visuals are impaired. This means you can fly through puffy clouds instead of avoiding them, and you won’t get grounded because of the weather.
Commercial Pilot Certificate - To shift careers and gain employment as a commercial pilot, you’ll need over 250 hours of logged flight time and around 70 additional hours of flight training. After completing private pilot training, additional fees for the commercial certificate start around $47,000 and go up depending on the school.
Certified Flight Instructor - Once you have a Commercial Pilot Certificate, you can learn to teach others how to fly. Plan on 60-70 hours of ground school training and at least 15-20 hours of in-flight training. The cost is about $7000 but can vary with your personal pace.
Most schools also offer a mini-course, so your sidekick (who doesn’t necessarily want to become a pilot) can learn the basics, too and it can cost approximately $500.
Additional courses at select Colorado flight schools might include mountain flying, helicopter training, and even aerobatics training among other unique programs.
If you’ve got a passion for flying and want to become a private or commercial pilot while living in Colorado, there is probably an excellent flight school near you!
Alpine Flight Training
Gypsum, CO
$16,500
Alpine Flight Training, a flight school operating at Eagle County Regional Airport, provides flight instruction in accordance with FAA Part 61. Every element of our operation emphasizes safety. We operate a Piper PA-28 Piper Archer and a Cessna 182. Both...
Arapahoe Flight Club
Colorado Springs, CO
$21,000+
Arapahoe Flight Club is veteran owned and operated since 2019. Our Part 141 flight school in Colorado offers more than just a school; we are a community of aviation enthusiasts deeply rooted in a culture of excellence, safety, and passion...
Aspen Flight Academy
Aspen, CO
$21,450+
The Aspen Flight Academy empowers youth and adults to learn about the joys and responsibilities of flying by providing students with classroom and flight training needed to pilot aircraft.
Opportunity evokes passion and at Aspen Flight Academy we give kids...
Front Range Flight School
Denver, CO
Instructors at the Front Range Flight School know all about why people love to fly, and their instructors are determined to see that you reach your goal. Front Range offers the full scope of professional pilot programs, with all courses...
Leading Edge Flight Training
Fort Collins, CO
We create aviators that are prepared to go into every area of aviation. Whether you want to fly recreationally or professionally, whether you want to be an airline pilot, aerial firefighter, or military pilot, we prepare you for it all...
Peak Aviation
Colorado Springs, CO
$17,000+
Peak Aviation, established in 2016, is the only Cessna Pilot Center in Colorado Springs. If you live in this area of Southern Colorado, look no further for a fantastic flight school that offers all the necessary pilot certificates.
All of...
Springs Aviation
Colorado Springs, CO
$12,686+
Springs Aviation is a family-owned flight school serving the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains from Meadow Lake Airport (KFLY). We also operate the Rudy Welch General Aviation Terminal and FBO.
Our certified instructors offer top-quality training in airplanes, while...
The Flying School
Loveland, CO
$9000+
Welcome to The Flying School. From private to multi-engine instructor certifications, we offer comprehensive training programs designed to elevate your aviation journey.
The Flying School offers two locations for flight training; Loveland, CO, and Cheyenne, WY. Embark on your adventure...
Western Air Flight Academy
Denver, CO
$12,208+
Western Air Flight Academy offers the flight training quality of a part 141 school while maintaining the flying club feel. We offer you the option of 141 flight training or part 61 flight training, whichever best suits your needs. At...
What is employment like for pilots in Colorado?
Colorado sees a high amount of general air traffic, so there are abundant opportunities for pilots in Colorado. You can easily find jobs in the private sector and commercial sector. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists Colorado as one of the places for the highest concentration of jobs for pilots.
How much does it cost to get a pilot license in Colorado?
A private pilot’s license in Colorado will cost approximately $21,000. Commercial pilot licenses run from between $47,000-69,000. The amount will vary due to personal time limitations, amount of flight time needed, and the number of certifications desired. Most flight schools can help you with your tuition to become a pilot.
How much do pilots get paid in Colorado?
Commercial pilots can expect high job salaries. Commercial pilots in Colorado earn an average salary of $151,000 according to Intuit. This amount will vary depending on experience, with a range from $52,000-$102,000/year for newer pilots to $184,000-211,000/year for experienced pilots. Indeed shows an average salary of $112,733.