Central Flight Training School has been training pilots since 1939. The institution started as a college that trained fighter pilots for action in World War II. According to the academy's website, the school has a tremendous fleet of planes, both with single and twin engines. The program allows you to study at your own pace, so that you may work full time and go to school. Financial aid is available as this institution is an accredited full FAA Part 141 school. You can attend this college under the GI Bill, and receive other forms of tuition assistance as well. For more information, call 501-975-9330.
Sky Venture Aviation Training Center, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, also has an office at the Drake Field Airport, located in Fayetteville. According to the Sky Venture website, this institution offers an accelerated multi-engine course you can finish in three or four days, along with its regular-paced classes. The length of time it takes you to finish classes at Sky Venture depends on what plane you wish to fly. If you want to fly commercially, you will have to have 190 hours of flight time to graduate. However, if you want to fly a private plane, the time is 35 hours. The school also offers computer-based ground instruction, to supplement the flight lessons. You can take these classes on CD in the comfort of your own home. For more information, call 870-269-1900 for the Jonesboro location, and 479-521-9400 for the Fayetteville site.
Country Air Flight School, a smaller institution,at 142 Lingo Road, is a flight school for those who want a more personalized approach to learning to fly than a flight school at an airport can offer. To enter, you must take a medical exam that rules out diabetes, heart disease, drugs or alcohol, and you must submit to a criminal background check to make sure you don't have any felonies on your record. The school also requires you to buy renters' insurance, which covers $35,000 in damage to any aircraft. Based on two one-hour sessions per week, it will take you five months to finish at Country Air. If you elect to take two 2-hour classes, you cut this time in half. For more information, call 501-676-0320.
According to the Fly-low website, Drake Aviation Academy, in Springdale, owned and managed by Ron Dixon, is the major training center for pilots in Northwest Arkansas. The school has partnered with Northwest Arkansas Community College. As a result of this relationship, an Associate's Degree in Aviation Science Professional Pilot is available. It requires 198 hours of flight time. For more information, contact them at 501-502-2FLY, or at 501-750-5050.