Commercial Flight Training Schools St. Petersburg, Florida

Do your ambitions as a pilot lead you to search for commercial flight training schools near St. Petersburg, Florida? If so, Paragon Flight in Punta Gorda provides the ideal setting, curriculum, instructors, and aircraft to help pilots reach their goals at their own pace. For pilots with an ambitious bent, ask about our P3 Professional Pilot Program for a fast-paced, intensive program that will save time and money.

Paragon Flight Instruction Components

Commercial Flight Training Schools St. Petersburg, FloridaOperating out of the Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) in Punta Gorda, FL, Paragon Flight enjoys the guidance of FAA Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Parts 61 and 141. We offer bespoke, one-on-one programs and highly structured courses for students with full-time availability.

The team at Paragon Flight is full of Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) with a wide range of experiences. Flight instructors make their way to Florida for the pilot-friendly atmosphere and climate, so we enjoy an abundance of highly qualified applicants. Our students benefit from this ample supply of qualified instructors.

Yet another aspect of training that you’ll find at Paragon Flight to be top-notch is the fleet of aircraft. Our fleet is full of TAA (Technically Advanced Aircraft), up-kept by FAA-qualified mechanics. For primary training, we utilize the Piper PA28 “Pilot” for single-engine training and the PA-44 Seminole for multi-engine training. Additionally, specialty training is available with the Cirrus SR20 and the ALSIM Flight Simulator.

The curriculum used for training is the last component of the courses we offer. Developed by a Boeing subsidiary, the Jeppesen curriculum allows pilots to pursue ground training faster than the national average, and we’re proud to be able to use it.

Pursue the P3 Program

Pilots with professional ambitions, a go-get-it attitude, and full-time availability should consider the P3 Program. This program allows pilots to achieve several certifications and supplemental ratings within 38 weeks. By the end of the program, successful participants are certified commercial pilots and certified to provide flight instruction. Consider the timeline:

  • Weeks 0-10 – PRIVATE PILOT LICENSE (PPL)
  • Weeks 11-18 – INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RATING (IFR)
  • Weeks 19-30 – COMMERCIAL LICENSE, SINGLE ENGINE, AND MULTI ENGINE (CSEL AND CMEL)
  • Weeks 31-38 – CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI)

This program allows you to learn the basics of flight, fly using navigation and communication equipment, accept payment for pilot services in single-engine and multi-engine aircraft, and train others to fly single-engine aircraft.

Not only will you be able to begin making your living as a pilot, but acting as a flight instructor provides an entry point into the aviation sector that meets multiple purposes at once: get paid, share your passion, hone your skills, and accumulate flight hours. Keep in mind that if you have your eyes on an airliner, you’ll have to fly 1,500 hours before you can apply.

To participate in the P3 Program, you must fit within specific parameters. In addition to having reached your 18th birthday and being well-versed in the English language, you should have either a high school diploma or a GED, and we prefer that you have some experience with higher education. Provide two character references, one professional and one personal, and present a clean Motor Vehicle Record (MVR), criminal background check, and FAA record. Furthermore, pass a behavioral and cognitive evaluation, gain an FAA 1st Class Medical Certificate, and show up with integrity, drive, and a willingness to work.

Beyond these basic qualifications, P3 participants will need full-time availability to participate in 4-5 flight lessons and 10-20 hours of ground training each week.

Ready for commercial flight training at the best among the schools near St. Petersburg, FL? Head to the Punta Gorda Paragon Flight location.