New Syllabus Cuts CPL Down to 165 Hours, with 25% Fewer Flight Hours and 35% Less Ground Time 

AeroGuard Flight Training Center has received FAA approval for its new Reduced Hours Commercial Pilot Course, cutting the cost and time required to complete a commercial pilot rating. 

The changes result in a more affordable course that comes in at 165 total hours, cutting overall program time by 35%. Flight hours are reduced by  25%, which AeroGuard says provides "significant time and cost savings compared with other courses or other top flight schools." 

The FAA approval is based on the school's track record or student outcomes using its standard, accelerated Part 141 course. AeroGuard says that the approval is the result of a constistent, structured training environment, strong student support processes, and consistent quality control. The end result should provide a similar outcome to the full-duration commercial pilot course, giving students the same pilot ratings after they complete their training. Of course, money is rarely saved without drawbacks, and the reduction in flight time will mean that students must pick up those hours elsewhere in order to be competitive on the job market. The lower-time pilot will have saved more money, but they may give up those more easily-funded, financially-assisted flight hours.

AeroGuard says the change was spurred on by the incipient pilot shortage, as carriers bemoan the lack of young pilots in the early stages of their career. The school says it will "provide huge benefits to airlines as well as students."

In all likelihood, students have complained that competing Part 61 schools offer a similar outcome to more structured flight academies like AeroGuard - after all, a license is a license. Offering a "budget" version of the same professional training that ends with the promised rating helps to capture less affluent students from unstructured, inconsistent training environments found throughout the US.

The school's partnerships with SkyWest allow alumni to join as prospective first officers at the airline, with tuition reimbursement available should they complete their initial operating experience with the airline. The new course is available at AeroGuard campuses throughout Arizona, Texas, and Florida. 

FMI: www.flyaeroguard.com