Academy of Aviation's graduates are flying with most Major Airlines worldwide. To receive more information about enrollment, reach us by calling, chatting, texting, or by filling out the form.
Learn about tuition, payment options, and third-party financing resources available to prospective students.
Financing Information →Academy of Aviation's Charlotte-area campus is based at Gastonia Municipal Airport (KAKH) in Gastonia, North Carolina, approximately 20 miles west of uptown Charlotte. The campus serves students throughout the Charlotte metro, Gaston County, and the western Carolinas looking for a structured FAA Part 141 career pilot program within reach of home.
Academy of Aviation manages Gastonia Municipal Airport as the FBO, which means students train at an airport run by their own flight school, with direct access to maintained aircraft, fueled and ready, without the scheduling friction that comes from sharing a field with competing operators.
Gastonia Municipal sits within the broader Charlotte airspace environment, with Charlotte Douglas International (KCLT), one of the busiest commercial hubs in the Southeast and a major American Airlines hub, driving active approach and departure traffic across the region.
Cross-country and instrument training from KAKH exposes students to real controlled airspace coordination while the airport's own manageable traffic volume keeps primary training efficient and focused. North Carolina's mild climate delivers consistent year-round flying conditions with fewer weather cancellations than northern markets.
The Gastonia campus offers a full FAA Part 141 career pilot program. The structured curriculum covers every rating on the airline pathway: Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Certificate, and Certified Flight Instructor ratings including CFI, CFII, and MEI.
The Charlotte campus offers the Delta Propel pathway. Academy of Aviation is one of only four Delta Propel affiliate flight schools in the United States. Students who earn their CFI ratings and instruct at AOA can apply to Delta Propel once they are within 12 months of meeting R-ATP or ATP requirements. Selection is competitive, but once accepted, the path is defined and guaranteed: a single Propel interview is the only interview required, and selected applicants receive a Qualified Job Offer from Delta that carries them through Endeavor Air, a Delta Connection carrier, to the Delta Air Lines flight deck. See the full Delta Propel pathway.
Academy of Aviation also participates in the Republic Airways RJet Cadet Program, a pathway to Republic Airways, one of the largest regional carriers in the country, which flies for American, United, and Delta.
The Charlotte campus is based at Gastonia Municipal Airport (KAKH) in Gastonia, North Carolina, approximately 20 miles west of uptown Charlotte. Gastonia offers affordable housing options with easy access to the broader Charlotte metro area.
Yes. Academy of Aviation manages Gastonia Municipal Airport as the FBO. Students train at an airport run by their own flight school, with direct access to maintained aircraft without the scheduling friction of competing operators on the same field.
Cross-country and instrument training from KAKH operates within the broader Charlotte airspace environment, exposing students to real controlled airspace coordination near one of the busiest commercial hubs in the Southeast. The manageable traffic at Gastonia Municipal itself keeps primary training efficient while still building real-world ATC skills.
Yes. Academy of Aviation holds an FAA Part 141 Air Agency Certificate. Part 141 is the structured, curriculum-based training standard required by most airline hiring programs and allows you to test for your commercial certificate with fewer hours than the Part 61 minimum.
Yes. Delta names Academy of Aviation as one of only four Propel affiliate flight schools in the United States. Students who earn their flight instructor ratings and instruct at AOA can apply to Delta Propel once they are within 12 months of meeting R-ATP or ATP requirements. Selection is competitive, but once accepted, the path is defined and guaranteed: a single Propel interview is the only interview required, and selected applicants receive a Qualified Job Offer from Delta that carries them through Endeavor Air to the Delta Air Lines flight deck.
North Carolina's mild climate provides consistent year-round flying conditions with fewer weather cancellations than northern markets. More flyable days per year means fewer schedule interruptions and a faster path to certification.
Check out some of our top programs — built to get you flying fast and set you on a clear path to your aviation goals.
At Academy of Aviation, we believe flying is better with friends. That is why we are rewarding you for helping others achieve their aviation dreams. Here is how it works:
