Pilot Certificate Courses in New Jersey: Private, Commercial, ATP & CFI

Century Air offers FAA Part 141 approved pilot certificate courses at Essex County Airport (KCDW) in Caldwell, New Jersey, approximately 30 minutes from New York City. Whether you are pursuing your first Private Pilot Certificate or working toward an Airline Transport Pilot certificate for an airline career, the sections below outline the FAA requirements, minimum flight hours, and exams for each certificate level.

Private Pilot

A private pilot certificate gives you the privilege of flying virtually wherever and whenever you’d like, and is also the first step toward a career as a professional pilot. As a private pilot, you may fly for pleasure by yourself or you may carry passengers. FAA regulations do not allow you to be compensated for your services as a private pilot, however; you may share flight expenses with your passengers. When flying as a private pilot, you will be operating under visual flight rules (VFR) where special weather requirements pertaining to clouds and visibility must be met.

To obtain a private pilot certificate, you must be at least 17 years old, and have a minimum of 35 flight hours in an FAA part 141 approved school (non-approved schools require 40 hours). However, a realistic average is approximately 65 hours of flight training. You must also pass the FAA private pilot written examination (a 60 question multiple choice test) and a flight test with an FAA Designated Examiner. You must pass a Class III medical exam with an FAA-approved doctor every five years if you are under 40 years old; otherwise, every two years. At Century Air, most students complete their Private Pilot Certificate in 4 to 9 months, training in our fleet of Cessna and Piper aircraft at Essex County Airport.

Commercial Pilot

A commercial pilot certificate allows you to be compensated as a pilot, however; many pilots achieve this certificate just to continue training and improve their skills and knowledge. Pilots who are interested in pursuing a career in aviation must obtain a commercial pilots certificate.

To exercise the full rights of a commercial pilot, you must have an instrument rating (see ratings), be at least 18 years of age, hold a Class II medical certificate (somewhat more stringent than a Class III), and have a minimum of 190 hours of flying in an FAA part 141 approved flight school (non-approved schools require 250 hours). You must also pass an FAA written examination and a flight test with an FAA Designated Examiner. Century Air’s Commercial Pilot training is part of our Professional Pilot Program, which includes a guaranteed first officer interview with Republic Airways for qualifying graduates.

Airline Transport Pilot

To obtain an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, you must hold a commercial pilot certificate and have at least 1500 hours of flying. You must pass an FAA written examination and a Flight Test with an FAA Designated Examiner. This is the highest class certificate available and it allows you to perform pilot-in-command responsibilities for commercial airlines and other transport operations. Century Air supports pilots pursuing their ATP certificate with simulator access on our Garmin G1000 trainer, the only one of its kind in the Northeast.

Flight Instructor

The Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) is a separate certificate which authorizes you to give instruction in an airplane and teach others how to fly. As a flight instructor, you may instruct private or commercial students. You may also obtain additional instructor ratings to teach instrument (CFII) and multi-engine (MEI).

To become a flight instructor, you must be 18 years old and hold at least a commercial pilot certificate, as well as an instrument rating. You must also pass two FAA written examinations, and an FAA flight test for each instructor certificate/rating sought. Many Century Air flight instructors build hours toward an airline career while teaching, and our CFI graduates have gone on to fly for regional and major carriers including JetBlue and Republic Airways.

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.