Acron Aviation to Provide Initial Flight Training for New USAF Pilots

Florida-based Acron Aviation recently finalized an Educational Service Agreement with the US Air Force, making it one of the first Part 141 schools authorized to train the next generation of military aviators. The program will take its first round of USAF airmen in November 2025.

Under the agreement, Acron will deliver private pilot, instrument, and multi-engine ratings to officers headed for Undergraduate Pilot Training. The move is part of a broader effort to expand and diversify the military’s pilot pipeline as the Air Force works to close persistent training gaps.

Acron, for its part, is marketing the deal as a historic milestone—and an endorsement of its fleet of over 100 aircraft, multiple flight simulators, and “world-class” facilities that happen to be located in a part of Florida with generally good weather year-round. The company says it will offer the same kind of rigorous training environment found at larger military flight programs, albeit with a bit more prop and a bit less afterburner.

Vice President David Cox called the agreement a testament to Acron’s “commitment to quality, safety, and innovation”—a familiar trio in the flight training world, though a less common combination in government contracting. Still, it’s a notable win for the school, which now positions itself as not just a commercial pilot factory, but a military training partner.

Cadets will train on a fleet that includes Piper Archers and Seminoles, Cessna 172s, SR20s, and a mix of FAA-approved simulators ranging from Redbird MCXs to Level 6 FTDs. Training will follow a structured syllabus and culminate in the ratings needed to progress to the military’s next phase of pilot instruction.

While the Air Force has not disclosed how many officers will pass through the program annually, the agreement adds another training pathway at a time when the service is under pressure to increase pilot production. For Acron, it’s a chance to prove it can meet military expectations—and perhaps open the door to future government contracts.

FMI: www.acronaviation.com