Flight Training Programs

Choosing the Right Program

Simulator Center Training offers four main paths for pilots: the ATP-CTP course, aircraft type rating courses, FAA license conversion for internationally licensed pilots, and hourly simulator training for recurrent practice or checkride prep. Which one fits depends on where you are in your career and what certificate or rating you're working toward.

Pilots approaching the airline hiring process who hold a commercial certificate but not yet an ATP typically start with the ATP-CTP course, which is required before taking the ATP knowledge test. Pilots who already have an offer or a specific aircraft assignment usually move directly into a type rating course for that aircraft. Pilots holding a foreign pilot license generally start with FAA license conversion before pursuing a U.S. type rating.

Program Comparison

Each program is built around a different combination of ground school and full-flight simulator time. The ATP-CTP course is fixed by FAA regulation at 42 hours total — 32 ground, 10 simulator — delivered over 6 to 8 days. Type rating courses vary by aircraft: single-aircraft courses (A320, A330, ATR 42/72, B737 NG/MAX, B737 Classic) run 28 to 35 days, while the combined B757/767 course runs 35 to 40 days because it covers two aircraft under one type rating.

FAA license conversion and hourly simulator training are structured differently — conversion training is scoped to the gaps between a pilot's existing foreign license and FAA requirements, while hourly simulator sessions are booked individually for recurrent practice, checkride preparation, or maintaining proficiency between courses.

• ATP-CTP: 6-8 days, 42 hours (32 ground + 10 simulator)
• Single-aircraft type ratings: 28-35 days
• Combined B757/767 type rating: 35-40 days
• FAA license conversion: scoped to the individual pilot's background
• Hourly simulator training: booked by session, on the aircraft you choose

Eligibility at a Glance

The ATP-CTP course requires that a pilot hold a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating and meet the flight time requirements for ATP eligibility. Type rating courses generally assume the pilot already holds the certificate level needed to add the rating (though this varies by aircraft and pilot background), and international pilots pursuing an FAA-issued type rating typically need FAA license conversion first.

Because eligibility depends on each pilot's certificates, ratings, and flight hours, the fastest way to confirm which program is right for you is to talk with us directly rather than guess from general rules. Visit /admissions to start that conversation, or explore the individual program pages linked below for aircraft-specific detail.