Pilot Training

Is FSC located in Jacksonville? (FSCJ) pilot training program the best kept secret in pilot training in Florida? This may just be the case! For students wanting to get a college degree and obtain the pilots certificate necessary to start a career in aviation as a pilot, many financial aid options are available especially for residents of Florida, such as low cost tuition as it is a community college supported by the state, a great airport for flight training there are a few more economical choices.

Known as the Aviation Center of Excellence, FSCJ's aviation programs are located at the schools Cecil Center South at Cecil Airport. The college offers courses in air traffic control, courses for aircraft maintenance technicians and aircraft painting programs besides pilot training. The two year Associate in Science degree for pilots is formally known as the Professional Pilot Technology major. Students may complete the entire 64 credit hour program and receive the degree or take individual pilot certificates and ratings.

Flight training in the FSCJ Professional Pilot Technology program is conducted at Cecil Airport by Sunrise Aviation, the approved flight training vendor for the college. Possessing multiple instrument approaches, and FAA Air Traffic Control Tower, extensive taxiways and runways, Cecil Airport is a splendid place for flight training. A satellite operation in FSCJ's facilities has been established at Cecil Center South by Sunrise Aviation. Students are able to go straight from the classroom into airplanes for their flight training.

FSCJ also has an extensive selection of simulation devices at its Aerospace Resource Center at Cecil Airport. The Redbird Flight Simulation LD Advanced Aviation Training Devices have recently been added. In 2010 FSCJ has acquired four of these AATDs and configured them as either Cessna 172 Skyhawks or Piper Arrows. In 2012, FSCJ will also have Piper Seminole configurations for the Redbird simulators. Frasca 242T Flight Training Device is one among the scores of training devices which FSCJ have with it. (flight training device) configured as a Beechcraft King Air, an Elite Garmin G1000 AATD and a Frasca 131 FTD. This institution has many BATDs. ( Training Devices required for Basic Aviation course) Students can practice at no additional cost.

There is a custom course at FSCJ created by Sunrise Aviation, for all FA pilot ratings and certificates that is aimed at the maximum utilization of FSCJ simulators. Best safety and standard training is imparted through these courses. Every course provided by FSC is accredited as per section 141 of the Aviation Regulations agreed to by the government.

The best financial aid is available to the students at FSCJ. Florida residents are eligible for the Bright Futures Scholarship which may pay all of the tuition costs at FSCJ. Additional financial aid available to most students includes Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, work-study programs, and various subsidized or unsubsidized loan programs. The tuition and flight training fees can be paid for with veteran's benefits, including the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Being that FSCJ is a public college, veterans that are enrolled will get the maximum benefits available for flight training expenses.

For the past 28 years Sunrise Aviation has been involved with pilot training. The home base of Sunrise Aviation is in Ormond Beach, Florida not far from Daytona Beach or Orlando. There are excess of 40 airplanes available at Sunrise Aviation for rental or instruction. The fleet includes Cessna 152s and 172s; plus Piper Tomahawk, Piper Arrow, Piper Seminoles and Piper Senecas. To be used in the company's charter department Part 135, a Piper Chieftain was added recently. Six of the aircraft are currently assigned to the new satellite at Cecil Airport. Accepting international students under the M-1 visa program is the FAA Part 141 approved Flight School Sunrise Aviation at Ormond Beach.