How Many Flight Hours
Stand Between You
and the Left Seat?
We train career-changers, graduates, and military pilots from zero hours to ATP type ratings — in real pressurized cabins, not PowerPoint classrooms.
"Can I afford this without a loan?"
Let's talk actual numbers.
Most students fund training through a combination of paths — 38% use aviation-specific loans, 29% tap GI Bill benefits, 21% self-fund modular, and 12% use employer sponsorship programs from regional carriers. The average Clearance student spends $74,000 over 14 months. Compare that to a $120,000 four-year degree that may or may not lead to a cockpit.
I ran the numbers against a second master's degree. Aviation won — by a lot. I'm type-rated and earning more than my MBA friends.
"What happens if I fail a checkride?"
The honest answer.
You train again — with us, at no additional instruction cost for the first remediation. 91% of Clearance students pass their ATP checkride on the first attempt, versus a 73% national average. When someone doesn't, our full-motion sim hours are theirs to use. No shame. No extra fees. The FAA doesn't care how many attempts it took. Airlines don't either. They care that you passed.
I failed my instrument checkride at another school and they charged me $800 to re-prep. Here, they put me in the sim for 6 hours and I nailed the retake.
"Will airlines actually hire me at 35?"
The data says yes. Loudly.
The regional airline pilot shortage runs through 2032. American, Delta, and United's flow-through agreements with regional partners mean your age at hire is largely irrelevant — your hours are everything. The median age of Clearance graduates entering their first regional job is 31. Our oldest graduate to date was 47 at type rating. Airlines need bodies in seats. Qualified bodies. That's the job.
I left a 12-year marketing career at 36. Clearance had me in a CRJ900 right seat 16 months later. Age is a talking point, not a barrier.
Find Your Fastest
Route to ATP
Answer five questions. Get your personalized training roadmap — estimated cost, calendar, and certificate path.
How many total flight hours do you have?
Include all logged hours — student, solo, and PIC time.
Prefer to talk first? Our admissions team are working pilots — not sales reps.
1-800-FLY-CLEAR · Mon–Sat 7AM–7PM