Commercial Rating

Career Program Progression

(Based on real data from thousands of students that have completed the program, both US citizens and International Students.)

Age progression Example

(Ex. Age 27- Begins Flight Training)

PPL-

80% of our students IF full time (3 Days a week or more) will finish their PPL (Private) Between $14,000-$20,000 and complete within 3-6 months. The other 20 % have finished both below and above these numbers. We have the most data on the license as 75% of our students are career oriented but 100% of them even the recreational students must finish private. These numbers are based on over 2500+ students completing private. This will be one of the most difficult licenses learning to land and completing your first solo is one of the most challenging parts of the entire program.

IFR-

This is the MOST IMPORTANT LICENSE YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE. The majority of airliners fly IFR flight rules 95% percent of the time. 70% of the time you spend in the career program will be during PPL AND IFR, as PPL is the most difficult because everything is brand new, and IFR you are also time building WHILE training for your IFR. If you complete IFR around 200 hours we can easily conquer the commercial license within a month or so. However you are free to time build post IFR as well, you will know when the time comes which you prefer.

CPL- The Student must have 250 Flight Hours to take the commercial check-ride. It is known as one of the easier check-rides and is basically your private check-ride with more maneuvers during the flight portion and a deeper understanding of your aviation knowledge during the oral portion.

CFI– You will have around 260-270 flight hours when taking this check-ride. This is the FINAL check-ride before we give you your very first job in aviation and hire you as a part of the Ascent Team. This is a ground heavy license with a in depth difficult oral portion. We have hired up to this point 100% of our in house Career students and will continue to hire within. It’s not only a great benefit to our students but also to us, our career students take on their first students already knowing our operating system, Our airplanes, How we teach, The Routes we take, And have built a solid foundation here. It’s a win win for both parties. We grow every quarter and will have a job for you when you reach CFI. Our CFI’s enjoy some of the highest pay in the industry as well as build as much as 100-150 flight hours a month due to our student load and so-cal’s great flying weather therefore getting to the airlines faster than anywhere else in our area.

CFII- This license allows you to teach instrument students it is a very smart license to get, your teammates once you become an Ascent instructor will help you with this license. This license is usually done a few months after the CFI and after you are already making a salary and building hours.

Multi- This license is typically done down the road when the now student turned full time flight instructor gets closer to 1500 hours or what we call “Airline Minimums” We offer a 3-6 day course where the multi can be done very quickly and affordably.

Time and cost breakdown for CAREER PROGRAM.

80% of our students finish PPL, IFR, CPL, CFI, CFII, Multi (If full time 3+ days a week) Between $45-$65K and 9-15 months from PPL-CFI.

(Ex. Age 28) Becomes CFI and is now a paid commercial pilot instructing full time.)

75-150 flight hours flown a month built as an Ascent Instructor roughly 1-2 years of instructing) Starting at 260-270 hours and becoming a regional airline pilot at 1500 hours.

(Ex. Age 29 ½ ) Becomes a regional airline First Officer. Majority of our students choose our partner Skywest to stay based on the west coast. There is a massive pilot shortage and starting pay was raised 52% this year with a starting salary in the low $100,000 range and expected to raise again within a year or 2.

(Ex. Age 30 ½ -31) Becomes a Major airline First Officer (500 jet time required takes a year roughly) current Starting pay between $170,000-$270,000.

(Ex. Age 33-34) Becomes captain at a Major Airline. Using UPS Airlines as an example $400,000-$500,000 Annually.