Learn to Fly in New Jersey: Private Pilot, Commercial, ATP & More at Essex County Airport

Century Air is an FAA Part 141 certified flight school located at Essex County Airport (KCDW) in Caldwell, New Jersey, approximately 30 miles and 30 minutes from Midtown Manhattan. We have been training pilots since 1975, making us one of the longest-established flight schools in the New York and New Jersey region.  Whether you are a complete beginner looking to earn your first Private Pilot Certificate (PPL), or an experienced pilot building toward a Commercial rating, Instrument Rating, Multi-Engine Rating, or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, Century Air offers structured FAA Part 141 programs designed to get you there efficiently and safely. Our courses are open to hobbyists, career pilots, international students, and veterans using GI Bill benefits.

Why Choose Century Air for Flight Training in NJ

Training at Century Air means access to resources no other flight school in the Northeast can match. We operate the only Garmin G1000 glass-cockpit flight simulator in the Northeastern United States — allowing students to master IFR procedures, avionics, and emergency scenarios before stepping into the aircraft. Our diverse fleet includes Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, TBM, Cirrus, and Mooney aircraft, covering everything from initial training to advanced type transitions.  Century Air is also one of a small number of insurance-approved initial and recurrent training centers in the country, meaning both student pilots and certificated pilots with their own aircraft train here year-round.

For students pursuing a professional aviation career, Century Air is a partner school with Republic Airways, one of the largest regional airlines in the United States. Graduates of our Professional Pilot Program who meet Republic’s qualifications receive a guaranteed first officer interview, one of the most direct airline pathways available to pilots training in the New York and New Jersey area.  Century Air is also affiliated with Utah Valley University (UVU) for accredited online aviation coursework, TSA and M-1 Visa authorized for international students, and approved for New Jersey State Workforce Programs.

What makes Century Air different from other NJ flight schools? Century Air is the only Garmin G1000 simulator in the Northeast, offers a guaranteed Republic Airways interview pathway, and has insurance-approved recurrent training. Century Air serves student pilots from across the New York City metro area, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Hoboken, Jersey City, and throughout Northern New Jersey.